Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1890-04-11
A TRAP FOR A WITNESS.

Many years & l took u trip through
what was then called the Far West
Ny course, for the most part, lay through
an unbroken forest. Though n settlers
cabin here and there broke the wild
mOnotony. many a day was passed with.
out the sight Of a habitation or meeting
n human being.
One day l anne up with two men who
had dismounted at the wayside, and were
seated on a log chatting, while their
horses browsed sociably at a little dis
ance. One of the two. like myself, was
evidently 4 traveller. while the tow cloth
hunting shirt and coonskin cap of the
other-to say nothing of his long rifle
and weather beaten face-hetokened 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 q min
il" said the woodsman. when | had put
my question: linen this gentleman II be
through presently"
Accepting the invitation I soon dis
covered that the business l 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
ciuded. The traveller. whose animal was
somewhat jaded-his reason probably
for seeking the exchange-gaVe the from.
tiersman $50 'boot," and. mounting hi,
new hackney, took q hasty leave. appar
emily DESTROYS not to give the other party
time to rue"
repeated my inquiry. and was tolC
there was no road. not even n bridl,
path. within many miles of where ",
were. leading TO the place | wished e
reach. IOffered to pay the man Literally
TO guide me to some point whence / could
find my way alone. A bargain was al
once concluded. and in less thar half an
hour we were jogging along like old
acquaintance.
That night we camped out, supping OF
some jcrked venison my guide had i'm 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 a 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 a month afterwards at my OWL
home that my western journey was viz.
idly called to mind by the following
paragraph:
"a Traveller Murdered. BY las.
advices from - we earned that an un
known traveller was found murdered OF
The LIST Of June lasi, the act was at frs
attributed TO some marauding bands o
Indians who have lately shown them
selves troublesome. But later develop
ments fasten the crime on John Slower
"A white man, found in possession of tn
dead mans horse and some money iden
tilted by a tavern keeper who had changes
a note for the traveller the day before hi
body was discovered. Tile latter wa
last seen alive in Stover's company, tn
two having ridden away together iron
the strangers last stopping place. Tn
criminal barely escaped lynching an.
will ave little to expect from a jury 0
the ~vicinage."
John Stoverl" l exclaimed. "Why
that's the name of my late guider'
The recollection of the horse trad
came back like n flash. 1t had take.
place on the last day OF May, and fror
that till the ID Of June Slower never lief
my company. 1t was impossible h
could nave committed the crime 70
which his life stood in peril. The 'swap
explained his possession Of the horse
and the ''bOot money' that Of the bill
found upon him.
There was nc time to lose. If an innC
cent man was to be saved from the gal
lows. The mails were too tedious an
roundabout 10 he trusted, and the telC
graph was yet u%ninvented. There wa
nothing for it but 10 stage it as far a
practicable. and make the rest of tl
way on horseback. At any cost l fe
bound 10 prevent the wrongful taking {
a fellow creatures life.
1t was nearly dark when / reached
settlement twenty miles from where tn
trial was to come off. 1t was set'dowr
/ learned, FOR the following day, and I
be in time ] must proceed that night.
1.-The road is hard enough to find b
daylight, said the host OF the little in
at which had ordered supper and a bal
for my horse. Besides. there are Il
dians proving about. ard they're ugl
customers TO meet with of a night"
Il have no choice, l replied. "a ma
Is 70 be tried for his life tomorrow
whose innocence / ran prove: Tor he WI
In my company. miles from the scene {
tho crime he is charged with at the tim
OF is commission.
'But II you miss your way, returne
the other, you will lose instead Of gal
time"
'Perhapa one o. these gentlemen,