Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-04-28


ssWhere il the boxl You know where
i Isl Don't 60 back on me. Pedro
we're partners we've risked our necks
together to Get this money, and il amt
right to beat me this way. It's joke
ON me, amt it1n
sT've PLAYED no joke on you, Jack.
Somebody followed as when we carried
of the box, that's all, and they've stolen
the monev-fhat's all there Is about it.
Wen have 90 stand up another stage,
Jack. Maybe we'll have better luck
next time.
This explanation, seemed to satisfy
Martin, aud the partners returned to
Campo SecO. For week they pretended
to plan together, preparatory TO robbing
another stage. Then, one dark night
Pedro Valencia left town. - he thought,
forever. lis had made every prepare
ton for fleeing the country with the
twenty thousand dollars. lt was nearly
midnight when he returned. When he
entered the gambling hell where Martin
was playing, his swarthy face filed with
rage.
s'Jack Martin, want to see you out
side, ? he Kissed between his set teeth.
Martin exchanged bis faro chips for
money and arose. The crises had ar
rived. The departure of the two men
was scarcely noticed bv the other players.
Suddenly they were startled by pistol
shot, followed almost instantly BY
another, that rang ont on the night air
with deadly distinctness. AS the crowd
rushed to the door, man staggered into
the room and fell headlong to the floor.
The blood was pouring in torrents from
his side, and the pallor of death was
creeping over his dark face. 1t was
Pedro Valencia
ssWho shot you, Pedroan inquired one
of the gamblers.
81 did" All eyes were turned to the
door, in which stood Jack Martin, a
smoking pistol in his hand THAT
knife, = he continued, lis proof that
shot him in self defense
AS he spoke, he pointed to murder
Gus bowIe-knife which Pedro clutched
in his right hand. The dying robbcr
raised himself by mighty effort on his
elbow. and regarding his partner with o
look in which importent rage was min
gled with hate and malice, gasped his
denunciation:
Jack Martin-and me-robbed the
robbed the stage. He stole the-money
from-Irom me. Twenty thou"
With gurgling groan, the Mexican
sank back upon the floor, the blood
gushed from his nose and mouth. and In
another instant he was dead The part
nership was dissolved.
On the trial for the murder Jack Mar
tin told the whole story, and he told it
truthfully, notwithstanding the advice of
his lawyers, who expected heavy fee
in the event of his acquittal. He con-
fessed the robbery, detailed the double
play of himself and Pedro, and testified
that when the latter on that fatal night
accused him of removing the treasure
from the place where he (Pedro) had
hidden it. he admitted the fact. When
he refused to divide, the Mexican
had attacked him with the knife, and in
self-defence he had killed his partner.
This version of the affair could not be
disputed, and verdict of not guilty was
rendered.
But Martin had not revea ed the hid
ing place of the twenty thousand dollars.
On his trial for robbery he plea led
guilty, and was sentenced totem years in
the State prison He carried his secret
with him, and although his term has long
since expired. the spot where the money
was buried has never been discovered,
Notwithstanding the fact that hundreds
Of men have searched for it il every di-
rection for miles around Campo Seco.
After his release, Martin disappeared,
and it is supposed that he quietly and
secretly unearthed the treasure and fed
with it to some distant retreat, where he
may be living at the present time highly
respected citizen. But his name is not
John Martin. -E II. CIough, IN AroO-
naHt.
Natural cnrativea