Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-08-07
ENTRAPPING A MURDERER.

country with q view of specializing ir
horses. lands, or anything that might give
promise of profitable return for a cash in
vestment. OF course carried good deal
of money with me: but knowing was GO
ing among . wild. lawless class. of every
grade and color-smong half-civilized In
dians. negroes, gamblers. thieves, robbers
murderers and assassins-with perhaps 9
few settlers with some little claim to homo,
and honesty. if they could be sifted opi
/ from the mass-I thought it the safest plan
not to seem well off in this worlds goods.
Accordingly secured my money in belt
about my body. put on q very coarse,
rough dress, which, by intentional care
lessness. soon had very mean. slovenly
appearance. and allowed my hair and beard
to manage matters in their own way.
without any troublesome interference Of ra-
zor or comb. Thus prepared. and armed
with two revolvers and Bowie knife,
passed over some dangerous territory in
comparative safety. and hattered myself
that no one guessed my riches through my
apparent poverty.
think it might have been to my advantage
to have looked little more respectable
The first of these was when. in travelling
through the Ckoctaw nation, / found q
drove of horses that pleased me very much.
aad was told by the owner, in reply my
question as to what he would take head
for the entire lot, that he was not in the
habit of naming his price to every wander
ing beggar that chose 10 satisfy an idle Gu
riosity. / was disposed at first to put on
some dignity and get indignant. but con-
cluded. after careful survey Of my per-
son. that the man had good cause for
speaking as he did, and so merely assured
him that knew an individual who wished
to buy horses, if he could get them at fair
price. The horse-owner, however, was
not disposed to believe my statement. and
so passed by him. with the resolve that.
if nothing better turned up. would give
him another call under a more advanta-
geous appearance. AS the second instance
alluded TO was similar to the first, it may
be pa ssed without further notice.
But ont of this same cause grew very
remarkable adventure, which it is my pres
ent purpose to relate.
While passing between two settlements
over very lonely. gloomy horse path,
leading through dark hemlock wood. and
while in the most solitary part. there sud-
denly came before me. leaping from q
thicket on the right. human figure of a
most startling appearance. 1t was man
of medium hight, but of stout. powerful
frame, all covered with dirty tattcrs that he
appeared to have worn and wallowed in
for years. He had no covering for his
head or feet. and his skin Was so coated
with CRIME that il was difficult at q first
look to tell whether he belonged to the
white race or not His face, even high mp
on his checks, was covered with q dirty
brown beard, and his matted hair hung in
wild profusion all around his head, except
little space before his swollen. blood shot
eyes, and altogether he looked like mad
man or human devil. His hand held and
swung formidable club. and his attitude.
as he lcaped into the road before me was
one of fierce menace and defiance.
! stopped in alarm. and while fixing my
eyes sharply upon his. quietly slid my
hand into a convenient pocket, and grasp
ed the butt Of one of my revolvers. firmly
determined to keep him at the short dis
tsnce that divided US, or kill him if he ad-
vanced a step.
For perhaps half minute we stood ST.
lently regarding and surveying each other.
and then. resting one end Of his club upon
the ground, and partly leaning forward on
the other. he said. in coarse. gruff tone.
with kind OF chuckling laugh:
"Well, - me! rs in hopes I'd got
prize at last; but II you're much better
off nor me, you don't show it, by =
Stranger. who ar you. and sshar ar you
from?"
"Well." returned /. feeling highly COM
plimented. of course. that rcsembled such
q villainous- looking object as himself,
.some people call me a beggar. and know
don't pass for a gentleman"
"Ill sw'ar to that-haw! haw! haw"
was his chuckling response. 1.-The world
bain't made much Of you, more it has of
me. ! see steal in your face as plain as
daylight. Say. what Jail or penitentiary
lost you last?"
Never mind that" said /; probably
neither Of us have got our deserts"
"Well. If you'd been decent dressed,
looked like you had five dollars about you.
I'd have knocked you brains out!' pursu-
ed the villain. with broad grin. 'As il
is. you can pass-for l can sw'ar you
hain't got red!''
"Much obliged for your candor. any
howl" rejoined 1.
He still stood before me. looking straight
into my eye. and now seemed to be pom
dering some new idea. Presently hemut-
tered. as if to himself:
II think he might do" When. q mo-
ment after, be said to me. Il say. old fel-
low. how'd you like to make raise?"
"How would I like to eat when hun
gry?" l answered. thinking it not unlike
ly that the scoundrel had some dark prof
ect in view. which. by seeming to chime
in with him, might discover.
"We!l. I've got plan." he said. throw
ing down his club, as if to assure me oi
his pacific intentions towards myself, and
quietly. advancing to my side--"I'vo got
70 plan that will give Us both heap oI
money. and it'll take Just two to carry il
out. I've been wanting pal. and if you'll
Join in I'll go you halves"
eff there's any chances to turn q penny
I'm your man." said 1.
sGoOdtD refurnosl h. ssv~c LII IL. .