The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-15

holding fully $4,000 worth Of the miners
property, which would. all being well, be
en- route for Frisco on The following Mon
day.
On Sunday morning the honest, quiet-gO-
ing miners remained reading or smoking in
their shanties, or wandering aimlessly
down the gully, while the Tougher sort
scattered around among the various bars
which had sprung up. When the hour OF
service struck every one, except the brokers
and young Togue, who, with the willing
consent Of Pars0n joel, had gone Tor
stroll, was in his place
TOgue, although vastly improved, was
still weak, and needed, so the BarsOn said,
alt the fresh mir he could get. There was no
lack Of it in the vicinity OF the camp.
In accordance with Parson JoePs custom
al the firearms were collected and deposited
in the depths of the extempOr!zed pulpit
before the service began, so that during
worship be mounted guard over them.
The opening hymn being concluded, the
parsOn led in prayer.
At the moment when the attention Of all
was absorbed in this exercise shot was
fred outside, and the sounds Of a scui1le,
followed by a wild cry for help, were heard
proceeding from tile direction OF the gold
Office.
The miners. ike a famished lion aroused
from his lair, sprang TO their feet, only to
find themselves face TO face with TWO taH,
masked men, who bad quietly and un0b-
servedly entered the building. These, pre-
senting their reviewers. thundered:
Hands upi the first Of you who moves
is q dead man."
The situation became clear. The camp
was attacked. and those who should have
been its defenders had been rendered de-
| feDseleSs by their own action.
One possible chance Of escape remained
open. There was door behind the preacher,
| who had remained quiet, unmoved specta-
A0T nj hn n hn
! gained the attack might yet be beaten off
/ and the gold saved.
Those of us who were farthest removed
/ from the robbers made partial movement
/ toward the door. But this was quickly
/ checked, Tor as we gathered ourselves for a
! rush. the meek and gentle attitude of Par
| son Joel underwent complete and teTrib le
! change. The mans slight form dilated his
usually mild eyes flashed fire and his cOun-
teDanee became so altered as TO be scarcely
| recognizable. With a movement which
was almost quicker than light be whipDed
out brace Of Coils TeyOlvers from some
secret rocket, and with the skill of prac-
| ticed maTkSmaD, he. who feared the very
sight Of a pistol, covered tue c0ngration in
! front as completely as the two strangers
] had done in the rear.
/ We were checkmated completely.
The game so boldly played was won.
The helpless diggers, chatng under the
| indignity which was even less patiently TO
be borne than the threatened loss, sat down
again, anticipating only toe well the course
which events would take.
Our ehagrin was not lessened when Par
! son Joel, without the CHEST OF a smile upon
| bis face, said
Friends, adversely comes sooner or later
! to US all, in order that we may learn how to
practice as well as preach You are all
witnesses that | have frequently besOught
| Won not TO put your trust in riches which
make TO themselves wings and Fly away"
He had scarcely ceased speaking when a
peculiar cry-the yelp OF the eoy0te-was
| heard in the distance.
This was evidently the signal for which
tie marauders bad been waiting. for Par
son Joel bowed ironically, and, kicking
open the door behind him, Immediately
disappeared. The other two similarly
vanished.
The miners, Ike troop Of schoolboys,
! or gang of released eOnFiets, tumbled
pell-mell into the open; but they were toe
| late.
The sound of rapidly retreating horse
| hoofs intimated the fight of the robbers
There was no doubt of the direction which
| they had taken, Ter one of the fugitiYes was
still full in view So far from urging his
horse to its greatest pace, he seemed rather
10 check II; designing. perhaps. to aid the
escape OF the rest OF the gang In his fligh.
! he bad the hardihaod TO turn and wave his
hand to the discounted miners.
These saw at glance the extent of tbE
| mischief The gold store had been rif1ed
Its single defender lay dead in his OWE
doorway, shot through the heart. The
other broker had fed.
With wild cry for vengeance, we turned
and Snatched such weapons as were con-