The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1881-08-18
Month after month he conducted him

became quite intimate with the old gem
tleman. After the days toll was over
they would sit together in front of one
of the houses, smoking their pipes and
talking about everything that came into
their minds, with the exception that
John Wesley was never alluded to by
either. They spent hours in this FASH
ion, and at other times would gather in
the village store near by, which answered
as the post Office, 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, and
the summer was pretty well gone, when
one day the elder Hardin took letter
to the Office to mail. It was in a
crumpled, yellow envelope, and din ected
in scrawling hand The detective
walked to the store with Hardin, who
carried the letter in his pocket, and he
made up his mind that it was intended
for his son, John Wesley. This was the
very clue for which the officer had been
waiting all these months, and this was
the first time he had seen the reverend
gentleman take letter to the Office. It
was necessary to see the directions upon
the missive, and not only that, but he
must be sure that the discovery is made
without attracting the slightest suspicion
to himself. He saw no chance to do
either while on the road. -.. II.
Within the office, the Rev. Mr.. Hardin
brought a three-cent stamp, solemnly
licked it and then pounded it upside
down on one corner of the soiled envel.
ope with his horny fist, and finally
passed it over to the village postmaster.
While he was engaged in this deliber-
ate proceeding the detective approached
the counter and asked the postmaster
for newspaper. The official turned to
look for it. The instant his face was
averted the officer glanced over the
shoulder of Hardin and read the super
scription on the envelope. He saw that
it was directed to Mr.. Samuel Jones,
of whom he had never heard, and whose
postoffice address was a remote town in
I f1ofIda. 1t made no dlfference. the
detective was convinced he had discov-
| cred the whereabouts of John Wesley
Hardin, for whose capture such large
reward was waiting.
The conversation went on as usual
through the evening. The same parties
| congregated after night, and the detect
i've and the Rev. Mr.. Hardin met and
| smoked their pipes as before, while the
weeks and months passed by. Finally
Mr.. Hardin's neighbor said he guessed
he would take run up to Austin to see
about selling some of his cattle. Ac-
cordingly he bade his friend good-by
for several days, mounted his mustang
| and galloped off. He never stopped
traveling-dispensing with his horse as
soon as possible-until he reached cer-
tain remote town in Florida, where,
gotten up as an ordinary everyday
laborer, he took little tramp through
the surrounding country. He was for
tunate enough that day to catch sight
of the mythical parsonage at work in
the field of farmer. One searching
glance was enough. The high, broad
cheek-bones, the small, piggy eyes, the
beardless face and slight muscu'a ar 6g-
ure belonged to John Wesley Hardin
and no one else. That young man walk
ing about was moving treasure-box OF
$4,000, waiting for some one to come
and turn the key and walk off with the
contents. Did the officer do it? Not
by any means. He simply took the one
all-sufficient glance and passed by and
out of sight. He would no more have
ventured over the fence into the field to
to arrest the desperate than he would
have attempted to put a bit in the mouth
of raging Bengal tiger.
In desultory talk with the station
agent, who was also the telegraphist
near by, the officer learned that Sam
Jones was accustomed once or twice a
week to take the cars and ride to a sta
ton about twelve miles above, where he
was paying his addresses to some lady.
The officer made an arrangement by
which the agent agreed to telegraph him
at the upper station whenever the myth.
ical Sam Jones should board the train.
OF course the agent could be trusted to
keep the secret, as that was part OF
his business, though he was far from
suspecting the importance of the case.
Having done all he could, the detective
took the cars to the station above, where
he spent several days in lounging about
and smoking bad cigars while waiting
for the dispatch. At the end of three
days it came.
| e.:
"Jones has Just boarded the train sits in
last car; man with him; nobody else in the
90. "lgent."
The officer had Just enough time in
which to complete his arrangements. II
was a warm, sultry day, even fer tina!
season, and as the little locomotive came
wheeling into the depot, with two
rickety cars behind it, there were five
passengers waiting at the depot appar.
emily to get on board, but as the carr
slowed up one of these men, with 6
Winchester rifle at full cock, stationed
himself near the side window, assuming
such position that neither of the two
Young men, who sat in their shiri
sleeves, noticed him.
The next minute two other men, fully
armed, boarded the rear platform and
entered the door; at the same instant
the detective and friend entered the
front door and moved carelessly dowI
the aisle in the direction of the two pas
sengers. The latter glanced up sharply
but saw nothing to cause misgiving, ant
continued talking. The next momen
the officer reached point in the aisl
! directly opposite the couple. Stopping
suddenly, he exclaimed
"How are you, John Wesley Har
din ?"
As quick as lightning the desperad,
= threw his hand back to his hip to draw
, his revolver. As he did so one of thos
= behind him grasped his arm and tn
fight began. The two strong men pre-
| cipitated themselves upon Hardin, who
though disarmed, fought like wild cat
. They got him down in the aisle, wher
they finally overpowered and put tn
nippers on him. While they were doin
/ this the other two officers were engage
e in deadly struggle with the other des
e perado, who showed an overweening am
|, bition to mingle in the business. Th
9 only way convenient to dissuade hir
2 was to shoot him dead, which was done
: All this time the other friend held hi
!. position on the outside with his cooke
q Winchester, rather more than willing +
l. fire if only a suitable pretext should pre-
q sent itself.
|. Hardin was taken back to Texas, tried
o found guilty and sentenced to twenty
it five years imprisonment. He is now j
: the State Penitentiary at Austin, wher