San Antonio Daily Light. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 8, No. 48, Ed. 1 Wednesday, March 14, 1888 Page: 7 of 8
eight pages : ill. ; page 36 x 26 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
gaily £is&L
WEDNESDAY MARCH 14 1888
S. & A. P. Railroad.
DErARTVRES.
ave San Antonio for Corpus
ChristiHouston and Gaiveston at..1l :00 a. m.
Leave San Antonio for Kerrville.... 0:00 p. m.
ARRIVALS.
From Galveston Houston and Cor-
pus Christi at • s:3pp. m
From Kerrville at 10:08 a. m.
Train Time Changes.
NTHRNATIORAL AND GREAT NORTHERN R. R.
North bound train leaves 7:15 a.m
North bound train leaves 6:15 p.m
North bound train arrive 10:30 a.m
North bound train arrive 11:00 p.m
Laredo train leaves 11:15 a.m
Laredo train arrive 5:15 p m
SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD
East bound train leaves 6:45 a.m
East bound train leaves 4:25 p.m
East bound train arrive 11:30 a.m
West bound train arrives 11:30 a.m
Westbound train leaves 12:00no'n
West bound train arrives 4:45 p.m
For Sale.
Lots on Government Hill.
Lots on Diunowity Hill.
Lots on Prospect Hill.
Lots on Tobin Hill.
Lots near Aransas Pass depot.
Lots near Sanset depot.
Lots near International depot. 3-12-tf
Hambleton Hadley A co.
TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.
BY JAMES T. M’KAY.
IConyrivN* i
bunds at the stove.
“ —evenin’ Broom” said Bath.
He beckoned and passed through to the
back store. Prent followed and shut the
door behind him.
“Broom” says Bath “you’ve got to
take that money along with you an’ all I
got to say is the sooner you get shet of it
the better for you.”
“Why what’s to pay now Bath?”
asked Prent.
“There was two regular spotters stopped
at Jim Crickett’s last night. They come
by different trains didn’t know each
other at all at first but got very thick
afore the night w.is out. The first one
gave his name as William Paddlebox and
when the other fellow saw it on the hook
he put his’n down James M. Walking-
beam. Last week too there was a fel-
low in here pretended he was agent for a
Bellamy tobacco company. I asked him
some quizzing questions that showed he
wasn’t up to the tobacco trade at all I’d
be swore. I saw him examine the lock of
the north door and walk all around the
building when he went out. I’m mighty
mistaken if somebody ain’t broke into
before long. leastways yon must take
that package out of our safe to-night. I’ve
changed off the small money for you and
got it into as small bulk as I could. And
look here Broom” he added “the money
being in our safe’s been talked of over to
Wimble’s and it’s no more’n right you to
drop in there and happen to mention its
been took out.”
“Well” said Broom “if you say so. I
don't want you to run any risk by me.”
There were one or two persons in the
store as he passed through took the
package from Bath and buttoned it under
his coat.
“You ought to be armed Broom” Bath
whispered.
Prent opened his coat a little way; the
butt of a pistol showed on his left breast.
He stepped over to Wimble’s hotel bought
a cigar at the bar Wimble came up.
* How do Broom? Cornin’ over t’ the
raffle to-morrow? Lem me git you a
ticket only a dollar?”
“No guess not" says Prent. “Got to
go t’ the city.”
“Going to take them tenthousan’ Ben
Bath’s got in his safe o’ your’n?”
“Bath hasn’t no ten thousand nor ten
ocnts of mine” said Broom
He went out and started on. The sun
was set. He had nineteen miles todo yet.
He kept Driver going smartly though be
began to lag a little with his long day’s
tramp. The road lay north through level
waste plain lands covered with stunted
pines scrub oakand smaller matted under-
growth. The road is a single wagon track
cut down through the thin surface soil
into the white fetlock deep sand under-
neath. It was a dreary ride enough.
