The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-02-09
MY DIAMONDS.

And We shall see what patient ages sought
Ane dlYer's long planned gift OF Paradise
G. H. Orandall
nv DIAMONDS.
a Perilous Mission that by a Little Fore
sight Came Out all Right.
On tho 9th of May, 1876, I arrived in
Austin, Texas, with thirteen diamonds il
my possession, the aggregate value Of
which was fully 100000. They had beer
sent to certain party in New York who haG
agreed to carry them to San Antonio, Texas
where the purchaser, a wealthy merchant
and the owner Of several ranches, lived.
they were intended rs q present to his
only daughter on her birthday, the 10th OF
May. Every probable provision haa been
made to get them to the Lone Star state
several days in advance of the "auspicious
occasion, which was meant to be such a
memorable one in the life of ths dark-eyea
beauty OF the romantic old town in which
she was born and reared. The first hitch
occurred III New York, Immediately after
the diamonds came into the hands Of Fred
Barrett. the consin Of Miss Barrett, and
wno' 1t was arranged, was to deliver them
IN person TO the father. On the very day
E1ed Barrett opened the wonderful gems
~
taken violently i'll. AS he was IN athletic,
vigorous man, with no bad habits, he and his
trends supposed he wonld be himself in n
brief while, but no showed no Improvement
tor several days and finally sent for me.
The doctor says have begun to mend,
but that it will be impossible for me to
seave my room under ten days According
to the original plan, would have had am
" to- o1o>, l>oc
BUT If those diamonds do not start to-mor
COW they will be late for the interesting GER
smony and uncle would rather lose for
tune than miss such a pleasure, on which
his heart is set"
why not send them by express2 It is
quite safe-that is as safe as ANYTHING can
be in this world"
II have thought of all that, but the I'M
peratlve order from uncle was that under nc
circumstances should the diamonds 90 by
public conveyance. You know there have
been many train and stage robberies in the
west and southwest lately and these Jewels
would. be too tempting q morsel for sore
OF these gentry. The long and short of it
-, want you to take charge of and deliver
them to uncle yourself. You have been
over the route several times and know the
country more thoroughly than do" 70
be brief, l accepted the proposal and as +
stated at the beginning Preached the capital
OF Texas on the afternoon of the 9th of
May, in the centennial year.
lam naturally cool and free from nervous
ness, but there was excuse for considerable
worriment on my part. Mr.. Barrett had
been notified by telegraph that visitor
would reach his house on the night of the
10th, which would be in time for the party,
out when the preceding evening found the
messenger in Austin, that messenger felt it
Was cutting things altogether too fine for
his comfort. 1t Was full fifty miles from
the Texan capital to San Antonio and the
stage which left the former city early in the
morning required the entire day to make
the journey. The line had been established
zlany years ard there were three changes
of teams on the route. four horses AWAY
being hltched to the heavy but powerfus
coach, which very rarely indeed failed tol
rattle into San Antonio early in the even
ing With the late completion Of the rail-
road the stage company has found its occu-
patton gone.
It would have been more pleasant for ME-
had another twenty -four no RS been at my
command, but it was not that which caused
80 much uneasiness as tho conviction that
amounted to an absolute certainty that two
men were following me. How in the name
of seven wonders they learned or even sus-
pected that had such valuable property in
my custody passes my comprehension.
The utmost secrecy was used in New
York and the fiery carbon points were care
fully wrapped up in Il piece Of chamoise
skin which was as securely fastened to q
small belt passing around my waist, beneath
my clothing, and which was not to be re-
moved until the end Of my journey was
reached. A person in my situation is nat.
urally suspicious, but am sure conduct
cd myself Like the majority of my fellow
passengers, who were not supposed to be il
the possession of as much wealth as my.
self. kept close watch on them, but oh.
served nothing to cause alarm until afte1
leaving St. Louis over the Iron Mountain
Road. then became SO well satisfied tha
tive sinister looking and addressed me1
were shadowing me that declined to re-
tire to my berth and sat up smoking mos
of the time and wide awake all the way K
Iexarhana. At that dilapidated town
made the best effort could originate t
throw the hounds off my trail. I though
had succeeded for II time, but they turned
up ct Dallas, and when registered at tn,
Comm ercial Hotel their names appeared
under mine.
Long before this had fully concluded
that they had fixed on the road between
Austin and San Antonio as the ono where ]
should part company with my diamonds
and most probably with my life. Th'
chances were so favorable on that lionel,
route that they merely kept on my trail O.
rather In my company from St. Louis to III.
capital. The Situation then was that Twas du,
at a certain, point fifty miles away and with
III twenty-four hours, and that two mel
were determined that my property shOult
never reach there.
After strongly securing the door of m
room that night at the hotel sat down t
decide what should be done, for Their
could be no MISLEADING the fact that the cri
sis was ct hand. Instead OF being mental
ly tired and worn out from the continue
strain to which had been sub jected, new
er was more prepared for intense though
in all my life. I tipped my chair egains
the door, sitting with my hand on my load
ed revolver, in which position knew
would be impossible to surprise me, an
still thinking and turning over al sorts q
plans, I finally dropped asleep and did no
open my eyes until daylight. However
when I reused up and looked around m
had n1ed upon line of action. Wheth
or II would take ice through or not remain
ed to be seen, but did not hesitate to fol
low The line had laid out for myself
The next morning when the stage will
the four vigorous horses halted in front o
the hotel, the landlord went out and toll
the driver that 1 who had engaged sea
on the outside was so ill I would not b
able TO 90 with them for several days.
was stealthily watching proceedings 7ror
the upper window, and, whom the heav
vehicle numbered of. it took with it tn
two men who were following me for tn
purpose of robbery My belieflwas tha
they would leave the stage at some point o
the road and wait until it brought me along
when the ROBBERY would take place. Ther
were quite number of passengers and
had meditated taking several Of them int
my confidence. but as they were strangers
perhaps it was we'll that refrained.
An hour later sauntered down Aus,i
avenue and came upon an open wagon, i
which farmer was climbing, rs if about
start homeward. As he gathered lines i
har I asked him where he lived.
No~v, ,&o1n