A Texan Adventure.
A SHORT TIME before the war broke
out, I wae practicing law In (Galves
ton, Texas.
Important business called me to a small
town named Fairfield, situated about sev
enty miles noitli of Austin. I went from
Galveston to Austin by rail, and, purcbas
iug a horse there, performed tho lest of my
iournev on horseback. ' When I reached
Fairfield, I found the town In a stage of
great excitement ; a horrible murder had
been committed thero.
. A young lady and gentleman had dis
appeared, and from circumstances con
nected with their disappearance, it was
evident they had been murdered, and their
bodies thrown into the river.
Tho supposed murderer had been ar
rested ; ho was a young man named Archie
Raynor, the only son of a widow, and,
strange to say, had been the betrothed
lover of Jessie Emory, the murdered girl.
The circumstances that bad led to his ar
rest, were as follows:
Charles Harris, the young man who had
boon murdered with Miss Emory, had been
a rival of Raynor, but Jessie had loved the
latter, and had repulsed the odors of Har
ris. On the evening of their disappearance,
Harris and she had been seen together by
the side of the river ; and, as she did not
come home, her parents became alarmed,
and search being made for her, on going to
the place where they had been seen, they
were horrified at seeing, lying on the
ground, her scarf stained with blood. The
earth showed signs of a desperate struggle;
pools of blood stained the grass, , and a
crimson trail led to the water's edge, show
ing that the murderer had cast his victims
into tho stream.
On further search a knife, stained with
blood, was found ; tho initials "A. It,"
were graven on tho blade, and it was rec
ognized by several as belonging to Raynor,
and several persons testified to having met
him that evening near the place where the
murder had been committed. He was ar
rested, but declared that be was innocent.
Jealousy was the supposed cause ; his
mother was nearly heartbroken, and it was
said that if he was convicted, it would send
her to her grave. On the evening after
my arrival, I was sitting in my private
room in the hotel, when the clerk entered
and said that a lady wished to see me on
important business.
" Send her up," I said, wondering who
it could bo.
He retiicd, and in a short time a lady
dressed in black, and deeply veiled, en
tered. I placed a chair for her and she
sat down, and throwing back her veil,
- said:
" You are a lawyer, are you not ?"
"Iain."
" I am the mother of Archie- Raynor,
the young man who is charged with mur
der," said she, "and I havo come to see if
you will consent to defend him at his ap
proaching trial. Oh ! sir, if you have a
mother, think of her, and think what her
feelings would be to see her only child,
her sole stay and support, in a prison cell,
with an awful doom hanging over his head.
Oh ! sir, I know that my son is innocent.
I know that ho, who is so kind and gen
tle to all, would not stain his soul with
murder. He has told me that he is in
nocent, and he titter told me a He. But
come with me and see him. Do not re
fuse a mother that poor boon !"
I thought the matter over a few mo
ments, and then decided to go with her
and see the young man. We left the ho
tel and went to the jail ; she introduced
me to tho jailor as her son' lawyer, and
he, taking down a bunch of keys, showed
us into tho young man's cell. The prison
er, a noblo looking man, was sitting on the
side of bis pallet, with his face buried in
his hands.
He started up as we entered, and em
braced his mother affectionately. She
turned to me and said:
" This is Mr. Clifton, a lawyer from Gal
veston. I have engaged him to defend
you, my doar boy."
He shook hands with me, and in a short
time his mother said: "I will now leave
Mr. Clifton and you together, and I am
sure that on hearing your story, he will see
that you are innocent."
She then took her departure, and I ask
ed him to tell me aH the circumstances
connected with the affair.
" Well, on the night of their disap)car
. ance, I did not see Jessie. I was to have
met her by the river, but I was prevented
by business from getting there until near
dark, and then I could not find her, so
concluding she had gone home : I went to
my home, and being tired, went to bed at
once. I slept till near twelve o'clock, and
was then awakened by the constable, and
accused of murdering Jessie Emory.
protested my innocence, but was told I
would have that to prove, and I was
brought here; that is all I know."
" But what about the knife?" asked I
" Oh 1 I bad forgotten. I lout that knife
four days ago, and it must have been found
by the murderer."
" Were Miss Emory and Harris friends?"
asked I.