Broom kept his horse at a steady pace
urging him now and then a little faster.
Nell would be looking for him now and
eighteen miles with a tired horse between
them yet. Four miles of the same mo-
notonous waste; then far away across the
level he caught sight of the buildings of
Camarack station on the line of the rail-
way. He heard the whistle of a train
coming west and presently saw it roll in
and stop. It moved off hissing and clang-
ing just as he came up. Crossing the
track he was bailed by a man he knew.
“Hello Broom! hold on.”
He stopped and the man came out.
“Look here Broom” he said; “half an
hour ago I got this telegram. What the
deuce does it mean?” It was dated
“Half past six Brammerley" ten miles
west on the line. It was addressed to
Henry Tarlow and read thus:
“Prentiss Broom will pass through
C about 7. Tell him this: Don’t go
beyond Brame’s to-night."
It was signed “A Friend.”
“I don’t know what it means. Good
night Tarlow I’ve got fourteen miles be-
fore me.”
He rode on keeping Driver well up to
his work. It was five miles to Squire
Brame’s tavern; five miles of the same
dreary waste around and the same clog-
ging sand under foot. The road bent
more to the west now; it was fast growing
dark
Two miles short of Brame’s he caught
sight of a wagon also going north. He
pushed the brown ahead to overtake it
and coming up recognized the sturdy per-
son and gray hair of the stout old squire
himself. The squire was a fast friend of
Front's and he was glad enough to see
him jogging home.
“Hold up square” be called. What’s
your hurry?”
“Whoa. Bjil.” answered the souire. in
ma hearty voice. "Well now it it ain’t
Prent Broom."
“Give's a ride square. I been in the
saddle all day."
He dropped off Driver and got in with
the squire.
“I want some advice square" he said.
“Look here—or hold on; you can’t see it
now but I’ll tell you what’s in’t."
He read and explained the message.
“ ‘Don’t go beyond Brame’s to-night’ ”
the squire repeated. “Well that’s good
advice anyway Prent. How much have
you got on you?”
“Nineteen thousand dollars and odd."
“Whew!" the old man whistled. “You
better take a friend’s advice. Don’t go
beyond Brame’s to-night. Your horse is
tired too. Look how he hangs back."
“But I’ve got to go home. Nell’s all
alone.”
“Then you better leave the money with
me.”
“No no square I ain’t going to get
you into any trouble like that. And be-
sides I’m going to town with it in the
morning. I won’t lose sight of it any-
way.”
“Well Prent if you won’t do that I’ll
tell you what. Put up Driver at my
house. I’ll put your saddle on to my roan
mare Skylark and she’ll take you that
nine miles in forty-five minutes easy. Slip
that package under the seat here. You
get on to Driver and ride in slow. I’ll
cut round by Big Pines and come in on
the other road. I’ll stow the money under
the saddle for you; it ’ll be safer there.
Come tumble out. Whoa Bill.”
“Good square I’ll'do it and thankful.
I’m blest it' you ain’t the cleverest old
trump that’s going.”
“Oh sof’ soap’s cheap Prent. None o’
that sort.”
He whipped up his horse and skurried
away through the sand. Prent came
among the hills now; the land was much
better; the sand and scrub pines and oaks
dropped behind. There were cultivated
fields on either hand here and there
a house. He came to the Big Pines cross-
road and could dimly see Bill’s fresh
tracks turning off to the left. He held
straight on a mile over the Maddon hills
and so down to where the road ends at the
broad middle pike. Then west half a mile
to the little hamlet of Filmore with
Brame’s tavern in the center. As he rode
up to the door old Brame came out of the
courtyard at the left. He came up.
“How do Prent?” he called in his loud
cheery voice. “Glad to see ye. Where y’
bound now? Been rather givin’ it to
Driver ain’t ye? Have him rubbed down
and eat some oats ’fore y’ go on.”
There were several idlers hanging about.
