San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-10-06

with that fearfully sinister-iookin(
smile, Of which can convey no idea
II see we are both early risers, ant
probably for the same purpose each Il
look after his beast-s matter which NJ
good traveller ever neglects."
"Yes," ! assented, shat Is my DC
sign"
SFrom that time till after we had haf
OR morning meal and set out upon oul
Journey, there followed only the ordi
nary conversations and incidents II
keeping with the circumstances, with the
exception OF secret depression ant
dread, which all but one OF us felt, and
which all but one OF us strove to con
ceal. .. 80. rt.-u :.
In due time babe adieu to the fami
" and rode away with the terrible cous
in, secretly wondering II should evel
behold them again, or survive long
enough to clear the borders OF Texas.
My companion chatted pleasantly, a.
we rode across an open prairie, till we
had entered O belt'of rather thick wood
when he presently drew up his horse
with the remark:
"By the by, my friend, I don't be-
lieve I shall be able to accompany you
to see the farm I spoke to you about.
It has just at this moment flashed upon
my recollection that I have an import
ant engagement elsewhere. I am real
" sorry to leave you, but I trust you
will accept my excuse and apology"
Certainly" said I, feeling more de-
lightedly relieved than I wished to
have appear. II wonld not for o mo.
ment think Of occupying your valuable
time to the breaking of an engage
ment."
"Well, then, that is all right" he
said, pleasantly; "and now to business.
Ny cousin Amos informed me that you
had taken great fancy in my horse
and wanted to trade with me-"
This was all false; I had never said
anything about his horse, which was
by no means equal to my own; but re-
membering the warning Miss Sinclair
had given me, I acquiesced, and said I
should be delighted to trade.
"What boot do you think ought to
have ?" he asked.
"What do you think yourself?" I
returned?"
dred dollars?"
As horses sold in Texas then, his
animal was worth about fifty, and mine
hundred, and, of course, this was
merely genteel way Of robbing me.
But knew that was in his power;
and knew, moreover, from what ] had
seen, that he was man to be feared if
thwarted; and SO 1 at once agreed to
his proposition.
We exchanged horses then and there,
managed to fish up the amount from
one of my secret hiding places and pay
him the boot-money.
II notice you have very beautiful
watch and ring" he said.
(Which hope you will do me the
honor to accept as apresent," rejoined,
as passed them over to him.
He smiled and thanked me, and then
remarked, that as his cousin Nellie had
taken great interest in me, he hoped
should find suitable place in the
vicinity, marry her, settle down. and
become good citizen of the State.
"When you see my dear cousin Mel
lie again" he said, as he took my hand
at parting, "you need not mention our
trade to her-nor in fact to any one
else. A little quiet business between
ourselves, you understand? And in
other places and after-time, if you should
ever hear any ugly stories told about
the terrible desperate, John Feathers,
or Rowing Jack, you will be kind
enough, in contradiction, to mention
the pleasant interview you have had
with me-"
"Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "are
you really Rowing Jack?"
II have the honor, sir, to be so called,
and also to wish you very good-morn-
ing" he said, as he took off his hat,
bowed politely, wheeled his horse
(late mine), and cantered off through
the wood in gallant style.
was so astonished at this disclosure,
and my escape with life from the bloody
hands of human fiend who was rarely
ever known to spare any one in his
power, that for minute or two I sat
there completely stupefied; and then I
went my way, bordering deeply.
But that way led me entirely clear of
all that region Of Texas; nor did ever
return to visit the relatives of SO for
midable desperate as Rowing Jack,
whose next bloody exploit, as I subse-
quently heard it narrated, consisted in
his shooting for men, killing two, and
escaping from sheriffs posse of twelve.
As have never heard of his death
or capture, 1 suppose John Feathers,
alias Rowing Jack, is still living, and
still the terror of whatever region he
boldly roves over.
I will merely add, that SO quick was
his eye, and so great was his skill, that
with his six-shooter he could stand in
the center and turn and snuff six can
d1ae in succession in n circle of tvontv