The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-04-13
finger from his lip, and laid it on the

'Lct hlm alone. Morton, for Goa :
Salic." exclaimed his friends. sd,
yen not see that he is crazy ;"
At this momont, Judge Webb, Il man
of shrcwd and uWtcous manner
stepped forward aud addressed til,
intruder courtrou>|y:
"My good friend, presume YOU
, have made Il mistake in the house.
This is Il private meeting, where none
but members are admitted"
The stranger did Not appear to com
prtlrnd thu. words; but he did the
courtesy. Waiting TO table in the
crntnc Of the room hc seized 4 pen
and traced one line, 81 am deaf"
Judge Werb took the paper and
wrote IA question: "Dcar sir; Will you
bc so ohliSinG as to inform us what
is Your business with the mectingo'
Th" stranger at once handed him q
letter inscribed, "To the scitizcns of
| Austin.' He broke the seal and read
it aloud. 1t was from Houston:
Fellow Citizens: Though in error,
and deceived by the arts of traitors, ]
! will give You three days more to de-
eide whether you will surrender the
puzzle archives. At the end of that
time You will please let me know your
decision. SAM HOUSTON.
| After the reading the deaf man
waited for a few seconds, as if for a
reply, and then turned and was about
to leave the hall when Col. Morton
stcrnly bcckoncl him back to the ia
bic. The stranger obeycd, and Nor
ton wrote: "You were brave enough
insult me BY your threatening looks
ten minutes ago: are you brave
enough now to give me satisfaction 2
The stranger penned his reply: ~
am at your services
Norton wrote again: "Who will DC
yonr second ?"
Tie stranger rcjoincd: 81 am toe
generous to seek an advantage, anC
too brave to fear any on the part OF
others: therefore never need the aid
of second"
Morton wrote: "Name your TERMS
The stranger wrote, without mo-
ments 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 time
He then walked across the floor an(
disappeared through the window as
suddenly as he had entered.
"What!' exclaimed Judge Webb
lis it possible you intend to fight thai
man, Colonel? He is a mute, if not ;
maniac. Such meeting ] fear vii
sally tarnish yonr ]anrels.'
"You are Mistaken" said Morton
with a smile; "that mute is hero
whose name stands in the records of {
dozen battles, aud at least half AZ
many bloody due's. Besides he is {
favorite cmmisary and bosom frient
of Houston. If have tho good for
tune to kill him, think it will temp
the President to rctract his vow
against venturing any more upon the
field of honor"
"You know the man, them WHO
is he ?" asked twenty voices together
"Dcaf Smith,
"No, that cannot he. Deaf fSmitl
was killed at San Jacinto," said Judge
Webb.
"There again your honor is mista
ken,' said Morton. 1.-The story o
Smiths death was a mere fiction go
up by Houston to save the life of BIZ
favorite from the sworn vengeance Of
certain Texans, on whose conduct he
had acted as a spy. found that on
twelve months ago.
"Then you are a mailman yourself!
exclaimed Webb. "Deaf Smith wa
never known to miss his mark"
"The thing is settled" said Morton
81 have agreed to meet him. There
can be no disgrace in falling befor
such shot, and if kill him it vii
bo the greatest feat of my life"
Toward EVENING" vast crowd as
sembled to witness the meeting, ant
so great was the popular recklessnes
as to 0tfairs of this sort that bets wer
taken and offered on all sides upo
the result. At sunset the two men ar
rived, with long, heavy rifles, tool
their places, back to back, and at
signal walked slowly and steadily Of
in opposite directions, counting thcl
steps until each had measured fifty
They both completed the given mum
Der at about the same instant an
wheeled around. AS the distance wa
great both paused for some second
The face of Col. Morton was calm an
smiling. The face of Deaf Smith wa
as stern and impassive as ever. Th
Colonel was in broadcloth, the scou
, in smoke tinted leather.
The two rifles exploded at the sam
instant. Col, Morton spraDg into tn
air and dropped to the earth dead
Deaf Smith quietly reloaded his rift
, and walked away into the forest.
Three days atterward Gen. Housto
accompanied by Deaf Smith and te
other men, appeared at Austin, an
removed the State papers.
Deaf Smith was one of the most Q:
t1aordinary characters ever known j
, the West. He made bis advent ln
y Texas at an early period, and cont'r'
. ed to reside there until his dealt
+ which occurred, believe about lo5
! But, although he had many war
y friends, no one ever learned where
, had been born or any particulars
!, his previous history. When he W
= questioned on the subject, be laid b
y finger on bis lip. His eye was quiz
and far-seeIng as an eagles, and h
;. nose as keen as a ravens. He cou
discern objects miles away on tt
). prairie, when others saw nothing b
o,tl, and st,r. ,nd tho Savanna ucl