The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-05-22

fore me man about thirty years OF age,
pale as ghost, and by no means des-
perate-looking.
"What is your name?"
The man hesitated.
"What is your namep" and raised
both the gun and my voice.
George Robinson" came hesitat-
ingly from his quivering lips.
81 didn't ask you for lie. Tell me
your true name, or it will be the worse
for you"
eff you must have it, Thomas Berry
is my true name, but l don't see why
you should care to know it."
sThat is my business. shall let you
carry that dust for time; the gun is
load enough for me. As for your name,
it matters little whether or not you have
told me the truth, as am going to take
you to where you are no doubt well
known, for now l shall march you
straight to Nevada City,"
"To Nevada City!" cried the man.
stopping short, and beginning to quake
from head to foot. ''Why, amt you
Big George, the stage robberP'
"Never heard of such man in all
my life," said 1. "I am Carl Waldow,
of Fall Creek, and not ashamed of my
name. I'll take you to Nevada or blow
the top of your head off! Do you un-
derstand that?"
For the love of God spare me!'
cried the man, whom 1 shall hereafter
call Reed, which is not his true name,
but is name given in place of the name
he gave me, and which 1 soon ascer-
tanned to be his real name. "Spare me
this and l will honestly tell you all"
"Talk fast, then," said L.
{" have young wife and child-a
little boy-and ranch that l am about
to lose. 1t is mortgaged and will be
taken from me in five days if don't
raise $4,000. On account of my wife
and child made this desperate attempt
to save myself from ruin. l was in
Washington last night, where tried in
vain to raise money. slept in the next
room to you, and through the chinks in
the partition saw your belt of gold. l
heard you say you were going to Nevada
early in the morning. 1t was also my
road, and the devil put it into my head
to get your gold without harming you.
As God is my judge, 1 would have been
killed before | would have shot you. /
had determined to do you no harm"
els that ALP"
"That is all, and the whole truth, so
help me God. Now, for the love of
Heaven, let me go, and I'll never again
do wrong act to any human being"
MarchP" commanded l.
"God help mel" cried he, evil you
ruin me and bring disgrace on my fam
lily by taking me to Nevada to the jail?''
81 did not say, March to Nevada;
only said March!' and I say again,
March! We march not to Nevada, but
to your ranch, if you have one"
"Good God! You do not mean to
take me there and disgrace me in the
eyes of my wife. Sheis one of the best
= women in the world, and it would kill
her."
81 will now know the truth of this
whole business said 1. 81 am in no
hurry to 60 to Nevada City. 1 will take
my time and find out all. If you have,
as you say, farm and wife and child,
l shall do you no harm-will cause your
wife no pain. Again say, march,"
1 made Reed shoulder my dust and
march some ten feet in advance. 1 told
him to take a straight course through
the woods, as l wanted to see no one,
nor was he anxious to meet any of his
acquaintance.
We turned to the right from the road
and marched in a southerly course. 1t
was a long way through the forest, and
nothing worthy of note occurred while
passing through it. Little was said by
either Reed or myself. Reed tried to
talk to me about his wife and child once
or twice and beg me to be careful in
what l should say before his wife, but
sternly ordered him to shut his mouth.
6" am thinking" said I, "and that
is enough. l am thinking of every thing,
and shall do what is right"
We passed through the pine forests
and down into the foothills among
groves of live oak and among manzanita
thickets.
Is it yet farp" said 1, after we had
been some time among the low hills.
"But a mile or so," said Reed.
At last, as we reached the summit of
little ridge, he pointed to cottage in
field half a mile away, and said:
"There is my home"
"GOod," said /. "Now sit down and
compose yourself, for you are not to APP
pear at all agitated. We go now to see
your wife and little boy"
Reed began to weep.
"This is rough" said he.
SIT ISL said l, "but there is no help
for it. will now take the belt and put
it on. Leave it where you are and move
twenty feet further down the hill; then
sit down and dry your eyes, for the sun
is not half an hour high, and we must
60 to your house,
Reed did as directed, and when the
belt was in place and had given him
time to compose his features, 1 ordered
him to get up and move on.
"My wife will think it strange to see
you carrying my gun. Willyo trust me
with itP'
Il have bought your gun, you know.
When leave your home l shall carry it
away with me.'
Reed said no more. As we drew near
the house told Reed to fall back by my
side.
"Now," said 1, "pay attention. 1
am an old friend of yours, man you
knew many years ago in-where are you
fromp"