The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-09-19

no matter how trifing subject.
The money was staked.
F" How is it going to be proved ~
That's easy"
Who brought the news %
Dave Long--one of our mess. He'd
been down to Marysvillc over Sunday on
bendcr.''
"Whcrc is he ~
"At our cabin. He's cooking this week"
"Wcll, drop them tools. You're all dry,
and SO am I. Davc-Smith, is ?"
emo. Dave Long"
All laid down their tools, and the party
started toward the cabin TO have the bet de-
cidcd and get the drinks.
Snow, remember" said the green stran-
ger, " Pm willing to pay if lose, but a day
is twenty four hours.''
"Well?"
lIo looked at his watch.
"Mark, then, It's just 'leven now.'
There were several watches in the party
all were referred to. They varied but few
minutes.
" Let me sec," said the miner who had
wagered with the newcomer" Let me see.
Why of course you'll lose, stranger.
'Twasn't MORN ten yesterday mornin' when
Dave come, and lie took his time getting din
ncr ready-which was eat at H."
"To be sure" said another.
ooh, wait" said the stranger. "Leave
it to him."
GAN right. He knows, for he has a
watch, and had timed it himself coming
from Marysville."
| They reached the cabin; Dave Long, &c.
| cording to custom, was serving his turn at
keeping house for the week.
"Dave."
Hello!" replied gruif voice within.
"Come out"
What's wantin' -
We've got up hct, drinks included
| and it is left for you to decide"
Dave Long came to the door--a big, burly
fellow.
"This man bere-I don't know his
name"
Blossom" put in the stranger.
"Well, Blossom, he came round ant
went to tell us news. Twas about tina
murder, you know. | told him he'd beer
asleep, and was behind the age. Now, tn,
bet is that we've know'd it n day-twenty
four hours-you brought the new $, and know
whether we have or not"
Now, honor bright" said the self
styled blossom. "Think first. | know you
would not say what isn't true, but yor
might forget. It's now Just eleven. Car
you say you got here with the news befor,
this time yesterday Think, now"
| Dave Long ruminated.
"Yes, for looked at my watch to see how
long had been coming. 1t was only two o.
three minutes after ten.''
care you sure 7"
"Certain you could swear to it ?''
GO For you KNOW" put in ono of thu
others, that you got dinner after you
| came.'
"Yes, durn i'll don't l know p
| But" said the tastidious stranger
"may he you didn't tell the news righ
away ~
eyes did"
"And brought it straight from Marys
vile p
| eyes,
CAN right Pve lost. Now for tho drinks
Give us your hand, Dave Long"
Thar it is, stranger"
| With n movement so quick that the cy,
could not follow it, the inqusitive stranger
snatched both hands of Dave Long, brought
them together, and the astOnshcd spectator.
saw their comrade standing with pair o
handouts on his wrists. They also saw til,
new arrived, the man who lacked of energy
the man who had been asleep for twenty
| four hours, the man with the mild name o
Blossom, standing at their burly comrade'
elbow, with firm hand on his collar and
revolver at his temple.
You're my prisoner! Move an inch an,
you're dead man. arrest you for tn
murder of Mrs. Wolf. am Detective Black
of Sacramento. Neighbors, Pve lost tn
bet -
Long was fairly paralyzed. He coul,
neither move nor speak.
A clamOr arose among his comrades.
" Stranger, no nonsense. David Lon
| uti,l, n az. al,
a crime. Let him go We can't stan
here
"Stand back!' said the fearless officer
at will go hard will, any one who inter
feres. This man is guilty and can convinc
you."
} elbow do you know %
"Keep cool and I'll tell you. lie cam
. yesterday morning at 10 O'Clock, and told al
about the murder that was not discovere
in Marysville till o o'clock. Did he wal
: fifteen miles in one hour 2"
: David Long WAS as pale as death, and I,
stood trembling from head to foot--the pi,
ture of guilt. His comrades looked on b'
J wildered.
"You see" continued Black, by the wa
of further explanation, " il was on his guilt
mind and he couldn't help but hurting
! out, considering, of course that the murd,
would he discovered at daylight or soone
4 Luckily ii was not discovered till . O'Clock
l except to the murderer, and he has yer
1 kindly volunteered to expose himself"
$ Curse my tongue exclaimed the culpr
grinding his teeth with rage and fear, 81
0 wish it had been torn out -
. "There's always something" exclaimc
I the detective quietly. "You left no trace
1 not shred nor thread, nor shoestring, n
even hair, but you came right up here n
told ON yourself"
: Dave Long! Dave Long can I'll
, he 7" exclaimed one of his comrades I
y proachfully.
The crestiallen wretch hung his head al
seemed ready to fall to the earth.
- You poor devil" said another of h
It comrades. Who'd have thought it II
wasn't for the old times sake we'd stril
y you up. Take him away, Mr.. Black, let
see him no more"
y " II the camp find il out they'll lynch hi
before you can get away with him. su
u gested another.
Filled with terror at the prospects, Lon
n determined TO make one desperate effort (
his life. With sudden spring he releas
himself from the detective and darted aw;
toward thiclSet not far on. lie had sol
m hope that his speed might hear him avn
of beyond the immediate reach of Black
miners, whore he could work oil his man
IS clos. But the agile officer bounded aft
10 him, and, before lie had gone thirty yard
10 dragged him down. Maddened at the stu
IN ton, the prisoner began fierce but hopele
If struggle, attempting with kicks and bio
to to inlet some injury ON his captor;
Black, whose strength was extraordinar
clutched him by the throat and soon OF,
powered him.