Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-03-05
ENrRApP1NG A MURDERER.
A sPEcuLAroR's STORY.

lsting in horses, lands or anything that
might give promise Of profitable re.
turn for q cash investment. OF course
/ carried a good deal of money with
me. but knowing ] was going into a
wild, lawless class Of every grade and
color, among half civilized Indians.
Negroes, Gamblers, Robbers, Thieves,
Murderers and Asssssins-with per-
haps a few settlers of some claim to
honor and honesty, If they could be
sifted from the mass-I thought it the
safest plan not to seem well of in the
worlds goods. Accordingly, I Sc
cured my money in belt around my
body, put on a very coarse. rough
dress, which, by International careless
ness, soon had a very mean, slovenly
appearance, and allowed my hair and
beard to manage matters their own way
without any troublesome interference OF
razor or comb. Thus prepared and
armed with two revolvers and a bowie
knife, / passed over some dangerous
territory in comparative safety. aud
fattered myself that no one guessed
my riches through my apparent pow
erty.
In fact, on two occasions, I began
to think it might have been to my ad-
vantage to have looked little more re-
spectacle. The first of these was, when
travelling through the Choctaw nation. /
found drove of horses that pleased
me very much, and was told by the
owner in reply to my question as to
what he would take head for the en-
tire lot, that he was not in the habit OF
naming his price to every wandering
beggar that chose to satisfy an idle Gu
riosity. was disposed at first to put
on some dignity and get indignant. but
concluded, after a careful survey of
my person. that the man had good
cause for speaking as be did, and SO
merely assured him that | knew an in
dividual who wished to buy horses. if
he could get them at fair price. The
horse owner, however, was not dis
posed TO believe my statement, and SO l
passed him by with a resolve that if
nothing better turned up, l would give
him another cali under more advan-
tageous appearance. As the second
instance alluded to was similar to the
first, it may be passed over without fur
ther notice.
But out OF this same cause grew g
very remarkable adventure which it is
my present purpose to relate.
While passing between two settle
ments, over q very lonely. gloomy horse
path. leading through dark hemlock
wood, and while in the most solitary
part, there suddenly came before me,
leaping over the thicket on the right, a
human figure, of a most startling sp-
pearance. 1t was q man of medium
height, but OF a Stout, powerful frame,
all covered with dirty tatters, 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 first look to tell whether he be-
longed to the white race or not. His
face. high upon his cheeks, was coy-
cred with dirty brown beard. and his
matted hair hung in wild confusion all
around his head. except little space
before his swollen bloodshot eyes, and
although he looked like a madman or
human devil In his hand he swung
a formidable club. and his attitude as
he leaped into the road before me, was
one OF fierce menace and defiance.
l stopped in alarm, and while fixing
my eyes sharply upon his, quietly slid
my hand into a convenient pocket and
grasped the butt Of one of my revolv-
ers firmly determined to keep him at
short distance that divided US, or kill
him If he advanced.
For perhaps a minute we stood ST.
lently regarding and surveying each
other, and then, resting one end of his
club on the ground, and partly leaning
forward on the other. he said, in q
coarse gruff tone, with kind Of chuck
ling laugh.
"Well-mel rs in hopes I'd prize
at last. but if your much better of
than me you don't show it, BY
Stranger who are you? and whar you
FRONT"
"Well." returned 1, feeling highly
complimented, of course, that l re-
sembled such villsinous looking OBJ
ject as himself, "some people call me
beggar, and | know 1 don't pass for
gentleman"
'I'II swsr to that-hswl hawi" was
the chuckling response. 1.-THE world
haint made much Of you, mor'nt has
OF me. l see steal in your face as PLAN
as daylight. Say, what jail or peni-
tentisry lost you last?"
"Never mind that" said /, "proba-
bly, neither of us have got our Just
deserts"
"Well, if you had been decent dressed
looked like you have FIVE dollars about
you I'D have knocked your brains out!"
pursued the villain with broad grim
"As it is, you can pass, for ] can sw'ar
you amt got redl
.'Much obliged for your candor any
how" rejoined l.
He stood before me looking straight
into my eyes, and now seemed to be
ponderiDg some new ideas. Presently
he muttered, as if to himself:
81 think he might d." Then mo-
ment after be said to me, 81 say, old
falInw how'd won lie N r,ata a