The National tribune., 1900-06-21

know exactly how far, and in the hands Of
several Indians"
"Who was with you?"
NAT Gordon, only, and executed the
scheme. or strategem, of retaklng her from
them" answered proudly.
well, 1 am very proud of you. In my
report to the Secretary of War shall GER
tainly tell him Of your excellent conduct.
But did you know that believe that it was
all a scheme to get some Of our men cap
| tured?"
NO. Why do you think so?" inquired.
well, you see / have said all along that
they We're Mexicans, and would betray
F, you. Now those Indians were nothing but
disguished Mexicans. They carried the
| girl eff, knowing that some Of us would
follow, and planned to attack us from
ambush. 1t was scheme; / tell you it was
a scheme"
"An absurd ideal" / exclaimed.
Then / told him all about the camp,
the warrior burning her with the brand
and how they We're treating her, and then
again declared it was an absurd idea.
The Lieutenant coldly dismissed me
without another word Irealized instantly
| that instead of winning his confidence, /
| had incurred his enmity.
| When L reached my quarters again, after
a reconnaissance Of the camp, was met
! by the subordinate, who, laying his hand
| on my shoulder, arrested me!
| "The charger / demanded.
And taking from his pocket a small slip
| OF paper, he read the following addressed
TO himself:
| Arrest Karl Prest. on the charge Of being
a conspirator against US; and deliver him
at my quarters this evening at sundown for
trial.-Theo. Small, Head Officer Com
manding."
CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY.
| did not utter word; words were beyond
my use. The officer quietly escorted me
| TO the Lieutenant's tent, as it was now
| nearly sundown, and there before me sat
| the Lieutenant. Mat Gordon, John Degiff
and the clerk, the same one thai registered
my name at the little camp beyond Houston
some five months ago. while the subordinate
stood IN the doorway and read the accuSa-
uon. 1t was intended that the soldiers out
side should learn nothing Of what was be-
| ing done, but a fellow passed by the tent
as tie accusation was being read, and
then the news spread rapidly. In five
| minutes every soldier except the picketS
was al the tent, eager TO learn my fate
The Lieutenant asked me to be seated,
and accordingly began to ask me questions,
which | answered with frankness. Then
Mat Gordon made his statement concerning
the recapture Of the senorita, and openly
expressed his opinion that / had had no
understanding with the Indians Che swore
they were lndians), and that killed them
IiLSlJdIItlpiy-
/ Degiff made his statement. He said that
on the evening prior to the night when the
Indians made their raid he did not scout
the north, as he was tired and bothered
about the duel. He stated that had made
many visits to the hacienda, and had
secuted the north the most of the time, and
that he believed ! always called on the
senoritas every time l secuted in that
section.
Then the Lieutenant made a short talk
loud enough for the men on the outside To
hear. He tried TO show that by calling Sc
often l was working up a scheme agains,
his men and aided the MeXicans, by form
ing plan for them 10 attack us when we
We're unprepared. He showed to all proka:
hilities that had planned the attack on the
preceding morning.
And then came conviction.
The subordinate failed to make any
! reply when asked his opinion in regard tc
. the matter. So the Lieutenant forthwith
proclaimed that was guilty of conspiracy
and would be shot in the morning, bu
closed by giving sort of hint that if
would confess everything would be giver
I new hearing, and probably be liberated
Yes, probably; knew what that meant
3 had been convicted. and no respite woult
be allowed. But had no confession L
make. had openly told my story
: Nhen the crowd learned Of my conviction
they went wild, and wanted to execute m,
e at once. They declared that l was Mexi
! can spy, and that l came from Austin in
! stead OF New Orleans, and they had known
! it all along.
II is strange how friends will turn enemie:
when person is accused. 1t is strang
] that when a person begins TO fall, every on,
3 wants TO kick him along farther But
Is that way. | was guarded by n sentry
e all night, and next morning the subordinat
7 came and asked me if there was any fayo
! he could do for me-
At first / said there was not; but presently
4 ! asked himif he could send messenger t
inez; He said he could, but there was NJ
e speak the least bit Of Spanish dandy
r Of daisy" army; going to fight the enemy