The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-14
THE BANDITS PROMISE

Nearly every body in SoIsno County knows
James Porter. He has lived there more
than third of century, and now occupies
al elegant residence on one of the best
farms of the Dixon Ridge" But the time
was. In the early days of California, when
Jim" Porter held a rowing commission,
aud. like the majority of the argonauts,
made his home wherever night overlook him.
1t does not matter what year 1t was-that
part of 1t have forgotten, but 1t was dur
ing the reign of Joaquin Murietta. the
famous Mexican bandit, whose daring deeds
and murderous exploits filed California
from one end TO the other, and whose very
aame was synonym OF Dloodshed and
robbery.
Jim Porter and two companions were
camped on the bank OF beautiful noun
tain stream one lazy afternoon late In the
spring. and we're stretched cut on the grass
enjoying siesta In the lsnguid atmosphere
when horseman drew rein under the NAM
moth cedar that affor ded them shelter from
The suns rays and ssluted them with all
the grace Of a cOurtier Of old.
'Buenos dias, caballeros," said be-
You are Amercanos. and, / presume, are
ting for gold. / am only Me xican-a
'greaser, as your race Is pleased 20 call
us-but 1 am looking for that which is more
precious to me than all your glttering
METAL am in search of my wife, VIII o
was stolen from my house by your people
and is now captive at one Of the dance
houses near here. IT'S true she enjoys
certain amount of freedom, but she is VIZ
tualiy a prisoner nevertheless, and a close
watch is kept that she does not leave the
premises at any hour OF the day or night.
Now, seDors, l know by your faces that
you are honest men and can sympathize
with the victim OF wrong; therefore /
will be frank with you, and you need not
De alarmed when l tell you that l am
Joaquin Murietta. l ask you as favor to
20 to the dancehouse at Red Dog tonight
the one with the low porch facing the
rosd-and engage my wife In dance.
Anybody there can tell you who she is.
but you will know her by the dark tresses
floating over her shoulders and by her
70 her surroundings. To whichever one of
you that gets her out on the porch where
she can bear the sound OF my voice l will
pay one hundred dollars in the gold you
love so much. and you have my word of
honor that l will never forget the obliga-
Ii0n."
1t was no news to his hearers that joe
gums wife was an inmate of one OF the
low hurdy-gurdy resorts at Red Dog, and IL
Was generally understood that she was there
against her will.
Porter's sense Of justice asserted itself,
aud he readily consented to aid the bandit
IN his desires, though he positively declined
10 accept any remuneration for the service.
In this resolve he was Joined by mis- CON-
Danions. aud as the evening approached the
trio OF Americans took up their line of
march for the mining camp of Red Dog.
while the horseman disappeared ia another
direction.
That night at II o'clock. the time agreed
upon. Porter and his friends were tripping
the light fantastic TO murderous music
Joaquin calculated we'll when 1t was ar
ranged that the midnight hour should be
the time for carrying his plans into execu-