Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-02-23

that we would pass the stage before
reaching New Braunfels, and az was
sure my German friend was an honest
fellow made con6dant Of him and
told him of my dilemma. / had in my
possession some very valuable jewelry,
and there were two men in the stage
ahead who had planned TO rob me. He
naturally asked how that could be
done, when there were over n dozen
passengers besides, who we're doubt
less armed, while / was able TO do
something in my own defense.
81 see" he answered; "they have an
understanding with the James boys,
who will stop the stage somewhere along
the road"
"The dickensl' exclaimed, "are the
James boys in Texas2"
IL saw them ride through New
Brauniels last week and We shall meet
them somewhere along the road"
This was rather disquieting informa-
ton, but l could only make the best OF
IT. drew from my valise All old coat
and damaged hat which / donned. In
the hat was some Ifrowsy yellow hair
which " banged about my forehead
and ears, so that my German friend
broke out laughing at my changed ap-
pearance.
Now" said l. Let me hold the
reins and you can keep the team going.
II am driving less attention will be at
tracted to me"
The accommodating fellow complied
at once, and striking the spirited horses
sharp blow We ratified Off over the
country at lively gait. l was con-
siderahly disturbed, for / could feel no
assurance that the not over brilliant
stratagem Of mine had thrown my
dreaded acquaintances of the scent. At
the 0rst stopping place, where the con-
veyance changed horses, We we're less
than an hour behind, so we expected to
gain sight of it within a short time.
And sure enough we did. Only few
miles away We saw the stage standing
still on the top of hill, as il the driver
was giving his horses a rest after the
heavy pull. There were eighteen pas
sengers, as We learned, 80 that the four
animals had an unusually heavy load.
SO We pushed steadily up the long in
cline until within n hundred feet of
the motionless stage, when my German
friend eXclaimed:
Great thunder That's Jesse James I"
There was one medium-sized man sit
ting on a small Texan pony, with his
Winchester rife cooked and pointed
toward the stage. On the other side
was another robber standing close to
the vehicle with 4 cooked revolver in
each hand, while third was superin-
tending the spoliation OF the passen.
gers, who we're passing over watches,
purses and valuAbles with the alacrity
always displayed on such occasions.
l was so startled by the sight that I
drew out to hurry by whom Jesse James
called to me with q frightful oath to
stop where I was and wait till the pic
mic was over. 1t is needless to say I
and vas an absorbed spec
tator Of the robbery. The passengers
joked and laughed and tried TO hide
their possessions il ali sorts OF places.
The James boys indulged in few
coarse oaths. but ofrewd no violence
and we're not very eIacting in their
demands. They took the gold watches
diamond rings and such money as was
passed out to them, but NJ passenger
was entirely "cleaued out"
When they were through it was plain
to me they we're disappointed, and they
galloped away, firing their pistols over
their heads, quickly vanishing in the
mezquit bush. We passed the stage
and arrived at New Braunfels an hour
ahead. There / donned my usual
clothing, compelled my German friend
to accept gratuity and waited for the
stage.
Itwas rare enjoyment to me when the
latter drove up and I entered to study
the expression of the two men who had
shadowed me all the way from st.
Louis and had doubtless arranged the
robbery for the purpose OF making sure
Of the diamonds I carried with me.
They never heard, and unless they
come across this sketch, they will never
know how it was that the man who car
ried this concentrated wealth and whom
they left i'll in Austin on the tenth of
May, 1876, stood on the porch Of the
hotel OF New Braunfels, on the after.
noon of the same day, when the stage
drove up and iourneyed with them to