Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1875-07-23
REWARDINe A TRAITOR.

: REwARDINe A TRAIT0R.
The following incident il one Of III
many legends still told of JOAQUIN Mnr
, eta-the king Of the cut throsts. pirate q
the placers, marauders of the mines. tn
MINER scourge, and dozen especially CON
pllmentary titles. many of which he ha,
fairly earned by his deeds of daring an,
lcruekY. sThia, together with other facts
IN indebted for TO my friend, ,JohI
Lynch. of Kansas City, Missouri.
joaquin Murieta left his band .t th
rendezvous beside the Aroyo Cantuya
and rode on down to Weaversville. III
wore no disguise; indeed this he seldom
used. though occasionally be would ft tn,
traditional bit of Grape over his face be
fore entering into IN adventure where h,
might be recognized, and true descrip
ton of bis person bs thus scattered owe
, the country. 1t was with Joaquin as Il
was with Kit Carson some years previ
|ous'y. He was made out nondescrip
monster, more wild beast than man, q cian,
IN size. satyr in looks. Just as Mr.. C,
l.. Aiken, in a couple of tales of noun
lain adventure, drew KIT Carson a owe,
six feet in height. of enormous muecuIal
strength. with deep chestel voice, i" like
thst OF an angered lion. Thus Joaquin
had little fear of being recognized from
these descriptions, since bis was a straight
built, graceful figure, with handsome face
with almost womanly gcnlleness and
beauty.
The outlaw intended stopping At the
house of secret member of his band. one
Juan Baratta. who was employed Is spy
whose duty it was to inform Joaquin of
any movement that might be on foot to
capture or attack him. Murieta liked and
fully trusted Baratta, and twice, when the
Mexican was in danger of his lite, Joaquin
had rescued him almost at the cost of his
own life. This occurred further down the
country. nearly year previous to the date
|of this sketch.
Whatever Joaquin's object may have
oeen-and it was meyer really known toI
any but himself-it called him frequently
INTO Weaversville, where he was nightly
visitor to the gambling tables and fandan-
goes. though at one he played light, and
at the other remained mele spectator
though closely scrutinizing each new ar
rival.
He was starting out upon one of thuse
visits, just after dusk, when cookbook
ii999. ii999. YOU'VE. Mexican -Yo9an. one of bar
him. making . sign for him to follow
Joaquin l,stlessly obeyed, though feeling
little taste just then for an amorous en-
coulter, to obtain which, he doubted not,
the signal had been given. But for once
he was mistaken. The womar's business
was of far deeper importance.
''Senor Joaquin, you are in danger,
were her first words.
The outlaw laughed slightly. When
was he not in danger! For years he had
carried hisllfe in his hand, a prize for any
man bold enough to take it.
"Tis no laughing matter, seDor," 2
little testify. added the woman. If you
do not heed my warning your band will
be without . leader by this time to-mor-
row."
What do you meant Speak out plain,
returned Joaquin, impressed by her sober,
earnest tone.
To-day, while you were sleeping, mas
Ter had 4 visitor. knew the man by repu-
t.tion-it was Juan Smit. the Americana
40 listened at the door, and heard them
bargaining for your life They did moi
come to terms then, but the man sa'd mel
would consult with his partners. and call
again tonight with bis answer. You can
easilv find out whether l have told you
The truth by watching the house..
Muriets was more deepl1 affected than
he woulc have acknowledged to think that
Juan Bsratta, the man whomhe had dareo
so much to save from death, was now
plotting his benefactor's death.
i can hardly believeit, but ! will watch
l.ud see. If you have told me the truth
|I'N-" ..
whist some one is coming now; it
NAV he the man. hurriedly muEmured
,hc woman n the sound Of footsteps and
low voices came to her ear.
Ioeouin drew back and crouched down
beneath : clump Of shrubbery. Two men
brushed closely past his covert, ana NJ
rieta caught the words:
.Hc savs he'll show us where to lay our
h.nda on the greaser If We promise 70
give him half the reward
The End Of the sentence VS. lost = tne
man fastened on. But joaquin had heaio
.rcr,h 70 zee that there wss some tru!n
+, vhas the woman had told him. ne
st.rted forward, one hand falling ins"nc-
lively upon his revolves-scsoosio. !: nc
90. not : little astouisbed to find 1t gone:
4, nr,t : suspicion Of treachery crossed
| hi. mind, bot then be remembered having
left the pistol upon the STOOL oes''' .''
bed. ~
A. he turped around 10 speak to the wo'
man JOAQUIN found that she nao o'sp
re.red. He seem TO delioe'ats Tor mo
m.u,. then. Is II his course was dec'aeo
unon. he retrsced bis steps toward 'ne
building. ..a. n.e
Joaquin had more than once meos 49, ~
Iof this refuge while the enfsseo ".os.
vere hunting for bic trs'l. swearing 'e'n'
Ne venoeauce upon the rsd-handeo nv,
~. ~ .rS ,housh 'twss now dark he found
a aiH,cnitv in entering By ihs back .V
ma gaining his room unobssfveo y . e''ss.
-.,.,ss - their master. CaatiousIy