" No, sir. When the refused his offer
of marriage, he told her that she would
some day repent it, and she has avoided
him ever since. ' What surprises me,"
added he, " is that they should have been
seen together. There is some mystery
about it that I can't see through. There
is one thing that I have thought off since I
have been here. It may surprise you, but
I cannot divest myself of tho beliof that
Jessie is alive, and has been carried of by
Harris, for he is bad enough for anything,
and I know that he has sold soma property
he had in the town, and he has told several
persons that he was going north. I think ho
has carried her off, and that he had found
my knife, and stained it with blood so as
to make people believe they had been mur
dered, and throw the guilt on me." .
" Uy Jove I young man, I believe you
are right. I will wager that is the case.
Can you tell mo where Harris is from ?"
asked I.
" From the northern part of tho State, I
think, but I am not sure."
Aftor a few mora questions, I bade the
young man keep a good heart, and I would
do my best for him, and then I loft the jail
and went to tho hotel, and going to the
bar-room found tho landlord, and entered
into conversation with him about the mur
der. " Did you know Harris ?" I asked.
"Yes, quite well. I havo known him
three years."
"Of what disposition was ho?"
"Awful passionate. I believe he never
forgot an injury. I don't like to speak ill
of tho dead, but, to tell the truth, I never
liked him. Ho had an evil look about him
that always made me distrust him. Ho
would stop at nothing to gain his ends."
" Whore did he come from ? Is ho a na
tive of thiB place?"
" No ; he came from around Pnrkstown,
San Jose county, about fifty miles north of
here," answered ho. " He told me tho
other day that he was going back there in a
week or two, but there was no such thing
as believing him."
Tho next morning early I went to the
scene ol the murder. 1 examined the
ground carefully, and soon came to the con
clusion that no struggle had taken place on
the spot. It was all too scientifically laid
out; the doers had been cunning, but they
had overdone their part. The blood and
marks on the earth were merely blinds.
Any acute person could see that no strug
gle had taken place, and that the traces
were but blinds. I noticed also, that all
the footprints had been mado by ono pair
of boots, and that tho heels of these boots
had nails driven into them in tho shape of
a heart; for in every print there, tho mark
was plainly to be seen. I was satisfied
that Miss Emory had been carried off by
Harris; so I resolved to proceed thus: To
go to Parkstown, Harris' native place, and
make efforts to find him, for I thought he
would most likely havo gone thero with
her.
I went at once to Mrs. Rayuor's and told
her what I intended to do, and telling her
to be of good cheer, 'I bade her farewell,
and went to the hotel. I borrowed a seven
shooter from tho landlord, mounted my
horse, and set off on my uncertain search.
The close of the first day's ride brought
me to a httlo village, where I stayed all
night. The next morning was a beautiful
one, and I rode briskly over the prairie
until noon, when I stopped at a solitary
Bquattcr s cabin and got dinner.
Here I was informed that Parkstown
was about twenty-five miles distant. The
prospect was not inviting ; the day, from a
bright and ploasant one, had becomo dark
and lowering, and heavy clouds wore gath-
ering in the sky. But I determined to push
on. The hospitable squatter gave me many
directions as to the right road, and mount
ing my horse, I rode on until nightfall,
when the storm that had long given token
of its coming burst upon me in full fury,
The rain fell in torrents ; the lightning
flashed, causing my horse to start and
tremble, while the very earth was shaken
by tho terrific peals of thunder.
Bewildered by the blinding rain, I let tho
horse make its own way in the darkness,
for I could not see the path; and on we
went, stumbling and slipping, until I was
suddenly startled by hearing the rushing
sound of water, and before I could stop the
horse, he was in the stroani up to the girth.
There was nothing to do but let him go on.
which he did, walking slowly until he lost
his depth, and was forced to swim. The
current was strong, aud I expected every
moment that it would carry the noble anl
mal away. But he struggled on, and soon
touched bottom again, and with a snort
rushed up the river's bank, and with re
newed energy pushed on through tho dark
ness. I was now certain 1 had lost my way,
and had made up my mind for a night in
the woods, when to my great joy, I saw
through the blinding rain, a light in the
distance. With renewed hope I urged my
horso on, and came to the house whence
the light came. I drew up at the door and
gave two or three loud raps with my whip.
It was opened by a woman whose appear
ance did not impress me very favorably.
" I am seeking shelter. Can you lodge
me for the night?"
