The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-05-05
THE FOUR GUARDIANS.
PART 7.
THE TRUST.

1t certainly was q matter OF serious
import that SO gravely Interested the
four most experienced and self con
tanned citizens of Lagrange. For nearly
half an hour they had been sitting in
the private room of Riker's grocery
without exchanging word. Even the
silent communion Of libation was want
ing 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
it's some new skin game imported
from Frisco, and they want to keep
their heads level" was suggested by a
cautious gossiper.
The barkeeper shook his head. "Nary
deck o. keerds thar-onless they plays
=em under tho table, and that ain their
STYLE"
''Ye didn't notiss no Jumps o. sugar,
sorter lynn round, keerless like. before
each man." insinuated another, land
them chaps lyin' low and quiet, waitin'
down the pile. I've heerd," the speaker
continued, cautiously, that heaps O.
good money hez been lost in thet on
Christian like way"
Eyes" interpolated third, "and
trained flies, ez knew jeest when to light.
hez been rung in on greenhorns. Thar
was man down at French Camp ez,
they say, picked up about $1,000 outer
tibet camp with innocent lookin' boss
fly, and ct wuzent ontil one O. the boys
accideDtly sot his glass down on tibet
Lor ,,.r hnf hf,h boz H.
mice"
"Tain't no game, tell ye," reiterated
the barkeeper stoutly, "thar's suthin'
more'n flies and sugar on their minds.
Ny belief is they're reck mia to revive
the old vigilantes of SO. Thar's lot O.
dead beats in this camp" he continued
darkly, with an aggressive recollection
Of certain unsettled scores. ''ez mebbee
will find out soon enough wot's up"
Unfortunately, none of these sur
misses, 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
mentioned four citizens Of Lagrange,
and solemnly confided to them the care
of his only child in the "States," with
the little property he possessed in trust
tor her maintenance. This trust was
further burdened with the fact that the
dying man had withheld from the child
the news of the death Of her mother, d
year previous, and it now devolved upon
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.
At last the spell was broken. One of
the party, tall, thin, rickety man, who
had been S, fly pacing the room with a
certain deprecatory manner and a smile |
OF imbecile atquiescence in everything
and anything, that shone out at the
slightest expression, even Of vexation or
anxiety on the part Of his companions, |
gradually neared the door. and laid a
large, bony, good humored hand on the !
lock. Tie act was instantly detected |
Dy one OF the party, who 0oolly locked |
the door and put the key on the table. |
4e can't slip outer this, Rats" be
said, we must sit down here with the |
rest OF US, and see what's to be done"
Capt. Fats weakly succumbed, and |
began to apologize. II warn't goin
back on ye, Horton" he began. 81
Citing along famous. thinking I'd |
jest slip out and tend to some business. !
and allow ye to make up yer mind with,
out me c"untiu' me out and your
selves as my proxies. Fer wot's agree !
able to you is agreeable to me. I'm no |
sharp at this game"
you're guardian" responded Hor-
ton decisively.
''In course. Thet's SO. But allow |
it amt no valid appointment. The very
fact tibet the oil man appinted a id |
fool like me. shows he warn't in his |
right mind
"That's SO, boys" calculated the eld-
est OF the four. with q sudden CLEAN OF /
Eighty just afore he went Of. and we