San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1879-03-08


Was ho afraid that man with broken
leg would escape? l was still more
SURPRISED. when, on entering the room,
found it empty! He motioned mo to
chair, and remarking lie would soor
return, left the room,
For the first time / was somewhat
nervous and suspicious. The empty
room, the last action of my guide, his
carelessness on our way as to the health
of the supposed injured man, the lonely
house and neighborhood--all combined
to make me suspect foul play.
! stepped to the door only to find it
locked from the outside-to the window
only to find escape impossible there.
It was muny feet from the ground.
NV suspicious we're now certainties.
/ was trapped. None OF friends, moi
even my wife, knew where l was.
might be murdered in this den, and my
death remain mystery. l suppose
waited about an hour before heard
the key turn in the door Then, to my
lis,nay, half adozen men entered.
When nature made the jail-bird who
had led me into this trap, she did not
break the mould. These gentlemen
we're of the same pattern. All wore the
,ame hang-dog. murderous look. Ont
Of them raised the light in the room
which had beer turning low. Witt
hardly glanc: ne they took seatS
upon the Aco4 began to play cards
Soon the 10 ain opened, and an
other man ell. u. hardly had Il
nope rs looked at him, for saw Tho
.xulting face of my enemy, Dick Som
rs! ... j.t.. ... :
At glance he saw | recognized HIM
With malicious leer he stepped for
ward, and, quoting his own words OF
5wo years before, he said:
You have ruined my love and my
life. Remember that, and fear mel"
"Somers," l said-for my life }.
,ouldn't have called him Mr.. Somers -
/ know that you have trapped me here
or the purpose of revenging yourself
.pon me, but remember, sir, that have
riends! Remember law and justice!
I fearnothing," he answered. Re
ycngc on you is dearer to Inc than life
md though for me the bottomlcss PIT
we're yawning, I would have it"
saw it was useless to appeal to thl@
man, and l silently waited for what
,eemed fate.
At his command the ruffians searched
me. One of them appeared to be II
kind of treasurer for the gang, who Sc
cured my watch and pocket book. Then
they tied me with stout ropes to chair
Somers did not address me again, but
sat upon the floor gambling with the
rest. ....
Presently he arose, and saying he
would return by daybreak, left the
room. He evidently felt that ] was III
his power, and seemed in no hurry to
complete his revenge.
When he had gone the card playing
was kept up for u couple OF hours
Then they all stretched themselves mp
on the floor and slept. The door
opened inward, and across it was the
burly form of the treasurer. In spite
of the apparent hopelcssncss of trial,
[ set about devising some plan of es-
cape.
The first thing was to free myself. ]
have large wrists and small hands. In
tving me they had not taken this into
consideration. Without much difficulty
[ liberated my hands; then, OF course,
it was the work of but a few seconds to
entirely free myself from the bonds.
Taking the precaUtion to place the
ropes in such position that should any
of the gang awaken would stillappear
to he bound. | thought upon my chan
ces of escape. They certainly appeared
very few and small The fact of the
men upon the floor being asleepseemed
little in my favor. could not move
The ruliian who was sleeping ut the door
without waking him. As | have before
stated. escape by the window was i'm
possible. Every plan that suggested
itself haJ insurmountable objections to