Broom took his cue. He said nothing
about the roan mare.
“Well square guess I will come in a
bit” he said.
The hostler took away Driver to the
stable. They went in.
“Come inside and have a bite” says the
squire.
And Prent followed him through the
bar into an inner room.
“Prent” said the squire “I don’t like
the looks of things at all. There's been a
stranger here to-night in a buggy. He
was dressed in the best; had a beaver on
and leg o’ mutton whiskers and long hair.
Looks amazin’ like a swell parson only
parsons don’t gin’ally sit in hotel parlors
and smoke cigars with their legs on to
the table and drink no end of brandy hot
and hot. He went off just now. I say I
don’t like it Prent."
“Can’t help it square” I said. “I must
go on.”
(There—it’s out at last. So gentles by
your leave we’ll drop this round about
third person for the downright first. My
name is Prentiss Broom).
“Well if you must” he said “look
here.”
He showed me a pad of tow cloth made
up to fit under a saddle. It was stuffed
with wool; he ripped one side with his
knife and showed me.
“Now I’ll put the money in place of
this wool. Don’t fear. No one can hear
or see us here. Your saddle is worn thin;
this will fit under it prime. I’ll fix it my-
self. Let me see your arms. ”
I showed him my pistol Colt’s make
six barrels.
• AU charged ?” he asked.
I nodded.
He examined it carefully nipple and
trigger.
“You’ll do I guess” he said. “Prent
Broom” he asked seriously “there’s one
word I want to say to you. It’s one thing
to be brave and another to be rash.
When you turn off the pike to-night put
Skylark into a run and give her her head.
Don't stop her for man or devil till you’re
safe home. If any one tries to stop you
drive her at him and fire. If anything
serious happens let the mare go and give
in. She’ll bring the money to me if she
can.
“Now sit down and eat; I’ll have the
mare round in five minutes.”
1 mounted her at the door. Old Brame
whispered:
“Take care Prent and remember
Nell.”
“Good night square” I called and
started down the pike. It was a mile to
the fork where our Hilbury road turns
north. Skylark is a fiery beast powerful
in breast and quarter lithe of limb and
flank a long small hrod and ears quick
bright eyes and a very deer to run. I
trotted her sharply down the pike she
pulling hard. Coming to the fork we
turned it sharply. I chirruped to her
broke her up and gave her her head. She
shot away north" like a flight. I just
guided her kept the bit in her mouth and
let her run. Soon she settled down to a
long low regular lope that was very easy
riding and dropped the miles behind like
a swift gliding panorama of night in the
lonely hills. Up hill along the level down
the long decline through the level
meadows and pasture lands up again
breezily striding striding—ever the same
long easy Bounding lope.
There was Jason’s place now up on the
slope of Kinnel hill—seven miles more to
Nell at Sicklefield. I thought of her
watching for me. anxious enough I knew.
I whistled to the mare. She leaped to it
gayly and we whirled along down the
long mile that skirts round Kinnel hill
and the Elder swamps on again north
over Harmony flats till westruck the hills
again at Nine Mile rock on the Joram
road.
So we held on through the Brandon
bills keeping loniy lew. flyimr lope.
saving tne niUS tne road dips down
Into Treacle hollow and runs a straight
smooth mile through thick dark woods
of hickory and oak. I felt a little anx-
ious about this mile of gloom ahead. It
was not just the road one would choose to
ride on a dark night with $20000 in
notes and bonds. I tapped up the mare
and we dashed down the slope and into
the wood’s black shade. She was a brave
horse as ever trod or tramped that fiery
roan mare Skylark. I let the rein hang
loose. She doubled her neck sprang out
and galloped fierce as fire. I kept a keen
lookout though I might have saved my
pains. It was dark as the pit in that
close grown tunnel of shade. Once out of
this gloomy hollow I should not fear.
