San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1890-03-13
A TRAP FOR A WITNESS.

n lnAI TUn "A WllNEO
Many years ago took trip through
what was then called the "Far West" ="
My course, for the most part, lay through
an unbroken forest. Though settlers
cabin here and there broke the wild
monotony, many day was passed with
out the sight of habitation or meeting
a human being.
One day came up with two men who
had dismounted at the wayside, and were
seated on log chatting, while their
horses browsed sociably at little dis
tance. One of the two, like myself, was
evidently traveller, while the tow cloth
hunting shirt and coonskin cap of the
other--to say nothing of his long rifle
and weather beaten face-betokened the
genuine backwoodsman.
For some time had been waiting an
opportunity of inquiring the way to a
distant settlement, at which I proposed
making a temporary stop, and here,
doubtless, was the very man to supply
the information.
"Jest light an rest your critter min
it," said the woodsman, when had put
my question; "me'n this gentleman III be
through presently"
Accepting the invitation I soon dis
covered that the business had inter-
rupted was a horse trade, which, of
course, took precedence of every other
matter.
The "swap," which had already made
substantial progress, was speedily con-
cluded. The traveller, whose animal was
somewhat jaded-his reason probably
for seeking the exchange-gave the from
tiersman $50 "boot," and, mounting his
new hackney, took hasty leave, appar-
emily desirous not to give the other party
time to 'rue."
repeated my inquiry, and was told
there was no road, not even a bride
path, within many miles of where we
were, leading to the place wished to
reach. Ioffered to pay the man literally
to guide me to some point whence could
find my way alone. A bargain was at
once concluded, and in less than half an
hour we were jogging along like old
acquaintance.
That night we camped out, supping on
some jerked venison my guide had in his
pouch, and lettering our horses in the
edge of a small prairie which afforded
good grazing; and the next afternoon
but one we struck Travelled track,
which, my companion assured me, had
only to follow straight ahead to reach
my destination.
Here we shook hands and parted; and
it was month afterwards at my own
home that my western journey was Wv
idly called to mind by the following
paragraph:
GA Traveller Murdered.-By our last
advices from - we learned that an un-
known traveller was found murdered on |
the 1st of June last. The act was at first |
attributed to some marauding bands of .
Indians who have lately shown them
selves troublesome. But later develop
ments fasten the crime on John Stover,
a white man, found in possession of the
dead mans horse and some money iden-
titled by tavern keeper who had changed
a note for the traveller the day before his
body was discovered. The latter was
last seen alive in Stover's company, the
two having ridden away together from
the strangers last stopping place. The
barely escaped lynching and
will have little to expect from a jury of
the vicinage."
John StoverI" / exclaimed. "Why,
that's the name of my late guide!'
The recollection of the horse trade
came back like flash. 1t had taken
place ON the last day Of May, and from
that till the ID of June Stover never left
my company. 1t was impossible he
could have committed the crime for
which his life stood in peril. The swap
explained his possession of the horse,
and the boot money" that of the bills
found upon him.
There was no time to lose, IL am limo
,ent man was to be saved from the gal
ows. The mails were too tedious and
TO be trusted, and the tele-
Taph was yet uninvented. There was
nothing for it but to stage 1t as FAR as /
and make the rest of the (
way on horseback. at any cost I felt 7
,ound to prevent the wrongful taking Of ]
fellow creatures life.
1t was nearly dark when reached a ]
ettlement twenty miles from where the :
rial was 10 come OF. IL was st down, q
leaned, for the following day, and 10 J
e in time must prOceed that night .
The rad Is hard enough 20 find By Z
ayliEbt,7 said Tie host Of the Little inn ]
{ which had ordered supper and bait {
" my horse "Besides, there are In :
ians proNling about, and they're ugly !
- meet with Of q night 6
Il have 10 cboice, / replied a man q
10 - tired for his life tO-nOrOu. G
.ioss HnOoe1oe / can prove; for be uas Z
ny oompany, raiiss from tEe scene q 8
BE- crime be b. cilargod Eith a. tlis tire e
IT. couin-lsEl1-L