The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1876-05-11

|ililf aa1. elf-rlall elgllt yall9.
3l3e h "a lDines % opera mi
sF One d rot long aftdg W
things-fi3 u out satisfaction, a6
and the \ of op party lad eceat
sion to gpbo Melbourne on business
AS robbeiieB were 81 frequent 6cenr-
renee tlibn, We stdok a strong guard
with us, and made ii conyenient to
go with some of our neighboring
mine owners, Hho we're bound the
same way withthcir different escorts
Being thus strongly guarded, we cs-
capped the,coipmon annoyagces ofbe-
ing halted on the journey, and reach
cd our destination all right and on
good time.
But before going .fnrtheIs it is nee
essary to give a description of my
partner. Fred Morgan Was a young
man. about five feet Ave iaheight, re-
markably well made, strong, wiry,
and exceedingly quick in his move
ments; an observer at first sight
would be led to believe that he was
not near so strong as he really vas
In appearance he lookedIlike an or
dinary miner, being dresssd like one,
and wearing his beard long.
On reaching Melbourne we put up
for the night at the only excuse of a
tavern the place boasted Of. AS fe-
males were scarce in that country at
the time of which we write, it was
no wonder that our party elected
considerable attention, butnot until
the next day did it cause us any an
noyancc.
Living in Melbome in those days
was u ruflian nicknamed Burly Joe,
who was the dread Of the place. He
had killed several men, whipped Il
score of others, and made himself so
generally feared that lie did about as
he chose. For yearor two he had
been in the habit of nppropriating
such things belonging to others as
pleased his fancy, ordering mon to
.lisSe,ps 1Aaou' Corci c,1l1s
.mands III sufE d
dared anger or opposchsln sllShc
got wind of our arrival In town, and
determined to see the young lady
who wls reported so beautiful, and
early next morning came to the ho-
tel. Fred and | were sitting in the
bar-room when he entered, and beside
ourselves quite a crowd of miners
were sitting in groups, playing cards,
drinking and smoking. We were
reading some late papers from the
United States, and smoking cigars
on which we paid enormous duties.
Burly Joe demanded of the land
lord where the young lady was, at
the same time draining the contents
of Il glass of brandy belonging to a
bystander. The host, eager to get
out of the muSs he saw brewing, re-
ferred him to us; and, with the air of
a king, Joe sauntcred over, and eye
ing us kecnly, asked Fred where the
girls room was.
Laying his paper on the table,
Fred deliberately took his cigar from
his lips, gazcd at his questioner full
Il minute, and then, putting his chin
between his hands, drew out a long
"Wheww
Iook here, youastors, what do
you mean by thatT' angrily demaEd-
ed the rough. Perhaps you don't
know who | am?"
"No, sir, I'm sublimoly ignorant
on that point, and where ignorance
is bliss, It's folly to be wise
"Well, I'm Burly Joe, and | want
you to tell me where the gal keeps
herself"
swell, I'm Fred Morgan, and l
don't intend to do anything of the
sort; and what's more, / shall see that
you do not 60 near her"
"You-you will, hey?" fairly roar
ed the infuriated william. "l'll show
you how to talk to me. I'm going to
her room, but frst I'll knock day
lights out of YOU" and he attempted
to take Fred by the collar, but the
latter, who had sprung to his feet,
was toopuick for him.
Like lightning, one of Fred's small
but powerful hands struck him in
the eye, sending him rocling back
ward, and before he could recover
himself, the other hand struck his
chin, fairly lifting him off his, feet,
and huring him to the floor like Il
log.
"ITo1l kill you, youngun," shouted
the bystandors, "Run, or you're
gone"
"Lot him try it on" replied Fred,
and the flash of his eye told me that
his blood was fairly up, and there was
danger in him. ] knew his mcttlc,
and did not offer to interfere
The giant was ON his feet in mo-
mcnt, purple with rage, and unable
to speak. His revolver was out and
lcveled at my friends head, but be-
fore he could pull the trigger with q