There were only two miles of the open
high road beyond with houses scattered
every little way. We tramped along
through the hollow; I kept the mare
up to her best. The long level slipped
behind. The woods )>egan to thin
and lighten a little. A little fur-
ther on we struck a slight ascent—the
foot of our Hilbury hills. A minute
more and we should be clear of the woods
and safe. I felt the ground steepen under
us. Skylark slackened her pace. The
road was steep before us; I had ridden
her hard up hill and down. I felt safe
now. I didn't care to urge her. She
labored up the ascent breathing quick
and hard.
A bright glare flashed in my eyes ! A
crash in the bushes —the mare shied and
plunged. A man’s form dimly seen was
hanging by her bits. 1 struck my heels
in her flanks drew my pistol—fired. The
mare was plunging wildly; I was blind
with the glare in my eyes—l missed. I
felt myself grasped from behind drawn
heavily backward. I felt the mare going
from under me. I kicked at her furiously
—flung the pistol at her head as I fell.
She snorted and plunged made one great
frightened leap high in the air flung the
fellow that held her heavily into the fence
and shot away up the hill.
As I fell the light glanced one side from
my face and showed me the man who
held me lull and plain. Tall and light
made with small white hands pale
face black silky side beard and mus-
tache keen gray eyes thin lips and per-
fect teeth long hair glossy and jet
black. He was dressed in fine black cloth
linen spotless and unruffled and a high
silk hat. I saw the light glance from his
oolished boots from a diamond ring on
his hand. He had a cigar in his mouth.
There was no passion or excitement in his
face. He looked as cool as fearless as
devilish as ever I hope to see the face of
man as he dragged me back and threw
me on the ground—held me down by the
throat.
“Jiber!” he called. “Quick will you!”
I did not fight. The mare was off with
the money. I knew there were two others
at hand. I was unarmed. 1 knew they
could quiet me quickly enough. I knew
that that cold white cruel face above me
would kill me without remorse if it came
to need. I thought of Nell and lay still.
The man called Jiber came crashing out
with his dark lantern in his hand. He
wore a slouched black hat was roughly
dressed —altogether a commoner rougher
man than the other with a cunning
sneaking face written all over in strag-
gling characters with his proper name of
thief. He lighted an open lantern and
set it on a stone. The third robber crawled
up out of the bushes and stones where
the mare had thrown him. The others
called him Chisel. He wore a cap and a
suit of dark gray coarse cloth. I did not
see his face. He plainly studied to hide
it—kept it in the shadow or turned away.
He seemed younger than either of the
others —not stout but lithe and quick as
a cat.
It was only a minute’s time from the
first flash till I was lying quiet on my
back in the road with that white faced
jeweled devil holding me down and the
others kneeling by us. They called him
the parson. They called the rough one
with the brutal face and slouched hat
Jiber and the other Chisel as I said.
“Chisel” he said—his voice was clear
and calm—“ Chisel hold the lantern.
Jiber cock your pistol. Put it to his
head. Are you ready?"
“We’re ready Parson."
It was Jiber who spoke. The other
held the lantern between my face and his.
Jiber cocked his pistol examined the cap
and put the muzzle close to my head. I
felt the cold iron touch my skull. A
strong convulsive shiver went through
me shook me from head to foot. I knew
there was little danger—that it was not
to their interest to peril their precious
necks. But I saw the ruffian’s villainous
face and I knew that a single twitch of
the brutal fellow’s hand was all that
stood between me and the awful mys-
tery beyond. In broad day when there
is no present danger when life swells
strong in pulse and limb when the
pale horse gallops far off beyond the sun-
set hills of hope I take as calm a view of
that certain but shadowy consummation
as the rest I suppose. But when the
grisly phantom comes quite close—when
yon feel his terrible numbing touch and
his blasting breath on your cheek—well
“not all the preaching since Adam has
made death aught but death."
“If he makes any trouble Jiber” the
parson said “blow out his brains.”
