The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1872-11-22
Albahr Re0ister.

CstNiV anu NY NuttiiIiA duVttt tIIts thSSI-
Ing to anyone"
How we'll Romaine would have
liked to followed Zachary was told BY
his longing look and lukewarm heart
but he had forever linked himself with
Howard and Lowry. He had been
theil associate III lesser crimes, and 1t
was too late to withdraw from their
companionship. .'rhis Is the last time
win ever stain my hands with Il good
mans blood, !" he thought TO himself.
Magrnder hid been so generous anttso
true to Romaine that he wonld have
gone to him and confessed the whole.
had he not feared instant death in con-
sequence. Hardly had the sounds of
Zaehary's footsteps died away. when
Howard laid open his whole plan,
which was to murder Magruder. Allen,
Phillips, and the two boys, on the
eighth night from Bannack City, in
the Bitter Root mountains, one hum
dred and ninety miles from any settle
ment. Regarding Page, Howard
agreed to take care OF him upon the
night Of the murder. up to which time
he would keep him III ignorance Of the
entire affair.
On the eighth day from Bannack
City, along ii the middle of the after
noon, Page rode mp to Howard and
pointed out the camp in the distance.
saying:
There's one Of the best camps on
the road. Il is upon the top Of the
mountain, nearly. but there Is any
quantity Of wood. and the water is
better than it is in the canuon.
''lti is just the place want to stop
at to night, OF all Others" said How
ard. 'sAnd you go into camp. | want
you to proceed with vouw train to Il
distance Of at least ha'fa mile from
the spring. Bill Page" he said in a
cold, low tone, which almost flOze the
thin blood of the listener, I'VE are
going to kill Magruder and the other
four men tonight" :"
Sand"
BE quiet!"
But"
Hold your tongue until get
through. and then III listen to what
yon have to say. You are to stay with
the stock. You are not to have any
thing to do with the killing of any Of
the men, neither are you to be harmed,
yourself. YOn may at once rest con-
tentedly upon that score; for. really
Bill. we could not get along without
Won. 80. yOn see, you are safe from
the force Of circumstances. When we
call you In the morning, all you will
have to do is to take your share Of the
dust and to help us throw the dead
nsen down the mountain
Page was thunder-strtick. aud as
silent as the grave.
"Wlat do you say?n continued
Howard. his cold. grey eye piercing
the shriyeled f;lee Of poor Page with
Stiletto keenness and cruelty.
Il can say nothing" g;tsped the
trapper, in powerless anazement.
That's all ask Of you-say moth
ing. and do nothing"
Bill Page Ind liyetl west Of the
Rocky mountains for twenty wears.
and had never before participated III a
robbery even. The bare thought OF
the proposed murder terrified him
with fear. He would have gone 10
Magruder and Informed him Of the
dreadful plot against his life, hilt there
were a dozen obstacles in tie way.
Magrtider would no, believe him. he
thought. especially AZ Howard had
made himself such ttYerite. He
knew nothing Of the plot. and could
extend no information Of an inielli-
gent character. Besides, Howard re-
marked to him. upon quitting liisrou-
pany, to be sure and not be seell again
that day. except at supper.
'sRecollect. Bill, yol are not to he
harmed" said Howard, as he rode
back to the party; ''''ut he snrr you
say nothing and do nothing. ii you
have any regard for ynlW lite."
Camp was made i little before dark,
a stiff binding snow-storiH having set
in a half hour previous. At 9o'ctock
MI had retired except Magrllder anG
Lowry, who were On gutrd from y tc
l2o'clock, and were Sitting at fire
some two hundred feet mp tlie nioilll-
tain from the main camp, which wa.
pitched within a few hundred feet O
the Bitter Root mountains. aud undeI
cover ot d patch Of rel-tpeiand ,lnni-
per. The two Missouri boys wert
sleeping together, abont sixty y;srl-
from the main camp; Page was witt
bis stock RomaiDe slept with phii
lips. Howard was ten yards III tlit
rear. and Allen slept In tront.a fea
yards, ID bis tent.
1t was agreed thatthe murder shon!t
take place at 10 o'clock. AT that holl
Lowry took up the AK and went int
th6 bushes for some wood. Here Ii,
met Howard upon agreement. win
had veutured as near AZ possible Il
assist Lowry, In case Of failure. A