Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-02-09
MY DIAMONDS.
A Perilous Mission that by q Little Fore
sight Came Out all Right.

agreed to carry them to San Antonio, Texas,
where the purchaser, wealthy merchant
and the owner of several ranches, lived.
They were intended rs a present to his
only daughter on her birthday, the 10th of
May. Every probable provision had been
made to get them to the Lone Star state
several days in advance of the "auspicious
occasion, which was meant to be such
memorable one in the life of the dark-eyed
beauty of the romantic old town in which
she was born and reared. The first hitch
occurred in New York, Immediately after
the diamonds came into the hands of Fred
Barrett, the consin of Miss Barrett, and
who, it was arranged, was to deliver them
in person to the father. On the very day
Fred Barrett opened the wonderful gems
to feast his eyes ON their beauty, he was
taken violently i'll. As he was an athletic,
vigorous man, with no bad habits, he and his
friends supposed he would be himself in
brief while, but he 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
leave my room under ten days. According
to the original plan, l would have had am
pie time to reach uncle's before the 10th,
but if those diamonds do not start to-mor
row they will be late for the interesting GER
tune than miss such pleasure, on which
his heart is set"
why not send them by express? 1t is
quite safe-that is as safe as anything can
he in this world"
81 have thought Of all that, but the i'm
perative order from uncle was that under no
circumstances should the diamonds go 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 some
of these gentry. The long and short of it
is, 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" To
be brief, I accepted the proposal and as l
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,
but 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
many years and there were three changes
of teams on the route. four horses Away
being hitched to the heavy but powerfus
coach, which very rarely indeed failed toll
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.
1t would have been more pleasant for me
had another twenty four no rs been OF my
command, but it was not that which caused
so much uneasiness as the 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 10 piece Of chamoise
skin which was as securely fastened to a
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
ed myself like the majority of my fellow
the possession of as much wealth as my
self. Kept close watch on them, but OBJ
served nothing to cause alarm until after
leaving st. Louis over the Iron Mountain
Road. I then became so well satisfied that
tive sinister looking and addressed mer
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 tt
Texarkana. At that dilapidated town
made the best effort could originate t.
throw the hounds off my trail. l though
had succeeded for time, but they turned
up at Dallas, and when registered at tn
Commercial 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 one where
should part company with my diamonds
and most probably with my life. Thu
chances were SO favorable on that lonely
route that they merely kept on my trail o.
rather in my company from ST. Louis to tn
capital. The situation then was that Twas du
at certain point fifty miles away and with
In twenty-four hours, and that two mer
were determined that my property shout,
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 installing the fact that the cri
sis was at hand. Instead of being mental
ly tired and worn out from the continue
strain to which had been subjected. I new
or was more prepared for intense though
in all my life. I tipped my chair agains
the door, sitting with my hand on my load
ed revolver, in which position I knew
would be impossible to surprise me, an
Gill fhin1ipp fr1rp al cnrfc N
plans, finally dropped asleep and did no
open my eyes until daylight. However
when I reused up and looked around m
had fixed upon a line of action. Wheth
er itwould take me 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 witt
the four vigorous horses halted in front O
the hotel, the landlord went out and toll,
the driver that who had engaged sea
on the outside was so i'll I would not b.
able to go with them for several days.
was stealthily watching proceedings fron
the upper window, and, when the heav
vehicle numbered off. it took with it tn
purpose of robbery My belieflwas tina
they would leave the stage at some point o.
the road and wait until it brought me along
when the ROBBERY would take place. Their
were quite a number of passengers and
had meditated taking several of them int
my confidence, but as they were strangers
perhaps it was well that I RETAINED.
An hour later sauntered down Austi
avenue and came upon an open wagon, i
which farmer was climbing, as If about t
start homeward. AS he gathered lines i
hand asked him where he lived.
@At New Brarnfels- long ways fror
here" he answered in decided German
accent, while he politely paused to Sc
whether had any more questions t
ask
New Baunfels is German settlement
somewhat more than half the distance I,
San Antonio, and was generally reached b,
the stage about the middle of the after
noon.
Are you about to go homer"
He replied that he was.
@Tll give you ten dollars to allow me t