Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-09-25
HE KILLED A RO8BsR.


One day 'the Bank" as we called it,
reached Grizzly Slide. 1t was Sar
Francisco broker escorted by -four
men. He had bags of gold coin witt
him. and he took up our nuggets and
dust and paid us in yellow boys. j,
suppose he made a pretty good thing
out OF it, but as it was "A great accomo
dation to us we had no complaint to
make. Only two or three DAYS pre-
viously one OF our men. known to us
as Peaceful Sam, had made a find of
humping big nugget and this added
to his wash. gave him over Sc 600 IL
handsome coin. He was man OF a.
humble and peace-loving, and had ;
wife back in Illinois. He had never
said anything about going home. al
though he was waiting like the rest o
us for luck, but no sooner was the coir
passed over to him than his bone
ached TO take the road for home. He
must 20 over TO Johnson's camp,
distance of sixteen miles, alone. anc
from there go down the valley bv
stage line. The chances were that he
would be held up at the trail, and We
argued and coaxed for him to stay
Next morning, however, he was off
having $500 in his pocket and the res
in his blanket on his back. He never
carried weapon OF any sort and ht
started on this trip without one. We
never expected to see him again. bu
he was back at night and story tt
tell. He had got about three mile
from camp when IA stranger joined him.
coming in on the Deep River trail
Peaceful Sam was no chicken and he
wasn't long sizing the stranger up az
bad
Bound for Johnsons?" asked th'
man as they walked along.
For Johnson's and home"
"Made your pile and going back te
the old woman, ehP'
made three hundred and have con.
cuded to light out while it lasts
Hammer has been writing for me tc
come, and if can even lay hundred
in her lap it viii be moren she ever
saw before. Lauds! but when | think
of home and Hammer can't walk fast
'nuHr'
The stranger didn't show his hand
until afternoon. Then. when they
reached particularly lonesome place
he suddenly halted, pulled gun, and
said:
Give me them $500 or I'll fill You
with lead!n
What! Gwine to rob mel" replied
Peaceful, looking As innocent as an old
cat.
Come DOWN.
But think o Hammer. She's been
watiu' and waitin', and now if you
take my money may never see her"
"D-n Hammer. Shell out or I'll pop
you"
"Uain't You no soul.
Mary soul"
'And I've got to sEell out?"
you have
Peaceful passed him out the $500 and
then sat down OH stone and pretend
ed to cry The stranger counted the
coins. dropped them finto his pocket
and started off sayiul:
You sot right there for an hour
and then You take Any road you want
to. II You follow me I'll pop you.
He was no sooner around the bend
than Peaceful began scrambling up the
mountain side. BY making IA hort cut
he struck the trail again, and just in
time to heave a rock which struck the
strangers head and killed him stone
dead on the trail, then Peaceful de-
scended, took $3.50 off the body. and
started back for our camp. Next
morning half dozen OF us went to
the spot with him. and there lay the
body. When we asked Peaceful why
he had owned to having $500 with him
he replied:
Law, me, but if hadn't he'd have
suspected had Il heap more and shot
me without warning. That's what |
;aikerlated on when | put that sum in
my pocket
But what possessed you to follow
On aud kill him? You never even
struck man in your life
Il dunno, genaemen-l dunno he
pleaded his lips trembling and his chin
quiyeriug with emotion. II just re-
member that | thought of Hammer. and
how them $500 would put new shingles
on the old barn and buy rag carpets
for all over the house, and fust thing
knew he was lying dead. Lemme git
alone and wraSSle with the Lord and
see if He won't kinder excuse j.
off on Hammers apcouut N y SIM