Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-10-31

=,
a small oak which grew beside the wall.
and. without a word of warning, sprang
through lofty window and landed in the
very room where the astonished caucus
were congregated.
The stranger was clad in buckskin
carried long rife in bis hand, wore at
the bottom of his left suspender an i'm
mense bowieknife, and held in his leath-
ern belt couple of enormous pistols. lie
was thin. tall, and straight as an arrow,
and as 1.-THE and supple as panther, with
swarth7 complexion. long. jet black
hair, rigid, iron-like countenance. eyes
Of glittering blackness and as piercing as
the point of a staletto.
His sudden appearance among .hems 30
startled them that they uneonsciously
grasped their arms.
Who are you that comes among gen.
tlemensuninvited 2" Numbered Colonel
Morton. starting fercciously at him.
The stranger turned his black eyes up
on him and started at him, but the only
answer he made was by placing bis finger
upon his lips.
'.Who are you Speak, or I will run
you through ? shouted Morton, driv-
en- to fury by the cool contempuous gaze
of The other, who now took his finger
from his lips and laid it on the handle Of
l. is knife. ta
The exasperated Colonel now drew his
dagger and was advancing upon the stran-
ger. when several interposed and held
him back.
''Let him alone, Morton. Don't you
see he is crazy.
At this juncture Judge Webb stepped
forward and spike to the stranger in a
kindly, respectful manner
MY good friand, suppose you have
made mistake. This is private meet
ing. where none but members are ad
mittcd."
The stranger did not seem to under
stand words; but he did the conciliatory
manner His iron features relaxed some.
what, and stepping to side table, where
there were Implements for writing, be
took up pen and rapidly traced the
words. L am deaf"
He then held up the paper before the
spectators as a sort of natural apology for
his seeming discourtesy
"Will you be obliging enough to in =
form US what your business is with this
meeting"
The stranger answered this question by
handing letter to the Judge, whose su-
prescription was, ITO the citizens OF
Austin" The seal was broken and it
was read aloud:
Fellow CITIZENS: Though in error
and deceived by the arts of traitors. l
will give you three more days to decide
whether you viii surrender the public
archives. At the end of that time you
will please let he know your decision.
SAM HousToN.
After the letter was read, the deal
man waited moment or two for reply
and turned to leave the hall. At this
juncture. Colonel Morton interposing
v til lowering brow, beckcned him to
the table The stranger obeyed whe.
Colonel Morton wrote:
You were brave enough to insult me
by your threatening look ten minutes ago;
are you brave enough to give me satisfac-
tion p
The stranger instantly penned the re-
ply.
II am at your service"
The Colonel again wrote {:
'Who will be your second p
''This was the answer:
Il am too generous to seek advantage.
and too brave to fear any on the part Of
others: therefore need no second"
Morton wrote:
"Name your terms
The stranger wrote without second $
hesitation:
'Time, sunset this evening; place, the
left bank OF the Colorado, opposite Aus
tin; weapons. rifles; distance, a hun
cred yards. Do not fail to be in time"
That last sentence was not calculated to
soothe the feelings of the irritated Colonel
and he compressed his lips as he read it.
The next moment the stranger strobe
across the floor and disappeared through
the window in the same manner that he
had entered
"Is it possible, Colonel Morton, that
you intend to fight that MANI" exclaimed
Judge Webb. He is mute, if not a
maniac. Such meeting, fear, will
tarnish the lus,re of your laurels.'
you are mistaken" answered Nor
ton, with a smile, that mute is a hero
whose fame stands in the record of a
dozen battles and nearly as many bloody
duels. Besides he is the favorite emissary
and bosom friend of Houston If | have
the good fortune to kill him, think the
President will retract his vow against
vsnturing any more on the field of honor.
"You know the man, then? Who is
he?" asked several.
deaf Smith +"
Impossible! That cannot be. Deaf
Smith was slain al San Jacinto," repli-
ed Judge Webb.
"There again your honor is mistaken, ,
smiled Morton The story of Smiths
death was mere fiction. gotten up by
Houston himself for the purpose Of saving
the life Of his favorite from the vengence
of several Texans, ION whose conduct he had
acted the part of spy. | learned the
arti6ce over year ago"
Then you are a mailman yourself,
Colonel. Deaf Smith was never known
to miss his mark. lie has been known
to bring down ravens In their fight. and
has picked off Comanches and Mexicans
at the distance of two hundred yards.
"fhe thing is settled | fancy | can
do little Of that business myself"
But for Gods sake persisted Judge
Webb, becoming excited, I don't wan
you to be murdered"
aWho is going ia be2o asked Colone