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

forehead as my hair stiffened and liter
ally stood on end. I was transfixed
with fear. For a few seconds l couldn't
stir hand nor foot. uor could | speak a
word. l never had dreamed that the
horseman was anything other than a
Texan cowboy. rough but hospitable -
one who had probably killed his man,
bit who was not dangerous character.
Finally managed to turn my eyes
as to look at Hardin. He was little
back of me, riding straight at me. with
peculiar smile on his face-a smilo
which l was sure meant my death. -
Hardin had shot down a sheriff short
time before in cold blood and he thought
n more OF human life than he did oil
brushing away fly. l was certain he
would shoot me dead within the next
three minutes. had my revolver at
my hip, but did not dare attempt to
diax, Tor the Instant L moved hand in
that direction he would send bullet
through my BRAIN. In fact did not
dare move at all. l recall that the cad
Of my nose began to itch terribly and
yet l vas afraid to raise my baud to
scratch it, through dread of drawing his
fire.
BY and by I managed to stammer: 4
-beg-your pArdon-but-I didn't
know 1t was you, Mr.. Hardin
Ijudge not, he SAID, with the same
horrid grin on his face. 'I've only got a
word to add. When you're travelling
through Texas learn who your pardner
is. Don't talk too free about yeur
betters. Good day, SIR and he wheeled
Of to the right, while I took to the left.
1 struck my mustang into gallop, but
for q few moments I was sure Hardin
would send a ball from his rifle after N me
and when he did that he never failsd 10
'hit hard Ne psn can describe my
agony Of apprehension for a minute or
so, but when l glanced furtiyely over
my shoulder the little herseman was
riding leisurely along beyond rile-shet
Snd did not look behind him
A HEARTLEss DESPERATE.
He spared my life that morning
merely because the whim happened to
take possession of him, for more
heartless desperate and more deliber-
ate murderer never lived than Jehn
Wesley Hardin. He was what might
be called the product Of the recon-
structioc days OF Texas, as he reached
his young manhood at time when tie
State was under military rule and when
public feeling was such as TO develop all
the innate devlltry in mans nature.
When Hardin was yet boy lie began
the amusement OF shooting negroes
He and one or two reckless companions
would visit picnic, create a distur-
bsnce, then begin shooting right
and left. When they we're eut Of am
munition or the signs we're uSpro-
pilious they would mount their horses
aud dash away. Again they would
gallop through company OF negroes
with the object of seeing who could kill
the most, with their mustangs IN full
speed. But shooting of 'niggero' be-
came monotonous 10 Hardin, and he
began picking of these Of his own race.
1t would require hours to tell the san
culinary afirays III which he was ell
gagged, and iu which he emerged the
sole survivor. Some of these, perhaps
were deiensible, as he was not always
the blamable party, but the majority Of
them were simply cold, blooded muir
ders.
About FIVE years ago a uOted bully
below Austin shot young man on the
street one evening while he was pro-
menadiug with a young lady to whom
he WAS engaged. 1t was done in pure
wantsnness, and, OF course, the fellow
was never punished by the law, but
brother Of the ectim was so inturi2ted
over the deed that he caught up a double
b ,rrelled shotgun and started eul Tor
the mur derer. Hardin asked him what
he intended TO do, and was told. Har-
din laughed, aud warned him that It
would De sure death Tor HIM to at
tempt any such thing. But the young
man would not be dissuaded. He mea1t
to shoot down like a dog the wretch
who lad done the same to his brother.
Very WE'LL said Hardin, 4 will 60
along aud see fair play
The young man caught sight of the
wretch for whom he was looking on the
onposite side of the street, and delibcr-
alely raised his gun aud took aim. JUS
as he pulled the trigger the cnmidai
observed him. but too late 10 escape or
get the drop on the boy. The latter
pulled trigger aud the gun missed IRE.
The desperate smiled grizzly, and
drawing up his revolver, said;
NOV ipsmy turn; that's just absul
nv distance, aud to prevent any ac-
cidents, my kid, won't giye you tim e
to say your prayers He had reached
that poiat in hi, address, when john
Wesley Hardin took hand in the little
game and The speaker never completed
his sentence. apd never will, inasmuc'
he he dropped dead at the most interest
ING point, killed by a shst from Hai-
din. pistol. This was about the best
thing Hardin ever did, and yet, when
I questioned him about it, he would not
admit tlat he I'd the killing. The
most that he could be got to admit was
They sa5 did il, and that was all he