St. Landry democrat., 1882-07-08

frankly said I. "Colonel. this fo,,nr
man has had the strongest OF motives in
reporting the death of Clint Merely. the
train-robber, here and through the Neigh
borhood.'
motives! What do you mean?'
'Simply that this young man is Clint
Merely himself I'd swear to it!'
The Colonel was both astonishcd and
scandalized. But few words, howev-
er, were sufficient to put him in nv way
of thinking He was then engaged, and
was in favor of my arresting the rascal
at once.
But, satisfied that Morely was as vet
entirely unst1spiciouS, I preferred to put
off the arrest until the following day,
for reasons Of my own. These | pre-
sented to Colonel Lavigne so strongly
that he at last agreed to dissimulate I'M
til then, though of course with the ut
most reluctance, in view of the intimate
relations which the counterfeit son of
Judge Barker would continue to enjoy
with his family.
We accordingly returned to the bill
liard-room, as though nothing unusual
had occurred between us, and retired
for the night at an early hour.
was assigned to a room on the sec
ond-tloor. Its one window commanded
magnificent river view from the con-
siderable rise on which the house was
situated, and the moon was lust rising.
Before retiring, L looked out over the
cultivated lands and cottonwood belts,
upon the mighty river at it's flood. and
then, getting into bed, was soon asleep.
My slumber has ever been light, even
under the easiest circumstances. The
moon was still shining brightly, when |
wasEawakened by. stealthy movements
III the adjoining room. I, had seen
Merely assigned to it. He was evident
~ dressing, with what purpose re-
NAMED to be seen. l at once slipped
noise essly out of bed, and in few mo-
me1ts was dressed and accoutered for
whichever might chance.
] Had he in reality suspected my identi-
.ty, and was he now about to enter my
room with the intention of numbering
me in my sleep? or was he about to full
Fill the hopes in which had delayed his
arrest, by stealthily quitting the house
to confer with guilty confederates, Of
whom our agency had thus far had no
knowledge? PA
Hoping that the latter hypothesis
might prove the correct one, but ready
for either emergency, stood silently by
my open window, my hand on the re-
yoiver in my pocket, my eyes fastened
on the door, and listening with all my
might. a @ <
o. Presently / heard my man slip out of
kis room and down the stairs, and |
hnew he was making his way out of the
house. watched from the window till
I saw him cross the moonlighted grounds
below, and enter the belt of cottonwoods
in the direction of the river embank-
ment. Then / followed, proceeding
more swiftly than he and with equal
stealthineSs. ~
| came in sight of my man directly
after | had entered the woods. He
was going straight toward the river. in
an apparently preoccupied mood. Not
doubling that | was in luck-that l was
soon to detect him in consultation with
confederates until then unheard of by
our detective agency was following
him on with great caution, when | was
suddenly felled by a tremendous blow
from behind.
Then was set upon, and gagged and
bound, before [ could exactly imagine
what had happened, and, as my bastard
ly assailants raised me on my feet, |
perceived them to be two in number
desperate looking fellows, booted and
.spurred, and armed to the teeth. ..-.
They were laughing at me, but befo 3
they could care. to taunt me in speech,
Merely came running back to where we
were, pistol in hand, and with mock
ing menace in his laugh, as though he
haze marked what had occurred through
the back Of his head.
Trapped, by p he cried, with
suspected your real character the mo-
ment l set eyes on you, and / slipped
out of the house just now on purpose to
have you follow me- What! you would
black my game with the old Colonel
and his pretty daughter, would youP
Not much! Bring him along, boys!
Well put him to rest in the ravine at
the foot of the levee. e-~a' a es"ss'e.''.s
Gagged as 1 was,I could not utter a.
sound, and they roughly hurried me,
along the path, playfully beating me
over the head with their pistols. [ in.
wardly cursed my inlprudence, and had
not doubt but that they intended to
murder me. as was threatened.
But after we arrived at the foot Of the
levee, they seemed, alter a brief con-
sultation, to change their minds, at
least as to the manner of my death. IL
Their, intentions were soon disclosed.
They bound me scurely to an old. tree
stump oEerhanging the ditch, with my
face toward the steep incline OF the
levee. Then, disappearing over the
crest, they returned with spades, prob
81 lr ohtaino from a sk if near at hand