The Shasta courier., 1870-04-23

grub regular won't you ?"
That's what's the matter with old Page" !"
said the trapper.
:. And you, Bob ~ remarked Howard to
Zachary; you and your friends are all
agreed, of course ?"
why, yes" said Zachary; ''we started
with the crowd. and we're going to stick to
it so longs everything is all right. I've
known Lloyd Magruder ever since he has
been in Idaho. He'll treat me WE'LL you bet
your life and all of US, far's that's concern
ed; why certainly we're agreed, of course. !"
The third day out they overlook Magruder,
accompanied him as far as Bannock City.
where Bob Zachary and his three friends
got job OF work. They at once withdrew
from the party, babe Magruder and his COM
panons good bye, and the latter proceeded to
Virginia City together, arriving in few days
after;
As soon as Magruder pitched his tent, a
large crowd assembled from the mines and
trade commenced which only ceased upon
the sale of the last article of goods. This oc
CURED in September, 1868. During his stay
in Virginia, Howard and Lowry had assisted
Magruder in the store; Page attended to the
stock, and Romaine run the culinary depart
ment.
Early in October, after having realized
about thirty thousand dollars in return for
his goods, and sixty odd first class mules,
Magruder signifed his intention of departing
for Lewiston. and so informed Howard, Ro-
maine, Page, and Lowry.
Now, boys, what are you going to do =?
Are you going into the mines, or do you
want to return to Lewiston ?' said Magruder,
one evening at the table. ''Ic you say So"
he resumed, "l'll see you all back, with a
clean hundred in each of your pockets. Pm
going to take drove of mules along, and
want some help. at any rate. Besides. the
mountains are full of Indians and robbers.
and gang of good, brave fellows, well
mounted and well armed, is the most desir-
able kind of companionship. Say the word
and we're off in forty-eight hours, to a minute,
lIow's that, Doc ?''
I'm agreed never yet left friend
when | could be of any service to him and
| guess we'll all go, far's that's concerned =
We can think the thing over to night. and
let you know in the morning" said Howard
All right" reioined Magruder. "By
the wav, | forgot to mention that wei make
pretty strong crowd. Charlie Allen, who
you all know, and who has been up here
trading since spring, and Bill Philips, an
old friend of mine, are going to join us and
then there are two good boys-brothers-
from Bonneville MOI can't think of their
names-who have got little dust, and want
to go along; | rather invited them, in fact !;
for the more the merrier, you know, espec-
tally when the country Is overrun with red
skins and road agents.
Alter supper that night, and while Page
was corraliing his stock, Howard, Lowry.
and Romaine loitered uut of the camp and
canvassed the feasibility of future operations
They sat down together near the spring, and
Howard opened the conversation
@ III tell you what it is,' he said, deter
minedly. this is to be more than prelim.
mary affair. Now the first and important
thing to be considered is Magruder's money.
He's got at least S25, 600. and that must be
taken from him at any cost. I'd rather not
kill him but that may be incidental to the
object to be attained The next thing is
concert of action Now, | pledge you my
word, I'll undertake the management of the
entire affair, if you'll stand by me and assist
me in every way you can"
"Im with you, Doc" replied Lowry,
IS right from the word go. I'd rather rob
than kill, to be sure but at the same time,
I'll do as much bloody work as anybody if
it is necessary, and so will Romaine-I've
proved him on two occasions while he is
little light-wasted on blowing fellows
brains out, he can help bury him. and take
his regular 'divy' like man. Why, edu-
Gated Jim Romaine-he wouldn't have made
a first class horse-thief if he hadn't met Chris
Lowry. You see, Doc, he served a regular
under me and Charlie Ames-
Jim did; but let him speak for himself.
Well, jim p asked Howard.
Pm in," he replied.
81 told you So" said Chris.
But you two must do the actual murder
ing. il there's any to be done, for can't
knock man in the head, like Chris, Just as
though he was a steer, added Romaine; "but
Pm with you, whatever you do. and I'll per-
form my part so long, as it is not striking the
fatal !blow. Don't think I'm backing bit,
Doc . for Chris will tell you-for we've been
there-that will do my part. I'll draw any
man on if somebody else will despatch him.
Remember, that don't want to shrk the
responsibility that is, if Magruder must be
killed, I'm in favor of it, and I'll do my part,
and stick to it like man."
That's the way to talk. Jim," said Chris
/" You merely want to be second fiddle don't
you?''
That's all right, then, so far,' remarked
Howard. 1--WE three understand each other
perfectly well, and will stick to each other
till DEATH"
l'm even agreed to that said Lowry !;
" but [ very much prefer you wouldn't touch
upon that topic. 1t would shake my adhes-
lveness little, l think, if saw a gang of
devils after US with rope. | think, under
such circumstances, ! might bid you res
pecttul adieu. That reminds me of Tom
Walker. They had him up in Denver for
stealing mule, but couldn't quite prove it
ON him. But the vigilantes thought more of
his room than they did of bis company, SO
they put him on the hurricane deck of an old
wIndlass horse and told him he might have
fifteen minutes to get out of town. Joe look.
ed around and saw ten or twelve law and
order men with ropes in their hands, and
taking farewell chew of nigger-toe, he said:
" Gentlemen, I'm much obliged to you, but
If this animile don't balk, only want five;"
and away be went as if trip-hammer had
given him start. But what were YOU going
to remark, Doc?'
" was going on to say that Page had bet.
ter be kept in the dark. While he is too big
coward to blow on us. he might let it out
IN some way, and then the jig would be up. F"
" That's precisely what was going to su q