The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1878-09-15
tFor the Examiner
Dan Deserts Story.
BY SAM HOUSTON

stIuHSciy cHOuRH W Hlll-HlOTe ike
the name of n ghost, than his own.
The s0briquet desert" had been
given him, in consequence of his
thorough knowledge of the "Staked
Plains" and, in fact, with almost
the entire plains of our continent.
My first impression regarding Mr..
Desert, as called him, much to his
amusement, was that, no matter how
well fitted he might be for his present
calling, the time was when quite a
different sphere of life had been his.
There was some indefnable, al
most iinperceptible tinge of refine
ment, constantly creeping into his
manner and conversation, which told
plainly, Notwithstanding his present
rough exterior, that those horny
hands had once been no strangers to
kid gloves, and that those still shape
ly limbs had, at one period, been en-
cased in glossiest broad-cloth.
However that may be, there is but
little in the appearance Of Dan Des-
ert, the "boss" guide ; with his hairy
leggins, broad hat and greasy flannel
shirt, to suggest the idea ofkid gloves
and gold headed canes. But all this
has little TO do with my story, or
rather dams and I can only say in
Justification of Tho rorcgoipg that
The impression of Dan Deserts re-
finement forced itself so STRONGLY mn
on me. tbnt feel oompelled 10 i'm
pose il upon the reader, likewise.
Dan was not much Of talkcr, and
was far from pressing his adven-
lures upon any one but we had
come to he strono friends and one
nipht. while on guard. he told me
the following story,
oSome vcars ago.n he began 81
grew tired of this Kind of life and
me. TO look once more upon the civil
lied world.
~ had saved I'M n considerable sum.
for had been for n long time. re-
ceiyinp GOOD nav. AS Government
guide, with butlittle chance ofspend-
sn~ nv money Sol determined 10
IlIrn Inv hack on the desert. and pass
liz rest of my days In peace and
comfort. / had as said a consider
able amount of money, but 1t didn't
require long. for me to find out one
Thing, and that is, a man who has
been constantly on tho plains, for a
few wears. becomes totally untitled
for any other kind of life. | had
been I'M New Orleans lust about three
months. when. through foolish ex-
travagance and some iniudicious
speculations, | found myself we'll
nigh pepniless.
II Went TO the bank, at which |
kent INV funds. and when | found
how small the balance was. in nv
favor. the plains seemed far more
attractive. than they ever had before,
and determined TO turn from the
Iollies of civilization. AT once and for.
cyer ~
FeSext morning. when came down
into tbe hotel office. the clerk handed
me A note. remember il uerbatim
HsCome TO room No.-.St Charles -
HThere was nothing striking about
the missiye, except lis brevity, ant
Vel. | was scarcely able to finish IN,
breakfast. before going TO the ST
Charles. | Knocked at door of room
No.. and was told to come in.
middle aged gentleman sat at o small
tnLlc with several paners. apparent
" containing memoranda, befor,
him.
'IIp WAS not u handsome llluIl-
rather the reverse, but there wa
something In his presence, that at
tracted me. and there is mysteriou
feeling. that his memory Away
brings.
"lIe was a tall, slender person
with sallow eoniplexion. and blacl
hnir, thin and straight. His eye
were intensely dark and bright, ye
there was set expression abou
them. in fact about the entire man
az though his thoughts, had for
long time run in one channel, an,
his whole existence been centered il
one particular object. Ny first i'm
preston was that / had come to sc
monomaniac.
| handed him his own note, as a
explanation of nv visit,
tYes., he said. Giving me a search
ing pianre. .Messrs Cowman I'm
OXley have referred me to you, a
nm experionced plains man, and
nerson on whom can RELY, in an
emergency W.
~ aid i was grateful TO Cowma
md Oxley. for their good opinion.
told MIR. Newman, that was hi
name. thai was more than willin
TO 20 with him.
iii seems ouoer 10 one. now, tn
readiness with which 1 consented {
accompany an unknown man, on