Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1882-02-23


''This wagon is in the employ of
the United States government, and
no one but regularly authorized Of
fetal can search it,
The fellow, however. still persisted.
but as he laid his hand on the sheet
well directed blow from Ernest laid
him out.
The one Oh the bank started to
draw his revolver, but before he
could do SO | had him covered. One
learns to be quick with the pistol on
the frontier, where q mans life may
depend upon his getting the drop on
some rutiian.
The ferryman, terrified at the scene
before him, had remained very quiet,
but now at a sign from Ernest,
pushed the boat from the bank.
Ernest, keeping the PROSTATE man
covered with his pistol, spoke to the
one left behind:
II shall take your companion with
lis as hostage for your good con-
duct. If you shoot after us, he suf-
fers. Remembers
We crossed the river without acci-
dent, the battied ruffian on the bank
making the air resound with curses.
When we reached the Texas side.
Ernest turned to me:
Frank, drive my wagon up to the
bank to where yours is, while 1 see
this fellow back ACROSS the river.
Beecher, take your skiff and row him
over; he will hardly hurt you. If he
tries, | will put bullet through him.
After seeing his captive into the
sbiff, first discharging all his weapons.
he spoke to the now covered man.
"When You get to the other side,
| stand on the bank till the boat returns.
If YOU attempt to go into the bush or
try any other treachery | will shoot
you.'
The ferryman put him across the
river and returned, and Ernest came
up the bank to where the wagons
were. Meanwhile | had driven up
| Z l., =, E
the wagon from their uncomfortable
covering. They were nearly smoth-
cred, but had made no movement un-
til all was safe.
The young man jumped to the
ground, and, with simple grasp of
the hand, and the earnest words, Il
thank YOU BOTH assisted his COM
panion out.
Ernest now came up, and to him
the stranger returned:
Il owe you my life, and if ever |
can i'll some measure pay so great Il
debt, trust me | shall not he found
wanting
Il am glad to have been of service
to YOU" said Ernest simply. II
think you are safe for the night.
There is no other ferry within twenty
miles, and they will not cross any
one after night. Red River is too
high TO swim over. If YOU remain
with us tonight, we can make the
| lady a bed in the wagon, and the rest
of Us must take the ground. You
can tell us then how you managed to
oct into this scrapc."
After some further discussion, it
was arranged, and we went into camp.
Supper over and the horses staked
off, the young lady retired to one of
the wagons, while the rest of US, at
some little distance. reclined on the
blankets and saddles, guarded by our
faithful dog. Nothing could come
within hundred yards of the camp
without his giving US warning.
Then the stranger whose name was
Herndon, gave us an account of how
he happened to come to the river in
such plight.
''Some months since | was in the
Chickasaw nation, buying cattle
when / became acquainted with a Mr.
Williams, who had married and set
, tied among the Indians.
Il found it convenient to go very
, often to his house, about cattle,
y persuaded myself at first, but l sool
had to acknowledge that the attrac
ton was his daughter Lily, the young
O lady who is with me.
s "She is only eighth Indian, wei
leducated, and as to her beauty yol
e can see for yourselves. She soon be
d gan to look with favor upon me, ant
b. l asked her Of her father. He wa
n willing, and we were engaged.
''But there were three sons of th
n old man by a former marriage with
!. white woman, who hated me from th
- start. l think they had hoped to ge
possession of Lily's property, bu
r knew if l married her, there woul
d be but little chance of that. Matter
e went on, however. was too bapp
1t to care much for them, although the
= became more unbearable eveay day
IS They bore no good reputation in tn
lie country, and l was warned agains
them more than once.
l. "Three days ago the explosio
came. | was walking with Lii,
n when the youngest of the three me
% us, and, after a few insulting word:
accused me of dishonorable conduct.
le ssIt was more than l could stant
IN and 7 snrano toward him tn striL