Sharp County record., 1878-06-07
THE FOUR GUARDIANS.
Part 1.-The Trust.
BY BRET HARTE.

private room of Riker's grocery without
saying word. Even the silent COM
munion Of libatiOn was wanting; their
liquor stood untasted before them-a
fact that aroused the serious concern of
the barkeeper and the free comment of
the outside bar. "Mebbee its some
new skin game imported from 'Fris
co, and they want to keep their heads
level, " was suggested by cautious gos-
siper.
The barkeeper shook his head. "Nary
deck o. keerds thar-unless they plays
'em under the table, and thet amt their
style"
aye didn't notiss no Jumps o. sugar,
sorter lynn round, keerleSS like, before
each man," insinuated another, "and
them chaps lynn low and quiet, waitin'
for some = fly to light, and rake
down the pile. I've heerd," the speaker
continued, cautiously, "that heaps O.
good money hez been lost in thet on
christian ike way"
Yes" interpolated third, "and
jrGined flies, ez knew jest when to light,
he2 been rung in on greenhornS. Thar
was q man down at French Camp ez,
they say, picked up about $1,000 outer
thet camp with innocent l0Okin' hosS-
fiv, and ct wuzent ontil one o. the boys
accidently sot his glass down on thet
harmless inseck thet the boys smelt a
mice.h
"'Tain't no game, l tell ye," reiter
ated the barkeeper, stOutly, "thar's
suthin' more'n flies and sugar on their
minds. My belief is they're reck'nin'
TO revive the old yigilanteS of '52.
Thar's a lot o. dead-beats in this yer
camp he continued darkly, with an ag~
gressivo recollection of certain unsettled
scores, "ez mebbee will find out soon
enough wot's up
Unfortunately, none of these surmises,
however ingenious or reasonable, were
correct. The simple fact was that q
lately deceased miner had on his death
bed called to his side the above-men-
toned four citizens Of Lagrange, and
s0'emnly conhded to them the care of
his only child in the /" States" with the
little property he possessed in trust for
her maintenance. This trust was
further burdened with the fact that the
diving man had withheld from the child
the news of the death of her mother, q
wear previous, and it now devolved up
on the guardians to inform the orphan
of her double bereavement. This was
the first meeting of the guardians since
they had last looked upon the face of
their dead comrade. Hence their grave
silence and perplexity. !
~, At9astSAe saelf .p9ss 15Takenhe -9ae of.
the party, a tall, thin, rickety man, who
had been softly pacing the room with q
certain depreCatOry manner and smile
of imbecile acquiescence in every thing
and any thing that shOne out at the
slightest expression, even of vexation or
anxiety on the part Of his companions,
gradually neared the door, and laid
large, bony, good-humored hand on the
lock. The act was instantly detected by
one of the party, who coolly locked the
door and put the key on the table. aye
can't slip outer this, Rats" he said eye
must sit down here with the rest of us,
and see what's to be done"
Capt. Rats weakly succumbed, and !
began to apologize. 81 warn't goin'
back on ye, Horton,n he began. 81
only reckoned ez ye seemed all to be git |
ting along famous, a-thinking, I'd jestslip |
ont and tend to some business, and al |
low ye to make up yer mind without |
me--countin' me out, and yourselves as
my proxies. Fer wot's agreeable to you
is agreeable TO me. I'm no sharp at
this game."
you're guardian" responded |
Horton, decisively.
"In course. Thet's so. But allow
il amt no valid appointment. the very !
fact thet the OF man appinter = =
fool like me, shows he wari S9 his /
right mind certuIh !
"Thats so, boys" ejaculat(l Ii the 4
est of the four, with q suddeAk ~ YVES
a4PetuuSf s;dP%tu ivsf ofora TO he Wv, ent % that Sc
can Slip our heads outer this 1ol."
ig. tuag over us by aloWln ms predict
NV 20 eVe c.n,t sIoucb ont Of ha result OF
W StsIl u SlOuNh ONlV VI
atrust though, Colonel" sadJl0nS.
the youngest of the Pie Hs.d repcrf
leaders, peremptorines, ,+mpnT of diffin
30 do it!n I'i'N - ~,
The gleam faded aom5le, while While TIE. |
"TBet's SO, ifa later i'ib,lsS The the dtuar
thing he said, ble-2,; kick me-
boys" ,,4,-ord
"Couldnt we sorter club together
and appint kind o. sub-guardian to
take care o. the whole thing on a high
salary. I'll come down heavy" sug
gested Horton.
eff ye could get chap to do your
feelin' for you at the same figure | don't
know but it might suit, said Fleet with
decided sarcasm. GAS for me l amt
:. II L.. H.. LII Y. -