"I guess so. Come in. Here, Bam,
tuWe this boss 'round to the stable und feed
him." .
flam, a boy of ' about seventeen, led my
horse away, and I followed the woman into
the bouse, and going up to the fire, took
off my overcoat, ' and drawing a chair up,
sat down and dried myself at the generous
blaze, while the woman propared some
snppor. Looking around, while sitting at
the fire, I saw for the first time a beautiful
young girl sitting in a corner. Hor face
was pale, and her eyes had a frightened
look in them that filled me with pity. The
elder woman, looking around, savr that I
was looking at the girl, and said sharply:
" Go up stairs, gal, and stay thar till t
call ye." . t ... , " ; "' . , '
She obeyed and went up stairs. Shortly
after, the door was thrown open, and five
men armed to the teeth strode in. Four
of them were rough, ugly-looking villains ;
the fifth was a short, thick-set young man,
and looked rather moro refined than the
others, but there was a look of the devil in
his face that I did not like. They looked
inquiringly at the woman, on seeing mo,
and she said:
" IIo is a traveller that has lost his way
in tho storm."
"Where is the girl?" asked tho young
man of whom I have spoken.
"Up stairs," answered sho, and turn
ing to me, added.
" Come inter the next room, mister,
and I'll fetch yo yer supper."
I followed her into the next room, and
she drew a table into the middlo of the
floor, and spreading a coarse cloth on it,
went into tho outer room again. I began
to feel rather uneasy at my situation, for I
did not like the looks of the men. 1 ex
amincd my revolver, and determined to bo
careful.
Soon tho woman entered, accompanied
by the girl, and placed some corn bread, a
plato of fried ham, and some coffee on the
table. I noticed that tho girl looked at me
in a peculiar manner, as if desirous of
speaking to mc. At last, as she poured
out the coffee, she slipped into my hand a
small piece of paper. Sho then went out,
and was followed by the woman. I un
folded the paper, and read the following:
" Do not touch the coffee ; it is drugged.
You may eat the bread and meat. These
people are robbers, and intend to rob and
murder you. I am kept here against my
viu. JHV namo is Jessie armory, i was
stolen away from my home by a man nam.
ed Harris. If you will aid me in escaping,
I will contrive to saddle two horses and tie
them outside, and if we can once get to
them, we aro safe. We will have to go
through tho outer room to escape, for thero
is only one door. Contrive some means to
let me know what you intend to do."
I was never so amazed in my life.
Though I had thought it strange to see so
beautiful a maiden living with such people
as those, yet the thought that she was tho
missing Jessie Emory had never crossed
my brain. I toro a sheet .from my note-
book, and wroto these words:
" Have the horses ready, and I will do
my best in aiding you to escape."
I threw the drugged coffee into tho ashes
and hearing tho woman coming, I raised
the cup to my lips as if in the act of empty-
ing, it, and set it on the table just as sho
entered. Sho gave a quick look at tho
empty cup, aud I noticed a gleam of sat
isfaction flit over her face. I gave her tho
cup, and said:
i our cottce is good. 1'lease 1111 my
cup again."
She called Jessie, and told her to bring
the cofiee-pot. She brought it, and while
filling my cup I managed to slip the note
into her hand. Sho went out with the
woman, I disposed of my fresh coffee in
the same manner as the first, and finishing
my supper, put on my overcoat, drew a
chair up to tho fire, and waited for Jessie
to mako her appearance. The robbers in
the next room were very quiot. I was ful
ly awake to the dangerous character of our
enterprise. We would have to make our
way through tho outer room, in tho face ol
five men each armed to the teeth: but I
calculated on taking them by surprise, aud
I knew that, if by a sudden rush we could
get outside and reach the horses, wo could
bid them defiance. I had sat a short time,
when I heard whispers in the outer room.
I walked cautiously to the door and placed
my oar to tho key-hole, aud lieard tho wo
man say:
"Gal, go iu an' see if he's asleep yet.'
The door opened, and Jessio entered.
" Are you ready?" whispered she.
" Yes," r.uswered I, cocking my revolver.
1 had placed my left arm around hor waist
and whispered:
" Cling to mo. If I fall, run for tho
horses and try to escape. Now !" and
throwing open the door, we sprang into
the outer room. Harris sprang to his foet
aud yelled:
"Shoot him I Curso him, shoot him
He's tiying to run off with tlie girl I"
" Stand aside 1"
cried I, raining my re
volver.
