The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-07-01

CHAPTER I.

yendertoot from Onlo, mounted on q
&tout bronoho, with an outfit consisting
| Of . roll OF blankets and six-shooter.
Fired with visions Of suddenly acquired
wealth, had few weeks before started
Tor California, sorely against the wishes
of my parents and advice OF my friends.
ewas riding slowly up the long mountain
grade, headed for the gravel mines of the
North Fork OF the Yuba, and calculated
70 make the Mountain House by dark,
o'hen was overtaken by q horseman,
Eho rode up beside me with q genial,
&How are you strangcrf"
He was fine-looking man OF about
thirty, with . blond beard, and the hand
some horse he bestrode was somewha
faded. We rode on together up the grade,
end fell into conversation. He inquired
where was from, and where was bound
Dor, both of which questions answered
frankly. He told me that he was mine
owner over on the Middle Fork; that he
had just made business trip down the
Sidge, and was In hurry TO get back, and
odded that had better come on with him
kpd he would give me job. gratefully
accepted his offer, and when we stopped
TO water about half way up the grade he
asked me to carry small pair of saddle
bags, as his horse was pretty well beat
out.
compiled cheerfully, as my beast was
Comparatively fresh. The bags were
heavy, and he remarked az ne handed
them over that they contained the coin
hrom his last clean up. With q due ap-
probation OF the Importance of the trust,
y felt for my six-shooter, and we pushed
bn up the grade. Arrived at the top he
book a cross road, remarking that he
guessed we could make old man Browns
by night.
found him pleasant, entertaining fell
low, and being no doubt conceited, i'm
egined that he found me the same. II
was nearly dark when we rode up to q
fow, rambling old building, which he
designated as sold man Browns" and
bdded that it was rather hard place, but
eny port In a storm.
AS we rode up TO the porch slender
girl OF about fourteen, with big brown
Hyes and a shock OF red curls, came run
ming round the corner of the house. She
looked as wild as q deer, and my first
Thought was, "What q beauty she will
make some day!" raised my sombrero
and asked IL we could get accommoda-
tions for the night.
"Dunno; III ask Dad, !" she said shortly,
Pnd darted into the house through the
barroom.
A moment later portly old man In list
elippers made his appearance, rubbing his
hands and smiling benignly. "How are
you, boys? Want to stop? All right.
Here, Jess, call Joe to take the horses"
had just dismounted and started to re-
move the saddle bags when glance at my
travelling companion checked me. He was
gazing back down the road and listening
antently. / saw a grayish pallor over
spread his face. The next moment he
struck spurs into his horse and without
word galloped down the road in the op-
posite direction into the gathering dark
hess.
Surprise and alarmed, sprang again
into the saddle, and as the sound of horses
approaching at rapid rate came to my
ears started on down the road after my
late companion. My first thought was
that highwaymen were on our track.
Glancing back, I saw a number of horse
men riding furiously down upon me. I
heard loud oaths and orders to halt.
Without needing them / spurred on, and
drew my six-shooter, determined to sell
my life as dearly as possible. The next
moment volley of shots rang out, and
my horse stumbled and fell.
Before could rise was surrounded by
the roughest looking crowd of men IL has
ever been my misfortune to encounter.
Cries of "Kill him!" Hang him!" were
heard on all sides, and a dozen hands
seized me in no gentle grasp. My horse
lay dead. One of the men thrust his hand
into the saddle bags and pulled out sack
Of coin.
"Here you are, boysl Here's the swagi
Hang the blanked thief!" he shouted.
"Let's take him over to Browns and
bear what he's got to say" said tall man
who seemed to be leader.
This proposition met with general dis
favor, especially from one officious man,
who took rawhide lariat from his saddle,
and leading the way to a spreading oak
tree that stood neer, exclaimed, "here's
Rgood limb Fetch him along, boysl"
But the tall man demurred, and had his
way. "If he can't gave a straight ac-
count Of himself we'll make short work of
him."
attempted to explain, but pistol was
held at my head with the peremptory
command to shut up; sol shut. My arms
were then securely bound with the lariat.
] was marched back TO Browns ana placed
In one corner OF the barroom.
The crowd then demanded liquid re-
freshments, which was served by Brown.
The girl Jess stood in the door looking at
me curiously, and thought rather pity
ingly. My trial then began. 1t was brief
and TO the point. The stage had been
robbed the day before, the express mes
senger killed, and several thousand dol
lars stolen. The robbers, supposed to be
two in number, had eacaped, and these
men had organized party to hunt them
down. Had tracked them thus far and
succeeded in capturing me, with part OF
the stolen money in my possession.
Brown testified TO our riding up few
minutes before they came and asking
leave to stop over night, and added with
solemn shake OF his head that they had
|" let the worst one get away"
They then demanded TO know what I
had TO say, and I told my story in as
ltraightforward a manner as possible. IL
was listened 60 incredulously by most OF
them, but among few ] thought I saw
looks that encouraged me, and 1 wound
up with an impromptu appeal for life and