The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-04-12

avenue and cnnie upon an open wagon, in
which farmer was climbing, as if about to
start homeward. As he gathered the lines
in his hand I asked him where he lived.
Sat New Braunfels--a long way from
here, he answered in decided German ac-
cent, while he politely paused to see whether
had any more questions to ask.
New Braunfels is German settlement
somewhat more than half the distance to
San Antonio, and was generally reached by
the stage along about the middle of the af-
ternoon.
!" Are you about going homef"
He replied that he was.
"I'll give you ten dollars to allow me to
ride with YOU
He sturdily refused to accept anything,
but said was welcome, though there would
be little enjoyment in the trip, as his wagon
was without springs and he expected to
drive quite rapidly This suited me, how
ever, and took my seat beside him. He
had some business after / had placed my
valise inside and we were some, two hours
hehind the stage when We drove over the high
bridge which spans the Colorado and struck
off through the rich lands OF Southwestern
Texas.
became convinced from the style of the
team behind which was riding that we
would pass the stage before reaching New
Braunfels, and as / was sure my German
friend was an honest fellow made conf
dent of him and told him of my Dilemma
l 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 dozeK passengers
besides, who were doubtless armed, while /
was able to do something in my own de-
Tense.
d" see,n ho answered. "they have an
understanding with the james boys, who
will stop the stage somewhere along the
roadn
'"The dickens!n ] exclaimed care the
James boys in Texas?n
81 saw them ride through New Braunfels
last week and we shall meet them somewhere
along the road"
This was rather disquieting information,
but could only make the best of it. drew
from my yalise an old coat and damaged hat
which / donned In that hat was some
frow2y yellow hair which changed about
my forehead and ears, so that my German
friend broke out laughing at my changed
appearance.
"Now,n said !, "Let mo hold tho reins
and you keep the horses going. If / am
driving less attention will be attracted to
me-"
The accommodating fellow complied at
once and striking the spirited horses sharp
blow we ratified over the country at q lively
gait. was considerably disturbed for I
could feel no ASSURANCE that the not over
brilliant strategem Of mine had thrown my
dreaded acquaintance off the scent. AT tho
first stopping place, whore the conveyance
had changed horses we were less than an
hour behind, so we expected to gain sight of
il within a short time.
And sure enough we did Only few
miles away we saw the stago standing still
on the top of the hill, rs If the driver was
giving his horses rest after heavy pull
There were eighteen passengers, as we learn
ed, SO that the animals had mn unusually
heavy load. So we pushed steadily up the
long incline until within hundred feet of
the motionless stage, when my German
friend exclaimed:
"Great thunder? That's Jesse James! ~
There was medium sized man sitting OH
n small Texan pony, with his Winchester
rifle cooked and pointed toward the stage.
On the other side was u robber, standing
close TO the vehicle with n cooked revolver
in each hand, while third was superntend-
ing the spoliatlon of the passengers. who
We're passing over watches, purses and valu-
ables with the alacrity always displayed ON
such occasions.
was SO startled by tho sight that / drew
out to hurry by wli9p Jesse James called to
me with n frightful 18th to stop where I was
and wait till the picnic was over. 1t is need
less to say ! complied and was an absorbed
spectator of the robbery The passengers
joked aud laughed aud tried to hide their
possessions in NIL sorts of places. The
james boys INDUCED in few coarse oaths,
but offered no violence and were not very
exaeting Ill their demands. They took the
gold watches, diamond rings and such
money as was passed out to them, but no
was entirely "cleaned OUT
When they were through it was plain to
me they were disappointed, and they gallop-
I'd away, firing their pistols over their heads,
quickly vanishing in the mezquit bush. We
passed the stage and arrived at New Braun
fels an hour ahead There donned my
usual clothing, compelled my German friend
to accept gratuity and waited for the stage
to arrive.
1t was rare enjoyment to me when the
latter drove up aud I entered to study the
expression of the two men who had shadow
ed me all the way from st. Louis and had
arranged the robbery for the pur-
pose of making sure of the diamonds car
Rcd with me- They nevor heard and unless
they come across this sketch, they viii never
know how it was that the man who carried
this concentrated wealth and whom they loft
ut Austin on the 10Th of May, 1876, stood
On the porch of the hotel in New Braunfels,
on the afternoon of the same day, WHOM the
stage drove up and iourneyed to San AM
.onio, where the property was safely lodged
N the hands of the owner and by him pre-
ientcd to his daughter that evening.
~.-~ass--'~
THE JUDGE WHO FORGOT.