The other men ran to got between us
and the door. Harris drew a bowie-knife,
and flourishing it, yelled:
"Drop hor, or I'll kill you t'
Quick as thoughtfl took aim at him and
fired. The bullet crashed through his
brain, and he foil to the floor. The others
drew back, and we ran across the room,
flung open the door, and sprang out. Tho
woman yelled fiercely:
' After them, ye cowards I Shoot bim
down t Don't let him escape !" 1
I cried to Jessie: , '
' Run for the horses! I will keep them
back. Run !" . - i
The brave girl obeyed me, and ran to
where the horses were tied. One of the
villains fired at mo, and tho ball wont
through my hat. I fired, but with a better
aim than he. The ball entered bis breast
and throwing up his hands, he fell forward
on, the ground.) I turned , and ran to the
horses. Jessie had untied them, and was
mounted on ono. I sprang on the other,
and we galloped away. The ruffians gave
a yell of rage as they saw us escaping, and
fired soveral shots after us, some of which
whistled . rather close to us, but we wore
soon out of their reach.
The storm had ceased, but tho night was
very dark, and we rodo on, not knowing
whero we were going. But luck attended
us for we soon struck a beaten road, which
we followed all night, and as the sun roso
in tho morning, we rodo into Farkstown,
tho town to which I was going when I so
providentially lost my way. Wo went at
once to the only hotel the town afforded,
and I told Jessie of her lover's imprison
ment on the charge of murdering her. She
said that Harris bad told her so, but sho
had not believed him, as sho thought that
he said so for tho purpose of frightening
her. Sho was greatly excited on hearing
that it was so, and wished to proceed at
once to Fairfield ; but I iusisted on her re
maining at Parkstown a day to rest. She
then told me her adventures.
She had gone to the river for tho purpose
of meeting Rayuor, when Harris met her.
Sho was going on, when ho stopped hor and
said he wished to beg hor pardon for tho
words ho had used to her. He said he was
going away from Fairfield, and ho wished
to leave none but friends behind bim. She,
deceived by his pretended penitence, read
ily forgave him, and as it was nearly dark,
turned homewards, ho accompanying her.
A.s they wero walking towards the vil
lago, he suddenly seized her, and pressed a
handkerchief saturated with chloroform
against her mouth and nostrils, and she
know no more. When she regained her
senses it was broad daylight, and sho was
in a boat, going down the river, with Har
ris and two of the men whom I had seen
at tho cabin. They went a groat distance
down. the river, and then landing, wore
met by another of the gang, who was
awaiting them with horses. Sho was
placed on one and taken to tho cabin in
the woods. Here she was kept a prisoner
by Harris, who offered her no insult, evi
dently hoping to win hor consent to their
marriage without force.
After hearing her story, I went to tho
oflico of tho Justice of the Peace and told
him the circumstances, and a body of men
went at mice to tho placo, but tho birds
had flown. Two graves wore found, show
ing that my last shot had proved fatal.
After a day's rost, we mounted our hors
es and set out for Fairfield, which we reach
ed in two days. I need not describe the joy.
ful meeting of the parents and child, who
had been so strangely separated. Archio
Raynor was instantly released from custo
dy and restored to the arms of his now
happy mother, and in three weeks he was
married to Jessie Emory, I being grooms
man, and tho dearest friends I now have,
are Archio and Jessie Raynor.
Danger of Carrying Concealed Weapous.
The Evausville (Ind.) Journal is respon
sible for the following.
" There is absolutely no safo way tocarry
a pistol except to carry it without a charge
A young man lost his wife, recently, by
trusting to tho directions of a friend who
told him how he could carry a pistol with
out danger."
"His Mary Jano resided some distanco
from the city, and he had a great horror of
dogs, so be put his revolver in the hip
pockot of his Sunday clothes, one evoning,
when he started to see her. The prospec
tive mother-in-law met him at the door and
told him to take the rocking chair, and as
he did so, the report of firearms caused the
old lady to scream and full to the floor,
while a fire in tho rear claimed Charles
Henry's attention, and consumed a portion
of his best doesk in ' smalls.' The old lady
swooned ; the girl ran in, forgetting her
disordered dress and hair, and followed her
mother's example. The old man and his
double-fisted boysrau in, and, seeing moth
er and daughter lying on the floor, went for
that young man, aud he weut through the
window, carrying sash and glass with him
as ho went. A big dog, aroused by tho
noise, mado for the fugitive, who in his
turn made for tho city, about a mile, and a
half or two miles distant, emptying his re.
volver at tho dog as he went. The dog was
dead for that young man in more than one
sense; for be dares not approach the house
now, lest the old man may revenge the loss
of his dog on him. . The old man says he
will never forgive the murderer of his dog.
