The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1886-09-25


acorns for capital letters, and with hog.
gaps for paragraphs.
AT night we camped under the trees.
Mai,on. knowing tina, needed exer-
else, kindly permitted me to feed the
horses, make Are and bring water |;
while he, self-sacrlacing soul, sat down
aud smoked his pipe, can see him
now, as he sat with hts back against a
tree, gazing upward at the leaves
which fitted above the fire. MahOn
was considerate man, and was kind
hearted--tO himself. The next morn
ing he punished himself by sleeping
until I had ct'oked break fast, and then,
with his all-at,sorbing generosity, he
nts with u destructive appetite.
AS we neAred the Indian Territory
he became strangely cautious and re-
served. Once after had asked few
questions Of 4 man whom we met,
Ntahon said:
ssYou don't want 10 talk to these
people up here 2"
"Why, no exercise In IL? I ventured
to ask.
"Keep on talking to them and you'll
find more exercise than you want"
I did not perfectly comprehend his
reply, but as he had grown strangely
economical of speech, I did not ask for
an explanation.
We entered the territory at night.
We could have reached the border be-
fore the sun went down, but MahOn
said we'd better stop aud rest. We
rode until nearly II O'Clock at night.
"Here we are," said Mahon. "Tho
cattle are over there. Let's get ut them
at once"
"Would it not be better 10 60 down
to that house and sleep until daylight?''
I asked.
The night was very dark, but felt
that he frowned at me.
awe don't want to stir those people
up" said he. "They are tired and
need rest. have paid them fol, taking
care of tue cattle. Come on"
The cattle we're easily driven, and
by daylight we bad recrossed the b0r-
der.
"Don't you think we'd better stop
here and get break fast 2" asked,
ga man to hear you talk would think
that you were starving to DEATH" my
companion replied. "You didn't do
any thing yesterday but eat. Come,
keep up your side. Don't let that steer
lag behind"
Noon came.
~Don't you think we'd better stop
and eat couple Of cows ?" asked.
He did not seem to hear me. He
was standing in his stirrups, looking
back.
HThe devil ~ he exclaimed.
"W,hat's the matter?" 1 asked.
ssShut your mouth ?"
"I'd like t0 shut 1t down on cali, y"
1 replied.
Just then number of men rode in
sight. could see their guns glisten In
the sunlight. Mahon seemed to be
paralyzed with fear. Once be attempted
to dash away, but his horse snorted and
stood still. With shouts and threaten.
ing imprecations the men, mostly half
breed Indians, came upon us. Before
l could realiza the situation they had
bound my hands. l saw that Mahon
was also tied. We were taken to Fort
Smith and placed In prison. While I
was standing near the grated door two
men came along. One Of them, point
ing to me, said:
"There's notorious cattle-thief.
Look at his eye-look at his head.
He's likely to GO up for ten years."
I turned to Mahon.
"You needn't look me-" he said.
"You got me into this business. Told
| me that you had q lot of cattle up here,
and wanted me to help you drive them
out.'
He burst into tears, and woman
who stood near pointed to me and said:
"You hard.hearted wretch, TO get O
poor man In such trouble I"
"You don't know what you are talk
ing abou," l exclaimed. W am. tht
editor of u religious paper"
She laughed with shriii shrek anG
ran away.
The next day we were taken before
the United States Commissioner.
knew him. Mahon told long story
how / had got him into trouble. The
Commissioner listened attentively, and
then asked II had anything to say
I told my story-practically the same
as the one which Mahon had related
cit has come down to question o
veracity between you two" said th'
Commissioner. "Mr. Scroggins," n
remarked, turning to me, "s,rictiy con
strued justice might demand your re
tention, but, sir, I never forget favor
ga kindness ?" exclaimed.
ayes, SIR"
"You are mocking me-"
"No, sir. Mr.. Scroggins, am seri
; GUS. Some time ago wrote TO you
, requesting you to stop my paper. Yo
:. did il without sending me anOthe