San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-03-06
"reminiscences OF q Texas Veteran. The
Santa Fe Expedition, etc.
III O. RRHARD.
LIX.

nearing tnat our former compan
ion, Lewis, was at q rancho but few
leauges distant, and not knowing a
this time his traitorous conduct, Var
Ness and Howard dispatched Busta.
mente to see him, in the hope that
we might gain news, or at least OBJ
tain a change of linen. our entire
wardrobe now consisting simply OF
what we had upon our backs. As a
token that Van Ness had sent this
fellow, he placed ring upon his fin
ger which Lewis well knew, and which
would convince him that there was
no deceit in the transaction. This
was early in the morning. At night
our agent returned unsuccessful from
his mission, saying that he had been
unable to find Lewis or obtain our
much needed supplies. While we
were regretting the unsuccessful ter
of an attempt which we had
fondly hoped would give each of us O
clean shirt, if nothing more, Don To
mas casually remarked that Sonora
Rowland had accidentally seen the
ring of Van Ness, and had taken a
great fancy to it,at the same time desir-
ing him to ask whether itcould be dis
posed of, and the price. So plausi
BILE was this story, that none of us
fraud;and as it was impossi-
bic to sell the ring, valuable as it was,
TO one who had constsntly been send
ng us many little delicacies, it was
It once dispatched to her as pres
mt, accompanied by the usual cere-
nonious compliments. This little
Incident over nothing more was
hought of the ring, and we filed our
'ipes and began smoking and talking
ver the unfortunate mission to Lew
The evening following the return
f Don Tomas from his unsuccessful
rip, one of our female visitors re- I
,arked that the ring Sonora Busta- 1
'ente had received from Van Ness 4;
as beautiful present, and that she 8
as extremely proud of it, that she f
as showing it around to all her +
Here was O discovery, q
nd it is almost unnecessary to say a
lat Don Tomas fell most essentially d
/ our esteem. We did not let him t
now, however, that we detected him
his swindling operation. He was !
,eful in doing errands, and proba- {,
y took as little toll out of our mon q
: as any of the natives would have q
'ne. His delinquency, too. taught u u
all useful lesson-it proved to II
that the most specious and honest el
eeming among this class of Mexi tl
ms had their tricks and failings, Il
ID that the best men among them 10
ere worthy of close watching. cc
We had now whiled away some W
'enty days in our prison house at n,
n Miguel, and were anxiously await d
3 news of Gen McLeods party and a 4
Armijo's success with this second m
nd Of Texans, when Bustamente di
me hurriedlY into our apartment, re
It as we had finished a late break 20
t, and informed us that three or a.
II Of our companions had been Ia IL
], and were then coming into the le.
vn- A crowd Of women, girls and -
ys, congregated upon the neigh a ?.
1ring house tops and around the ~
1r Of the old alcAlde on the oppo- TO
} Of the plaza coon convinced us tn
{ something had occurred 10 dis st'
b the ordinary quiet which reigned 70 70
San Miguel h,
We hurried through the door Of b,
room 10 q little porch, which Wa AP
PnsOn limits, AnHiOusly eyeing CO.. Co
y figure within view 70 see II one -
ID discover an Aogu4intsoce. Soon -,
tai cAvzlosds dragged Mexicz1s suI