If anyone asks that young man how ho
likes Mary Jane, he Bays that her nerves
are too delicate for a country girl, and be
trays an anxiety to drop the subject ; but
he confided to a friend that in sitting down
tho hummer of his revolver caught upon
the chair, and it was in that way dischar
ged, whereupon that house and his clothes
became too hot for him."
PERIIY COIISTY
Real Estate, Insurance,
' ' .
CLAIM AGENCY,
, LEWIS t OTTER & CO.,
Heal Estate Broker, Inturance, A Claim Agent
IVo-vr I31oomflell,
WK INVITE the attention of buyers and sell
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When widows of soldiers die or marry, the minor
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Parties having any business to transact In our
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No charge for Information.
420 ly LEWIS POTTER & CO.
ST. ELMO HOTEL,
(FOHMERLY "THE UNION,")
JOS. M. FEHER, . . Proprietor,
317 & 819 ARCn STREET,
PHILADELPHIA.
Terms,
$2.60 Per Day.
THE ST. ELMO Is centrally located and has
been rc-lltted and refurnished, so that it will
bu found as comfortable aud pleasant a stopping
place as there Is In Philadelphia. r, 29
Xeiv Millinery
A.t Newport,
Goods
Pa.
I BEG to Inform the public that I have Just re
turned from Philadelphia, with a ful assort
ment of the latest styles of
MILLINERY GOODS,
IIATS AND BONNETS,
KIlillONS, FRENCH FLOWERS
FEATHERS,
CHIGNONS, v
LACE CAPES.
NOTIONS,
And all articles usually found In a first-class Mil
linery Establishment. All orders promptly at
tended to. -We will sell all goods as Cheap as
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DRESS MAKING done to order and In the la
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isfaction. All work done as low as possible.
ANNIE ICKES,
Cherry Street, near the Station,
Newport, Ta.
610 13
CARLISLE CARRIAGE FACTORY.
A. B. SHE11K
has a large lot ot second-hand work on CfSPSLI?
hand, which he will sell cheap in order WstKii2'
to make room for new work,
FOR THE SPRING TRADE.
He has. also, the best lot of
NEW WORK ON HAND.
You can always see different styles. The material
Is not in question any more, for it Is the best used.
If yuii want satisfaction In style, quality and
price, go tothls shop before purchasing elsewhere.
There is no II rm that has a better Trade, or sells
more In Cumberland and Perry counties.
. REPAIRING AND PAINTING
promptly attended to.
aud Pitt Streets,
Sdp
Factory Corner of'South
CARLISLE, PA.
Farmers Take Notice,
rjriH E subscriber offers for Sale
THRESHING MACHINES. JACKS and HORSE
POWER, With Tumbling Shaft, and Side-Gearing, Warrant
ed to give satisfaction In speedy and perfect
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PLOUGHS
Of Superior Make.
CORN MIELLEliS.
KETTLES,
STOVES,
sco ips
AND ALL CASTINGS,
made at a country Foundry. Also,
A GOOD MILL SCREW,
In excellent order, for sale at a low rate.
I refer those wishing to buy to John Adams.
Samuel Shuuian, John linden, Ross Ueneli, at
Ickesburg. Jacob Shoemaker & Son, Klllotts
burg; Thomas Morrow, Loysvllle j John Flicklng
er, Jacob Flickliigvr, Centre. 020 13
8AMUEL LIGGETT.
Ickesburg, May 14. 1872.
D
TJNCAN SHERMAN & CO,,
No. 11 Nassau Street, . .
v NEW YORK,
Issue circular Notes and circular Letters ol
credit available In any part of the world.
Current accounts received on such terms
as may be agreed upon. (512tf
Yick's Floral Guide for 18737"
The GUIDE l now published Quarterly.
TWENTY-FIVE CENTS pays for the year,
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Those who afterwards tend money to the
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The JANUARY NUMBER is beanti'ul, giv
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ready to send out.
JAMES VICK,
Rochester, N. T.