Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1878-03-14
The strsnger penned his reply: .

Morton wrote again: ''Who will be
rour second =
The stranger rejoined: Il am tco
generous to seek an advantage, and
toe brave to fear any on the part OF
others; therefore L never need the
aid Of n second -
Morton wrote: ''name youl
eruas. -
The stranger wrote, without.a mo-
nent's hesitation: Time. sunset
this evening; place, left bank of the
Colorado, opposit Austin; weapons,
ifies; aud distance, hundred Yards.
Don fail to he IN time
lie then walked across the floor.
tnd disappeared through the window
IS suddenly as he had entered.
What, exclaimed Judge Webb,
lis it possible you intend to fghl
that man, Colonel? He is mute if
not maniac. Such a meeting, l lear.
will sadly tarnlsh your Iaurels.'
You are mistaken said Morton.
with smile; THAT mute is a hero
whose name stands in the records OF
dozen battles, and nj least as many
bloody dGeis. Besides, he is favor
tic cmissary and bosom friend of
Houston. If have the good fortune
to Kill him, think it will tempt the
president to retract his vcnturing an,
more upon the field of honor"
You know the man. then! Who
is Ir:'
Deaf Smith"
No, that cannot I5c, Deaf Smith
"as killed at san Jacinto," said
Jdjgc Wenb.
There, again, your honor is mis-
taken,' said Morton. The story of
Smiths death was mere fiction. cot
"p 'y iiou-Jon 10 say, tie HE oi his
ITori:r nom The sworn vengeance
of ceItnin FcNan7. on whose conduct
BE had acted a~ 81 spy. Ioand thai
put twelve months ago.
'In"n y"u are "a inal n1an youl-
clt,,' exclaimed Webb. Deal Smith
"a- never known to miss his mark 81
','iae thtnz Is settled, 81 said Aior-
ton. i have agreed TO meet him.
fh,rc can bc no is"racc in falling
h.lorr such Il shot, and II kill him
It viii he ihr gteatest feat Of nv
.lifp.
Toward evening vast crowd az
scmh'cl 10 witness the meeting, and
So great was The popular reckiee,uess
a. to affairs Oh tiis sort that bets were
ntiosaI a,sE talss.v s-,. ali lids ,7grn Tie
result. At sunset .wn men aniyei,
with long, heavy rifles, took their
places hack 10 hack, and at & signal
walked slowly an,i steadily of in OPP
poaiic directions, counting their steps
mtl each had measured fifty. They
both completed the given number
at about the same instance and wheel
ed around. As the distance was
great both paused for some seconds.
The face of Col. Morton was calm
and smiling. The face of Deaf Smith
was as stern and impassiye as ever.
The Colonel was in broadcloth, the
scout in smolle-tinte leather.
The two rifles exploded at the same
instant. Col. Morton sprang into
the air and dropped to tho earth dead.
Deaf Snill quietly reloaded his rifle,
and walked away into the forest.
Three days afterward Gen. Hous-
ton accompanied by Deaf Smith and
ten other men, appeared in Austin
and removed tile state papers.
Deaf Smith was one of the most
extraordinary characters ever known
i'll the West. He made his advent in
Texas at an early period, and contin-
ued to reside there until his death,
which occurred about 1850. But,
although he had many warm friends,
no one had ever learned where lie had
been born or any particulars of his
previous history. Whcn he was
questioned on the subject, he laid his
fingers on hie lip. His eve was quick
and far-secing as an angles. and his
nose rs keen as a ravens. He could
discern Objects miles away ON the
prairie when others saw nothing but
caI th and sky; and the savages used
to t.eclare he conld catch the scent
of 4 Mexican or an Indian ut as great
distance "a n hnzzmd his dinner.
He could never be pnrsuad,d d 10 sleep
under the roof oi' house, or even II
tent cloth.