Year: 1878

Business found me on the Texan Dor
der one stormy evening, endeavorin.


TO pick my way out of dense forest
through which was obliged TO pass II
order to reach my destination. Th'
purpose of my journey to the frOntie
was to convey to my employers agen
in Fremont-a new settlement-a larg,
sum of money, which was concealed II
belt about my person. An unforeseen
exigency necessitated this mode o
conveyance.


The Mexican war had just ended, an(
In the unsettled condition of the coun
try, particularly on the frontier, out
lawry of every kind was rampant. Or
ganized bands of robbers, horse.thieves
and murderers infested the border; and
woe to the luckless traveller who fell
into their hands.


had been forewarned of the perils
likely to be encountered in my transit
to the remote settlement, and as pre-
caution arrayed myself in well-worn
suit of clothing which gave me quite a
Bellsarian appearance. My horses ex
terror was fully In harmony with that
of his rider, for sorrier looking nag
never beheld, nor one whose outward
aspect so belied his real capacity for
speed and endurance. Under these cir
cumstances 1t was unlikely that should
suffer annoyance at the hands of the
above-named gentry.


Before entering the forest, l was met
by a man who, in answer to my inqui-
ries, informed me that the path l was
then pursuing would, by half an hours
hard riding, bring me to the settlement
l was seeking. AS continued on my
way the man called after me, bidding
me be sure and take the LEFT hand path
when | came to where the road fOrked !;
adding that the right branch terminated
In swamp, which | should, of course,
avoid.


did not much fancy my informant's
appearance. He was large, muscular
fellow, habited in the garb of back
woodsman, and with a belt around his
waist In which was stuck, with custom
ary frontier ostentation, pair OF heavy
pistols and huge bowie-knife.


Thus far he was in no wise different
from the class of men had daily met
with during my journey. His counten-
ance, however, was remarkable. The
features were good, but the black and
bushy eyebrows formed continuous
line from brow to brow, imparting a
peculiar and sinister expression. | was
at first impressed with the belief that
had seen this parsonage under recent
circumstances; but in vain endeavored
to recall the time and place, and at
length relinquished the idea, as it
seemed more than probable that I had
been deceived by fancied resemblance
TO another.


Three miles on | found, as my infor-
mant stated, the road branched at
either hand. Though observed that
the one going to the right was by far
the most trodden and inviting of the
two, yet as the man could certainly
have had no motive in deceiving me,
did not hesitate to follow his directions.


must have ridden at least five miles,
and, according to all calculations,
should long since have cleared the for
est, ere 1t occurred to me by the gradual
narrowing of the path, and the in
creasing density of the woods, that l
had, either through stupidity or de-
sign, been misdirected. The reflection
was anything but pleasant one.
was uncomIertably wet, chilled to the
bone, and moreover, nearly famished,
for had eaten nothing since an early
hour In the forenoon, and what susten-
ance then took was obtained at sort
of wayside inn, whose larder appeared
to be indifferentlv supplied.


If had been purposely mlsled, 1t was
obviously done with some sinister OBJ
,ect in view. What could this be but to
rob and perhaps murder mep My very
anxiety to conceal the fact of my pre-
clous charge may have led to its be-
trayal. Or, possibly | had been
watched and followed from the moment
of my setting out upon my journey, and
mn inkling of my mission perhaps sur
missed or discovered.


AT this reflection, by natural asso-
citation of ideas, my mind reverted to
the circumstance which attended the
meeting with my director--namely, a
vague impression that he was not alto
Kother stranger to me. Like flash
II now occurred to me that had seen