Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-04-23
TALES AND SKETCHES.
EiNTEs a MURDERER.

In the year 1868 went TO the Red River
country with view of speculation in horses
lands, or anything that might give promise
OF profitable return for cash investment.
OF course carried a good deal OF money
about me but knowing | was going among
II wild. lawlcss class. Of every grade and
color-Ulnong halfciyiiizcd Indians negroes
Gamblers, thieves, robbers, nurirrcrS and
nssassins, with perhaps 4 few settlers ofsomc
claims to honor and honesty, II they could
lr sittcd out from the mass-I thought il
the safest plan not TO seem we'll of in this
worlds goods. Accordingly ! secured my
money in a belt about my body, put on Il
very coarse, rough urcss, which. by intcn-
tiOual CarccssnCss, soon had u very mean
slovcnly 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 revoivcrs and n bowie knife, /
passed over some dangerous territory in com
parativc safety, and battered myself that no
one guessed my riches through lay apparent
poverty.
In fact, on two occasions. began to think
il might have been to my advantage to have
looked little more respectable. The first
of these was when, in travelling through the
Choctaw nation, ! found a drove of horses
that pleased me very much, and was told
by the owner, in reply to my question as to
what lie would take q head log he entire
lot, that he Was not in the habit cf naming
his price 10 every wandering tcggar that
chose "a satisfy lis idle curiosity. | Was
disposed al ijist 10 put on some dignity and
get indignant, but concluded, after a careful
survey Of my person that the maa haG Il
good cause Tor speaking as lac did. and So
merely assured him thai knew ar indvit!-
ual who wished To buy horses. if he could
get them 1T fair price. The horse owner,
however, was not disposed to believe my
statement. and SO passed him by. with the
resolve that, if nothing better turned up,
would give him another call under more
advantageous appearance. As the second
instance alluded 10 was similar to the first
it may be passed over without further no
tice.
But out Of this same cause grew very re.
markable adventure, which it is my present
purpose to relate.
While passing between Two settlements
over lonely, gloomy hnrse-palh, leading
through dark hemlock wood, and while in
the most solitary part, there Suddenly came
before me, leaping from thicket on the
right Q human igurc OF II most startling ap-
pCarancc. II was man of medium height,
but of stout powerful frame, all covered
with dry tattcrS, that he appeared 10 have
wora and wallowcd in four years. lie had
no covering for his head or feet, and his
skin was so quoted with CRIME that it was
difficult at Il first look TO tell whether he
belonged to the race or not. His face, high
up ON his checks, was covered with dirty
hrnun bnarl and his natt,4l luir lunry in
wild protusion all around his head, except a
little space before his swollen, blood shot
eyes, and altogether he looked like mad
man or human devil. His hands held and
swung IA formidable club and his attitude,
as he leaped into the road before me, was
one of fierce menace and defiance.
/ stopped IN alarm, aud, while fixing my
eyes sharply upon his, quietly slid my hand
into convenient pocket and gmsped the
but OF one of my revolNers, firmly determin-
ed to keep him ut the short distance that
divided us, or kill him if he advanced.
For perhaps a half minute we stood 81
ently regarding and surveying each other
and then resting on one end of his club on
the ground, and partly leaning forward on
the other side, he said, in course, gruii
tone, with kird of chuckling laugh:
"Nell, - me Is in hopes I'd got a
prize at last but ii your much better oh
nor me, you don't show il by -! Stran-
ger who ar you : and whar' ar you from
"Weli," returned |, feeling highly com
plimented, OF course, that resembled such
ayillainous-looking object us himself, ''some
people call me heggar, and know don't
pass for genteel gentleman
I'm swhr To that-haw haw haw ="
was his ehuckling response. The world
haint made much Of you, more'nt il has ON
me. see steal 10 your face As plain as day
light. say, what Jail or penilentiary lost
you last T.
Newer mind that !" said !, probably mel.
ther OF us have got our deserts"
well, II you had Le,n a deeent dressed
ooket like lou had i've dollar sbou, you,