The Portland daily press., 1891-01-07
A CLOSE CALL.
lOverland.l

times was obliged to travel far into the
Sierra Nevadas, taking with me several
thousand dollars upon each trip. To
carry this sum used pair of saddle
holsters with receptacle for the money
and place for q pair of pistols. The
latter were necessary; for much of my
way lay amid the wild and rugged mount
aims far from the main highways. When
/ halted at the wayside hotels / was
obliged to carry the money to the table
with me and keep it in my room at night,
for few of the stopping places had any
secure safes or vaults. Paper money was
not generally accepted by the owners Of
wool, SO the greater part of the money
was in gold. Two attempts had been
made to rob me, and had become wary
and suspicious; yet the profits we made
were SO good that I was unwilling to
give up the trips.
One day we received telegram that
read: Secure all the wool You can. 1t
is sure to advance in price"
"That means a hard trip for me-" I
said, glancing at the yellow slip, "but
the sooner am off the more wool can
get"
The telegram reached us at in the
afternoon. At the next morning was
ON the road and had nearly "a 1000 in
gold coin.
For the first three days l gradually
assembled the mountains, and by midday
of the fourth had reached the summit.
This did not mean rapid descent upon
the opposite slope. but journey for sew
eral days over the ridges rising from this
central plateau. Some of these were
densely wooded with pine, spruce and
fir, while others were more open and
contained fine pastures for focks and
herds.
was DESTROYS of reaching one man,
who kept his sheep during the summer
upon a high and rugged range some
miles from my usual route. I halted
for dinner at small public house lately
built to accommodate teamsters engaged
in hauling lumber from a new sawmill.
The surroundings were not inviting, but
was accustomed to the poorest accom-
modations while upon these mountain
trips. While a half breed Indian was
caring for my horse l inquired of the
landlord if he could direct me to Ruck-
er's sheep camp.
EYES," was the reply, "but it's hard
place to fnd," at the same time giving
me the directions as nearly as possible.
I shook my head as he ended, saying:
AZ could never find the place in a years
time. Is there no one here acquainted
with the route who can go with meT
He hesitated a moment, and then
said: There's Bill, the half breed; he
knows the trail as well as old Rucker
himself. reckon you can get Bill to 60"
Bill was promptly interviewed. "You
pay me 81, and take my horse and 60"
was the brief but satisfactory reply.
The required sum was promised, and
he at once prepared to accompany me.
The moment dinner was eaten we set
off. Instead of being sullen and morose,
like most half breeds, my guide was a
talkatiye and intelligent fellow, and
gave me much information about the
surrounding region.
Upon reaching Fuckers camp we
found the owner absent, and it took us
an hour OF more to find him and the
band of sheep he was herding. He de-
tanned us longer to tell about tho bears
and panthers that annoyed his sheep
than the time consumed in bargaining
for his wool and making the necessary
arrangements for shipping it to US.
When we got back to the public house
it was too late to go further that night,
unless travelled after dark, and to this
objected on account of the gold.
The landlord said he could give me a
straw bed, adding, "You see, the place
Is new. and we have nothing better for
ourselves"
Twas willing to take the bed, and so
turned my horse over to the half breed
to take care of for the night.
Just before supper two more travellers
rude up and desired to stop.
Rooms are pretty scarce, as you can
zee, but we can feed you as well as not, u
said the host.
The men, like myself, were not par
ticular as to beds, so remained for the
night. They were rather laxative, and
] overheard them ask the landlord my
name and business. My suspicious were
easily aroused, and l noticed that they
seemed interested in me and the holsters
] guarded so closely. AS we left the din.
ing room, one of them said, mighty
keerful of yer holsters, stranger. You
1nnst have struck it rich in the dig
gin'sT'
/ made some evasive reply. During
the evening Bill, the half breed, came
into the barroom two or three times,
and the last time / noticed that he
secretly beckoned to me to go out of
doors. Waiting till he left the room
managed TO follow him without attract
ing attention.
On reaching the middle of the wide,
dusty road he stopped, approached me
closely, and said, "You see two men
come on horseback"
nodded in reply.
he continued: lone o bad man; he
rob stage and go to prison. Now he
come back"
"a stage robberr echoed.
Yes" was the answer; Five years
ago he rob the stage and sent to prison.
Maybe he think no one know him. I re-
member. / tell you and tell the boss
SO you look out for him"
thanked the fellow and rewarded
him In a substantial manner, for the
warning was of value to me.
On returning to the barroom | now
watched the two strangers with consider
able attention. There was nothing Of
the rufian about either, and 1 would
have thought nothing more about them
than any of the teamsters that stopped
at the hotel for the nighthad it not been
for the half breeds caution.
As the host lighted me to my room he
told me what the Indian had said to
him, and warned me to be on my guard.
Determined to be on the safe side, /
pulled my bed against the door when
retired for the night and securely fast
ened the only window,
I slept soundly till past midnight,
when ] was awakened by movement
Of the bed. It appeared as though some
one was slowly opening the door and
causing the bed to move across the floor.
reached under the pillow, firmly
yrasped one of my pistols, and awaited
developments. Inch by inch could
feel the bed move slowly over the floor
Ny senses were stimulated by the ex-