He loosened his hold. The tramp of
the flying mare had died away over the
hills. I had not $5 about me. I lay
quite still. The parson searched me thor-
oughly. He took my pocketbook took
out the money and threw away the book.
His face grew terrible to see when he be-
gan to be convinced that I had not the
bonds about me. He pulled off my boots
examined the lining of my cap. He ge»e
up the search. He turned to Jiber.
“Could he have thrown away the pack-
age?”
“Didn’t throw away nothin’ ar ter I
blinked him ’cept it was his shooter”
answered Jiber doggedly.
The parson turned to me.
“Get up” he said.
He spoke as he might to a dog he had
kicked. That woke the devil in me. I
lay still and glared back at him. I saw
his perfect teeth set hard between his
thin white lips.
He took out a pistol cocked it.
“Look here” he said “where is the
money?”
I sat up and gave him stare for stare.
“What’s that to you?”
JOHN H. BOLTON
Auctioneer Commission Merchant
24 6 and 8 West Houston Street.
Particular attention given to outside sales. Correspondence and
consignments solicited. Storage clean and dry. Handles new and
second-hand household goods of every description.
SAN ANTONIO TEX.
TELEPHONE 323.
MISSOURI PACIFIC RAILWAY SYSTEM
ITKRNATIOMAL ABD GREAT NORTHERN R. R. DIVISION
SOLID TBAI2STS
WKh AU Modern Improvements Throturh Between
Galveston and St. LonislSan Antonio A St. Louis
VIA TEXARKANA. I VIA DENISON.
WNtoutOhaatoof Oarrof any Doaoiptloa. ate Only One (Maa««ta
Chicago Cincinnati Louisville Baltimore Washing-
ton. Philadelphia. New York. Boston.
Ate Other Principal Otte.
NORTH AND EAST.
Denison through to Kansas City connecting at Denison with Through Sleeper to St. Leals
For full.information tickets etc. call on
J. 8. MaeNAMARA. W. F. SIMMONS
Hokat Agant M Oommeroe Btreot Kampman Building. Ticket Apent I. * G. X. Depot.
m.p. eughbb. a w.
F X.B*MteuTaß. Teaaa
PIPER & SCHULTHESS
Nai. a io 12. 14 Yturri nd 249 MatM SU
DEAUKRS D—-
METAL SAILS AND FENCE WIRES
Barbed and Smooth Annealed. Painted and Gal ranted; Tomo gtajdaa
Patent Fence Btay». Roller Block and Gulden Btr.toh.rn Booing
and Bright Tin Sheet Iron Galvanised Iron Steel. Zine Popper
ho. PU Iron pig Lead Solder Ao. TinnerT Supplies Tteten r Tote ate
Machinery. Steal Baling Tlee Improved for Hay Baling Prestos. Agnate fw
OAMBRIDGB ROOFING OOMPANT’S
Iron and Steal Roofing and Siding Iron Ore Paints Ac.; Union MetaHlo Cai*
fridge Co.’s Cartridges all kind sand calibres. Shells Wads Ao. National
Sheet Metal Roofing Co.’s Waitsrs Patent tin Shingios SHing Platas.
CV" W make Low Prices on Car Lota. OsnrsapeteoMe BoMMA
dhw-l*-Aly
MARTIN & SCHRYVER
[ lumber!
B I'u - -—-
Bulletin* Material of aU kinds shapM or Mm A tera aaaaatmate «f OraMMaW
Beads alway. In itxjk. Wo kw oanstantly on hand tefie <nantitiM of th. novar yet mn
paote J. Halach'a Barb and Fanoa Wire. Wo an mooMEfal Maapteten la ptea
Bad good.. Oom. ai dba waviaate.
SOUTH OF SUNSET DEPOT
one secona t tnougnt ne would Kill me.
Then lie governed himself and turned
away. He spoke to Chisel apart; then he
turned back to me.
