Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-07-27

similar deeds Il Arkansas and LOUIS
lana, the aggregate amount offered Tor
his capture In the three States was
s2e, 900:
THE HUNT FOR HARDIN.
The hunt for Hardin became so hot
under this extraordinary temptation
that he saw the adYisabilitY of emigrat-
ing, at least until the excitement should
blow over. Texas IS big State, but it
was too small for him, and itsoon be-
came known that he had Disappeared
BE might have gone into the Indian
nation or beyond the pale Of civilian
tion, but no ene interested in his capture
could form the least idea where TO look
for HIM. But the munlfcent reward
awaiting the man who should deliver
Hardin to the authorities melted the
best men to engage IN the hunt.
One Of these was member Of
Lieutenant Halls Rangers. as they ale
called. Texas, as may net generally
be known, is provided with hundred
brave and tried men, who constitute
what may be called her mounted police.
Thtv are under the command Of Lieu
tenant Hall and roam the State from
one end to the other of the settled
portion, hunting horse-thieves, mar
dersrs, aud all criminals that are
wauted by the authorities. Lieutenant
Hall is prepossessing young man
sandy complexion, and a splendid rifle
shot. All bis men have been tried in
the fire and can be relied on. 1t was
one Of these that determined to capture
Hardin. and who went about it in the
only fashion that promised success. He
went off beyond Austin, where the
father Of young Hardin was running q
small ranch, and giving out That ne
was hunting for similar property in the
same neighborhood, finally bought the
the one Immediately adjoining that Of
the retired preacher. This done, the
officer, as pretended cattle-raiser,
stocked it and went to work.
Month after mouth he conducted
himself in the regslatien way and
gradually became quite intimate with
the cd gentleman. After the days
toll was over they would sit together in
front ofone Of the houses, smoking their
pipes and talking about everything that
came into their minds, with the eIcep-
ton that John Wesley was never al
luded to by either. They spent hours |
in this fashion, and at other times
would gather in the village store near
by, which answered as the p0st-ofice.
where they would join in gossip and
discussion while smoking their pipes
IN the manner so popular all through |
our country.
The months passed in this fashion,
aud the summer was pretty we'll gone,
when one day the elder Hardin took
letter to the Office to mail. II was in
crumpled, yellow envelope, and directed
in a scrawling hand. The detective
walked to the store with Hardin, whe
carried the letter in his pocket, and he
made up his mlnd that It was intended
for hs sos. John Wesley. This was
the very clue fo- which tie officer had
been waiting all these months. aad this
was the first time he had secn the
reverend gentleman take letter to the
Office. 1t was necessary to see the
directions upon the Nissive, and not
only that. but he must be sure that the
discovery was made without attracting
the slightest suspicion to himself. He
saw no chance to do either while on the
road.
within The office, the Rev. Mr.. Har-
dln bought three-cent stamp, solemn
" licked it. and then pounded it upside
down on one corner of the soiled en-
velope with his horny fist, and finally
passed il over 10 the village postmaster.
While he was engaged in this deliber-
ate proceeding the detective approach
i .L ao,.s..- orl osbo1 tbA nOctpnos.
tor FOR newspaper. The official turn
ed to look FOR it,. The instant his face
was averted the officer glanced
over the shoulder of Hardin and read
the superscriplion on the envelope.
He saw that Il was directed 10 a Dir.
Samuel Jones OF whom he had never
heard, aud whose post-oflice address
was remote town in Florida. 1t made
no difference. The detective was con-
vinced he had discovered the where
abuuts OF John Wesley Hardin, for
whose capture ssch large reward was
waiting.
The couversGtirn went on a. usual
through thc evening. TIE same parties
cougregated night after night and the
detective and TIE Rev. Mr.. Hardin met
aud smoked their pipes az betere, while
The weeks and months passed BY. FIN
ally Mr.. lIardin's neighbor said lie
Guessed he would lake a lun up to Aus
in TO see about selling some OF his
cattle. Accordingly he badc his friend
good-b,c for several DAYS, mounted his
mustang and ealloped of. He never
stopped travellins-dlspensng with his
horse as soon as possible until he
reached a certain remote town 10
Florida, where gotten up as an ordi-
nary every day laborer, he took little
tramp through the surrounding country.
lie was fortunate enough that doT to
catch sight of the mythical persOnage
At work ia the field Of farmer. One
searching glance was enough. The