Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-05-18
Confined from first page.l


contest OF skill between the fellow and me.
He was waiting his opportunity, and so
was |. OF all Misunderstanding men, he
was the worst. Tall, swarthy, black
BEARDED with hard face that must have
been handsome once, and fierce black eyes
cleaning with evil. He sat on one side
the hearth, | on the other. our eyes fixed
on one another.
Elam paused. / wondered what was
coming.
You guess, daresay, that | have a
quick ear, for you know what my temper
ament is all sensitive consciousness. My
good hearing had been cultivated, too. by
listening for the Indians. By-and-by de
tected very stealthy movement outside
the fort, and then faint chirrup, such as
young squirrel might make. UPl-prang
my man, but | covered him with my rifle
cooked. He saw the movement, showed
his teeth, and drew out pistol; but not
before | ordered him to throw down his
arms, or die. He hesitated; he saw that
in my eye and aspect that made him quail.
With the rifle leyeled, and my tnger on
the trigger, he threw down his arns-ps
toll and knie-with a dreadful oath. | had
the best OF him, and he knew it, TO: be-
fore he could have put his pistol into form,
or rushed on me with his knife, the ball
from my rifle would have been IN him
His language was awiul-and we are not
nice in that respect, you know, in Calilor-
nia-the foam lay on his lips. He de-
manded to be let out of the house, de-
nouncing me as a robber and a murderer.
To all his raving bad but one answer: To
be quiet, to obey me, and he should live;
dare to disobey me, and he should die.
he sat there cowed. on the opposite side
OF the fire, nor daring TO make even
doubtful motion. Then told him what
knew-that had heard what he was, and
what he had meant to do With that he
broke down utterly-or pretended at 1t.
howled like a child, declaring that now he
knew my pluck, and | had been the first
man ever to get the better Of him, he
loved me like brother. All the same,
love or no love, he had TO sit where he
was, and in front of him with my rifle
on my knees. There was long night be-
fore us he could have no liberty in il,
and the restraint was horrible TO him.
One moment he laughed pneasily; the
next, cursed; the next, cried. 1t was a
strange experience, was it notP To pass
away the time, | asked him to relate the
history of his life. lie said he would
but first OF all just shake hands, for the re-
spect he bore me. Touching my rifle sig
nifcantly, | pointed to the stick lying
across the hearlh-place between Us
That's your boundary line. my man, said
|; don't go stretching your hand over
that And ii sent him into fit of sullen
ness"
What came of it p
VA hov in I.
tion till midnight. Several times heard
slight sounds outside the fort, to which he
listened; but he dared not respond TO
them, he could do nothing. Alter a while
they ceased his associates. rightly judy
lug that something or other had gone
wrong and spoiled the scheme, no doubt
made off, tired of waiting. the fellow S
head was bent, his chm rested on his
breast his shaggy beard spreading over
like mantle. He suffered marlyrdonl.
He was like hyena Gagged. though he
showed it only by Involuntary nervous
startings and iurti g glances. Finally he
could bear it no longer, and entreated me
pileously, abjectly, to give him his free
dom or blow out his brains. He could not
have his freedom just yet, quietly told
him; but ho knew how to get his brains |
blown out if he desired it. Which
brought forth some more OF his choice
language. And the lad, Edwards, slept
through it all -
'.What situation What a night n
"Ay, it was. By-and-by we got to talk |
ing; not relaxing in my vigilance for
an instant. Once started on his own his
tory. the subject seemed to have a fascin-
alton for him. He had been honestly
raised" he said by good and loving pa
rents, in the State of Missouri, had pas
sonately loved a young girl in the town
where he lyed-and his description of her
was so pretty and vivid that declare it |
brought into my mind the other girl wait
ing for me down in the Wallamet Valley.
To enable him 10 marry her he resolved .
to 60 to California and make in some
honest way the requisite money He
went, and did make 1t, and, full OF joyful /
anticipations, returned 10 find that she had /
married another. The man-the husband .
had played them false. told the girl that |
her lover was dead, and married her him |
self. When be came out OF the brain fe- /
yer which this news gave him, be was
invited to an evening party in the town, /
one given in honor OF him. TO this par
ty came his love aud her husband when
he put out his hand to welcome her, their .
eyes met, and each knew then aud for
the first time, how they had been betrayed .
From that hour the man took to evil |
courses, and his first victim was the false |
husband. His hand was against every |
mans, and every mans against him and /
he became desperate outlaw. Once |
again he saw his love, meeting her in the !
streets of Sacramento she was married
again, and she turned from him with "a
cry OF aversion. Yes, he might be des-
perate now, he added, but he had had
his trials. / asked him what his true name
was. Hiram Creddin. he answered; but
the one he was known by was Bonnie
Helm. That made me start"
why did it?h
because had heard of Bonnie Helm
beforehand knew he was the creates,
terror of the time. | suppose | should
have done society benefit had SHOT him
as he sat there; but did not. Perhaps
you won't believe that | felt sort of pity
for the fellow-but | did. Well, morn
ing came at last. sent Edwards to get
the gate open, and escorted my visitor
out, telling him that there was not room