Nevada County picayune., 1889-11-06

stopped close to the bed of the sleep ing man, one looking over the shodl der of the other. The forward one held handkerchief in his hand satu- rated with chloroform, and in the other hand the lantern whose light he streamed full upon the face of the sleeper.
 Just as he reached forward to press the handkerchief to the nostrils of their intended victim, the second robber. armed with knife and re- volvcr, prepared for deadly assault, brought his head close up to his com panion's, the better to note the slightest movement-at that moment the tramp skillfully threw his moose oyer the heads of both. Then, with a vigorous backward spring, he frightened the moose around the necks of both and jcrked them down stumbling, houndering, crashing surprised, terrified, almost strangled.
 Surrender. and throw down your weapons or rll beat out your brains." cried the tramp, as he jerked and pulled upon the rope, in order to strangle the scoundrels into submission. The answer was three pistol shots from the man who held the revolver, neither of which hit the tramp, but one of which en- tered the brain of his companion and ended his wicked work for this world. The noise reused the sleeper, who started up in alarm, with loud cries of murder and for help. This, in turn. set the women to shrieking. and the late silent and peaceful dwelling became for the time a bed lam of horrors.
 "keep quiet, Mr. Chalmers, you shall not be harmed '" said the tramp. as, still pulling the rope, he pounded the head of the living robber with the butt of his revolver. till he sank un- der the blows. "Now get light, " he continued, ''or turn the light of the williams lantern upon their faces and see what your tramp has done for you"
 It took some minutes more to make George Chalmers, and his mother and sister understand the true state of the casc-that the man to whom they had given shelter had saved them from being robbed, if not mur- dered. But what were their further amazement and horror to discover that the dead burglar and the living burglar were two of their ncighbors, with whom they had long been inti- mate, and whose reputation stood high as well-to-do, upright, honora- ble men.
 When they came to pour out their profnse thanks to the tramp for his courageous and timely interference in their behalf he quietly responded:
 You have much to thank me for, it is true, because you would cer- tainly have been robbed, if not mur- dered, if had not been under your roof, but you have to thank me for it in different way than you sup pose. I'm not here by accident, but design. I'm no tramp, but a de- tective. I've had my eye on these williams for some time, but needed proof before arresting them. By chance l overheard a plot to rob George Chalmers on the night he should get paid for his cattle, and l worked out the rest, as you see. This william, Samuel Jennings ," nod ding to the now tightly bound living robber, must either go to the state prison or the gallows."
 "Neither, you miserable scamp" cried the man, with long stream of blasphemous oaths.
 He never did-for on the day of the coroners inquest of his compan- ion, he was found hanged dead. The whole affair made great sensation in its locality. On removing his false hair and beard, the tramp de- tective was found to be a young and handsome fellow. A warm friend. ship sprang up between him and George Chalmers, and shortly after ward a still warmer one between him and Mary Chalmers. It seems enough to merely add that she is now his happy, grateful and loving wife. -[ Saturday Night.
 tell you that women, as a rule, are more faithful than men-ten e., f,,l |