Daily Republican., 1882-05-31
"Who Comes There"

Senator Vest, of Missouri, was asket
II he had ever met the James boys
and he replied he bad once, and undel
circumstances calculated to impress
themselves upon his memory. Charging
his hearers not to repeat the story
which injunction one of the group,
popular young Missouri Congressman
failed to bear in mind, the Senator re
lated his experience somewhat as fol
lows:
Old Joe Shelby, the Confederat.
General, who, at the close of the war
did not surrender, but marched his men
to Mexico and offered his services tc
Maximilian, is an old friend Of mine,
and he had been urging me for a long
time to come down to his splendid place
In Lafayette county and spend a few
days hunting and fishing. 1t was
shortly, a few days perhaps, after the
Gads Hill robbery on the Iron Noun
tain Railroad, that, completely worn
out by close attention to business in
Sedalia Courts, l determined to run
down to the farm and rest for a few
days. took the night train on the
Lexington branch Of the Missouri Pa
ciflc, and got off at the little station
near the Shelby place called Page City.
1t was q beautiful moonlight light, and
as the house was but little over a
mile distant, shouldered my double.
barreled shotgun which l had taken
along for some sport, and trudged over
to the white lane leading over to the
homestead. The old home was sur.
rounded by some tall forest trees, and
| had just emerged from their shadow
into the moonlight, twenty steps from
the home, when clear ringing voice
cried out Halt |" and at the same in
slant saw, shining in the moonlight,
= polished rifle barrel protruding from
a partially raised open window. in
tuitively felt that the man at the other
snd Of the rifle had bead down on me,
and halted. became statue, Myl
blood seemed to chill. In moment, it
'eemed hours to me, J. heard old Joe's
voice ring out, "who are you?"
"G.g george Vest, come down to see
7ou," i! replied, my lips trembling in
pite of me.
"Wait q minute" was the reply.
waited live minutes, and then there
vas a rattling of bars and chains and
he front door was opened cautiously,
md l was bidden to lay down my gun
nd approach. did so until 1 came
lose to the door, when Shelby's voice
aid, "it's all right boys, l will vouch
or him." l then entered and looked
bout me. The cosy little sitting room
lad been converted into fortress. The
were barricaded securely, and
was moved up against the
oor, while on table in the centre of
he room lay a collection of revolvers
nd repeating rifles that would have
xcited the admiration of pirate.
here were five men in the room whom
did not know. They sat around and
id not talk. The gentlemen also wore
heir small arms. "These are someII
riends of mine" said Shelby, and
7as not introduced further. l imme-
lately knew that the visitors were the
wo James boys and the three Younger
rothers. Shelby and l INDUCED in a
onversation for some time, which the
thers showed no disposition to enter
lto, and at last 1 was shown to bed,
there l tossed until daylight in a
roubled sleep. When came down to
the curtains were drawn
Id Joe sat in an easy chair calmly
noking his pipe and playing with a
ouple of youngsters. The travelling
rsenals of the night before had de-
arted-so quietly as not to break my
ght sIeep-hours before. Shelby did
Of refer to the visitors of the night be. {
re, nor did I. did not know, how.
ver, whether they would return that
Ight, and SO I pleaded pressure of
lsiness, and limited my stay to one
~. And that is the only time l met =
10 Missouri bandits. That was nearly :
ne years ago, whom the gang quar-
red themselves on their friends in .
issouri on the strength of the memo. /
es of the war, still fresh in the minds
those who lived on the border. 8