“Look here you what’s-hi S-name” he
said “three miles from here there’s a
little house at the fork of Carrom lane
and the south road. There’s a little
woman in that house to-night and she’s
a handsome little woman and she’s all
alone."
He saw me shudder. I had forgot tea
Nell for one moment. He went on:
“I’m going to ask you some questions
If you answer square all right. If not
we tie you up carry you into the woods
and make her a visit. Do you under-
stand?”
“I understand” I said. He went on:
“Last Friday night you put $lOOOO in
Bath & Westbury’s safe in Caramore.
You put in more on Monday. You was
to have taken it out to-night. Where
is it!”
“I haven’t seen a dollar of it since Bath
put it into the safe” I answered.
I had not. I counted it over to Bath
when I left it. He made a package of it
for me. I saw only the wrapper. Was
it morally a lie? Well as you will. Dr.
Johnson held that one might be justified
in denying the authorship of “Junius”
whether he wrote the letters or not.
“You say you did not take it out of
their safe to-night?”
“Yes.”
I did not. I took it out of Bath’s hand.
He turned to the others —talked hur-
riedly apart. I made out that they did
not know the roads across the plains.
They had without doubt come out from
the city on the middle turnpike. The
parson turned to me.
“I have a wagon close by. You must
drive me to Caramore. Will you promise?”
“I’ll drive you” I said.
I did not say where or how.
“How far is it?”
“Seventeen miles.'’
He turned to the others.
“Bring out the horses.”
He held the lantern—stood by me care-
lessly turning his pistol in Iris hand.
They led the horses out of the wood
through a length of fence thrown down.
Jiber brought out a buggy with a fine
black mare before it. Clusel led out a
stout bay cob and leaped lightly into the
sautue.
OFFICE:
i mepi>cu in— iook tne reins.
He whispered to Jiber then he jumped
in.
“Drive on” he said.
“Not if that man stops behind.”
“What do you mean? Look here
young man I’ll have no trifling. How
can he go when you have his place? Jiber
make straight for the castle. Tell the
king. If we’re not in by 7 come to the
cave. The word’s ‘Mavoureen.’ Now
sir drive on or I’ll drive you home.”
“Get up” I said.
I knew what I had to do. I made my
plan. I sent the black mare down the
road at a swinging gait. She was a beau- .
tiful mare—coal black graceful spirited ’
yet nowise nervous or flighty. I never.
saw a better to trot and endure. She]
touch each other. When you withdraw
the pressure that rubber will push them
•part.”
Alma declared she could do it easily
•nd the armature having been connected
with the wires and the battery they both
prepared to go to the parlor.
Down the stairs they crept slowly un-
winding two delicate coils of insulated
Wire as they went and pushing them back
against the wall well out of sight. Whea
they came to the mats Alma lifted them
up and Elmer laid the wires down and
then the mats covered them from sight.
“Now you sit here in a comfortable
chair and hide the wires in the folds of
your dress. I’ll lead them off over the
carpet behind you and unless the
is brighter than I think he is
he’ll not find them.”
These mysterious operations were
hardly completed before the door bell
rang and Lawrence came in. He did not
seem particularly pleased to find Mr.
Franklin sitting up with Alma and the
meeting was not very cordial. After a
few unimportant remarks Mr. Franklin
said that he must retire.
“I’d like to know miss what that
puppy said to you. He’s been here all the
evening I dare say."
“He has Lawrence; but I will not have
my friends spoken of in that way. ’ ’
“Your friends indeed! What do you
intend to do about it?”
Meanwhile her hand persistently kept
in her pocket nervously moved the electric
armature. and a sudden twinge of uain
OF ALL
SORTS KITOS
AMD——
QUALITIES!
SAN ANTONIO TEXAS
[TO BE COXTINVED ]
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
San Antonio Daily Light. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 8, No. 48, Ed. 1 Wednesday, March 14, 1888, newspaper, March 14, 1888; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1591975/m1/7/: accessed June 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .