Evening journal., 1892-10-11
CnApTFR XIV.


Three days after discovering the cave
Of gold the outlaw band was ready to
break camp and head for civilization.
The contents Of the cave had been
weighed and estimated, and the sum in
dollars and cents was beyond their wild
est expectations. The precious metal
was stored In the bottom Of the wagon
and every one felt exultant and good
natured.
Every man but Taylor. He could not
fail to notice that he was regarded rs an
interloper. From the hour Of finding
the cave the renegades made every eff
fort to render his position so disagree
able that he would take his departure,
but he refused to go. He was deter
mined and persistent man, and had they
known him better they would have held
him in fear instead Of contempt He
had smothered his anger and affected
not to hear the remarks flung out for his
benefit, and he had worked as hard as
any one in bringing down and storing
away the gold.
On the evening before they were to
leave Taylor determined to settle mat
ters one way or the other, and he took
opportunity to ask:
HAS it been decided yet which route
we are to takeY
Certainly" replied Bob.
(Which is it:"
Look yere, stranger" exclaimed
Bob, as no fired up, "has any Of this
crowd axed fur your advice"
Il haven't pretended to advise. AS
one Of the party, and as having a fifth
interest in the treasure, am naturally
interested in knowing which route we
are to travel by"
"Whar did you git an interest in this
gold:" demanded Bob.
"As one of the discoverers."
"Humph! Look yere, stranger, you
want to go slowl You forced yourself
into this crowd, and it's for us to say
whether you stay or go. We don't want
to turn q man out here to lose his ha'r,
but if he talks too sassy he'll hev to go.
When we get out O this we may feel
I like remembering you fur the little
you've done. and we may not. We
make no promises. Understand, how
ever, that you have no claims on the
treasure-not the slightest"
Taylor ground his teeth in rage. he
had staked all and was likely to lose all.
The thought maddened him, and had he
not been q cool and calculating villain
no would have forced a climax then and
there, which must have cost him his
life, He maintained silence for a few
minutes, and then said:
"Well, boys, / meant no harm, and
hope no one has any hard feelings
You'd have found the cave without me
of course, and you own the team. I'm
satisfied you viii do the fair thing by
me when we get through, and so let:
say no more about it."
"That's sensible" replied Bob, ant
the matter was dropped.
Taylor wandered away from the CAM
a short distance, apparently to gather
frewood, but really to give vent to hii
feelings by communing with himself.
"The foolsw he hissed when safe dis
tance away. "Not one Of them win evei
leave the plains except atsome one car
ries his dead body awayl They dom
know me- They think I'm cur to b,
kicked or petted at pleasure, but they
are triAing with a demon. They thinl
to beat me out Of my share, but III tax,
all-every ounceW
And as soon as he had left the fire tn,
outlaws drew closer together and Bol
said:
( WED better shoot him tonight as h,
sleeps. He's bound to trouble us"
"No-wait," replied one Of the others
We've got a long pull before Us, witt
plenty Of redskins in the way. Hei
Dlucly and good shot. When we dom
need him any longer somebody's rift
can go off by accident and wen leavl