The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-02-06
AN INCIDENT IN CALIFORNIA.


cline; when dark and violent deeds were
of daily, even hourly occurrence, and when
the terrible vigilance committee, with its
sudden hand and wild justice, was just be-
ginning, to be felt throughout the land;-
this the time, scene and opening Of our
story.
The Lighthouse, at the door of which
George Abbott sat at the close of one sum
mer day, was of the rudest description; but
it included several apartments, and was
strongly built. Though situated only
few miles from San Francisco, it was moth
ing more or less than rendezvous of
thieves and cut-throats, and Abbott, the
owner of the house, was their chief confed-
crate, who disposed of their stolen property
to mutual advantage. Abbott himself by
no means bore the appearance of despera-
do. He was a tall, slightly-built man of
about twenty-five or thirty years of age,
well-dressed, and scrupulously clean and
neat. His pale face was almost beardless,
and his thin, sharp features, and his cold,
gray eyes, bespoke the mean, crafty, calcu-
lating villain, with none of the bluff assur-
ance of the rough knave. 1t might easily
be seen that his might be the brain to plan,
but never his the hand to execute bold
and bloody crime. The house, which was
chiefly known as Abbott's Ranch, looked
Immediately down the sandy road leading
to San Francisco, with the broad Pacific on
the left. While Abbott was seated at his
door a man came up the road. He was q
powerfully-built man, coarsely clothed,
with low, british features, full of mingled
ferocity and cunning. He nodded to the
proprietor of the ranch and went inside.
Abbott rose and followed him.
"Quicls, Abbott, give me some brandyw
exclaimed the man with an oath, at the
same time seating himself at a small table
in the large dingy room.
Anything in the wind to-day, Jack ?"
asked Abbott, as he placed the bottle of
liquor and tumbler before the man.
| "Not much" was the reply, "only the
internal vigilance committee are beginning
to watch some of our gang. Brady was
told to vamoose to-day, and Bill White told
me that number were looking after him
pretty closely. BY thunder! if it comes
to this, it may be my turn next. am get
ting shaky; and dont care how soon quit
this place"
"Well, jack" said the other, sinking
his voice almost to whisper, "there is no
need of either you or me staying here much
longer you know"
"But when are you going to get things
fxed?"
In two days all will be ready. l have
made all the necessary arrangements"
"Good! 1t will just be jump on board
the steamer, and away we go to New
| York"
Precisely; but you won't breathe a
word?'
"Do you think | want my throat cut ?
Why, they would kill me as quick as they
would you. What will be the swagp'
"a cool two hundred thousand dollars
that is after we get through with the newly
arrived .jeweler, which have mapped out
| to be done tonight. In an hour or so
ments regarding you and me; you can
finish the .jeweler while am gone. | will
be back tomorrow, and will meet you here
OF course l can get up something to keeI
the boys away from us, so that we can have
the coast clear for our final sweep. We
must be sly, for the gang are as full o.
suspicious as an egg is Of meat; it is time
they were dropping in here; l think | hear
them coming up the road now."
One by one, on foot and on horseback thC
different members of the gang began to ar
rive at the rendezvous, until in shor
time, as the lights were brought in by thu
man Jack, the room contained upward o
twenty men Of the most villainous descrip
tion. AS the drinking continued the oath
became more frequent and the pers onal ep
ithets more violent and abusive. Abbot
did not drink himself, but moved about tn
room with more than his wonted taciturni
ty At length he signified his intention t.
go.
"And where are you going top aske'
Bill White, burly rutiian who was pan
TALLY intoxicated.
"I go to Stockton on business" sal
: Abbott, sharply.
"Smash my crust if l understand it ne
y how" said Bill; "if the old man as kceI
i all the swag is to tramp around the countr
g g just as he pleases, why, | want to kno'
a what il means"