Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1895-01-28

1T was odd that | heard no other
sound out the single report of your
rifie!' SAID voice behind Taylor, and
he wheeled about to find Harkins con-
fronting him.
Inc man amazement and terror were
pitifuL lie essayed to speak, but the
words would not come. He looked help
lessly from side to side and trembled as
with chill.
lit IS not the dead come back" said
Harkins, but the living. Your bullet
only grazed my arm. fell into gulch
just as you fired upon me- There were
no Indians therer'
Taylor looked from man to man Each
face was hard set and vengeful.
You are all agin MEL he finally
shouted. You've got mad at me and
want to drive me away! Why should l
want to take Harkins' life?"
But you fired upon me, and here is
the empty shell to prove it." said Har-
kins
If did, then | was scared of-of
the Indians" stammered Taylor.
You know the law of the plainsi"
said the captain to Taylor in a finty
voice. The man who murders a COM
rade must die himselfr'
Il didn't murder himr
No, You did not but the man who
attempts murder must be punished.
You must go! In one hour you must be
out of camp, and should you return you
will be fired upOn!
To turn a man out in that locality was
giving him up to a hundred perils, if not
to certain death, but Taylor eagerly
caught at the opportunity.
I'll willingly CO." he replied. I'm
deed don't want to stay. You are all
agin me and couldn't be easy here. |
can take all my traps, reckon?"
Certainly"
Taylor had horse, blankets, spare
ammunition. spade and pick and cook
ing utensils. These articles were packed
up and strapped to his horse and he was
given food enough to last him a week.
His truck had been stored in the rear
end of a wagon owned by another, and
his going simply decreased the strength
of the party one man. AS he was ready
to ride away the captain kindly said:
Its hard lines, Taylor, but it's the
law we all live by. Harkins had the
right to shoot you the minute he entered
the camp"
Yes, | reckon he had, though he
made a big mistake in accusing me-"
81 hope you'll keep clear of Indians
and meet with good luck
And II
And II
And r.
Even Harkins echoed the sentiment,
and with "a wave of his hand Taylor was
off. He rode straight up the valley, and
rs he went he smiled grimly and
chuckled to himself:
its your turn this morning. Tomor-
row it may be mine. Yesterday |
thought | had to kill but one. Today
I'm planning to wipe out the whole
pack Not one of you shall leave this
valley alive,''
Half mile to the east Il bend in the
valley hid him from view. He rode on
for about mile, and then discovering
Il small valley leading off at right angles
lie entered it, followed it up for forty
rods and then dismounted and prepared
20 camp.
LAS for Indians" he unused, as he
looked about him, Il don't think there
IRE any left in the hills They have all
gone forward to fight off the rush, and
before summer is over the rush will
have carried every redskin out of the
locality
He threw the spade and pick aside in
disgust as he unpacked and growled:
II shan't want ye-leastwise for dis;
ring out gold-Fll get it easier. Five
miles the other side Of campls the ravine,
pad up that ravine is the cave of gold.
III have my hands on the stuff before
tomorrow night if it is there, and then
le5 the wagon train look out! It's death
TO ALL!
Meanwhile the camp had Il visitor.