The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-09-23


in his belta couple of pistols half the
length of his gun. He was tall, straight
as an arrow, active as panther in his
motion, with darkened complexion and
luxuriant jetty hair, with a severe iron
like countenance, that seemed never to
have known a smile, and eyes of in
tense vivid black, wild and rolling,an
piercing as the point of a dagger. His
strange advent inspired a thrill of in
voluntary fear, and many present un-
consciously grasped the handles oftheir
| side-arms.
"Who are you that thus presumes to
intrude among gentlemen, without in
vitation ?" demanded Col. Morton, fe-
rociously essayng to cow down the
stranger with his eye.
| The latter returned his stare with
compound interest, and laid his long
bony finger on his lip as sign-but OF
what, the spectators could not imagine.
WHO are you? Speak or will cut
an answer out of your heart ~ shouted
Morton, almost distracted with rage by
the cool, sneering gaze of the other,
who now removed his finger from his
lip and laid it on the hit of his mon
strous knife.
The fiery colonel then drew his dag
ger, and was in the act of advancing
upon the stranger, when several caught
him and held him back, demonstrating.
"Let him alone, Morton, for Gods
sake. Do you not perceive that is era.
zy?"
AT that moment, Judge Webb, man
Of shrewd intellect and courteous man -.
ners, stepped forward and addressed
the intruder in most respectful man.
ner-
MY good friend, Ipresume you have
made a mistake in the house. This is q
private meeting where none but men,
bers are admitted"
The stranger did not appear to COM
prehend the words, but he could not
fail to understand the mild and deple-
catory manner. His rigid features re-
laxed, and moving to table in the GEN.
tire of the hall, where there were mate :.
rials and implements of writing, he
seized pen and traced a line: 81 am
deaf" He then held it up before the
spectators, as sort of natural apology
for his own want of politeness.
Judge Webb took the paper and wrote
aquestion: "Dear sir, will you be so
obliging as to inform us what is your
business with the present meetingw
The other responded by delivering a
letter inscribed on the back, "To the
citizens of Austin" They broke the
seal and read it aloud. 1t was from
Houston, and showed the usual terse
brevity of his style:-
"felioV Citizens, Though in error,
and deceived by the arts of traitors, L
will give you three more days to decide
whether you will surrender the public
archives. AT the end of that time you
will please let me know your decision.
SAM. HOUSTON"
After the reading, the deaf man wal
ted few seconds. as if for reply, and
then turned and was about to leave the
hall when Col. Morton interposed and
sternly bcckoned him back to the table
The stranger obeyed, and Morton wrote:
"You were brave enough to insult me
by your threatening look ten minutes
ago; are you brave enough now to give
me satisfaction?
The stranger penned his reply: 81
am at your service"
Morton wrote again: "Who will be
your second ?"
The stranger rejoined: 81 am toogen-
erous to seek an advantage, and too
brave to fear any on the part of others,
therefore i never need the aid of Sec
Ond?"
Morton penned: "Name your TERMS
The stranger traced, without mo-
ment's hesitation: "Time, sunset this
evening; place, the left bank of the
Colorado, opposite Austin; weapons,
rifles; and distance, hundred yards.
Do not fail to be in timem
He then took three steps across the
floor, and disappeared through the win,
dow as he had entered.
"WhatW ~ exclaimed Judge Webb, is
it possible Colonel Morton, that you in.
tend to fight that man? He is mute,
if not a positive maniac. Such meet.
ing fear will sadly tarnish the lustre
of your laurels."
"You are Mistaken" replied Morton
with smile; "that mute is a hero,
whose fame stands in the records of a
dozen battles, and half as many bloody
duels' Besides he is the favorite ennis
sary and bosom friend of Houston. II
L have the good fortune to kill him,
think it will tempt the President to re-
tract his vow against venturing any
more on the field of honor"
"You know the man then. Who is
he? Who is he?" asked twenty voice:
together.
deaf Smith," answered Morton
coolly.
why, no, that cannot be. Dea
Smith was slain at San Jacinto," re
marked Judge Webb.
"There, again your honor is mistak-
en-, ,nsaid Morton. "The story of Smith'i
death was a mere fiction, got up by
: Houston to save the life of his favorite
+ from sworn vengeance of certain Tex
ans, on whose conduct he had acted as {
spy. l fathomed the artiiice twelve
, months since"
| "If what you say be true, you are {
mailman yourself!" exclaimed Webb
0 "Deaf Smith was never known to mis-
0 his mark. He has often brought dowr
| ravens in their most rapid flight, and
/, killed Comanches and Mexicans at
a distance of two hundred and fifty
) yards"
y "Say nc more," answered Col. Nor
1 TON In tnnns of doom determination