The morning times., 1895-09-01
Continued from last sundayl
CHAPTER V.

NODnlluutu lIOln last oulldy-l
:. CHAPTER V.
The day following the great stage-coach
robbery found the patient proprietor OF
| CoIIinson's Mill calm and untroubled in his
usual seclusion. The news that had thrilled
the length and breadth of Galloper's Ridge
had not touched the leafy banks Of the dried
up river; the hue and cry had followed the
stage road, and no courier had deemed It
worth his while to diverge as far as the
rocky ridge which formed the only path
way to the mill. That day Coninson' e soil
tude had been unbroken evenly the haggard
emigrant from the valley, with his old
monotonous story OF hardship and priva-
tion. The birds had flown nearer to the old
mill, asifem boldened by the unwonted quiet.
That morning there had baenthe half human
imprint of a bears foot in the ooze beside
! the mill wheel, and coming home with his
! scant stock from the woodland pasture he
had found a golden squirrel-a beautiful,
airy embodiment OF the brownw oodsitself-
calmly seated on his bar counter with bis
cult between its baby hands. He was fun
of his characteristic reyeries and abstrac-
tions that afternoon; falling into them eveg
at his W ood pile, leaning on his ax-so stin
that an emerald-throated lizard who had
slid upon the log went to sleep under the
forgotten stroke.
But at nightfau the wind arose-at first
as a distant murmur along the hillside,
that died away before it reached the rocky
ledge. Then it rocked the tops OF the tail
redw oods behind themiIl, ,butlefttheminand
the dried leaves that lay in the river bed un-
disturbed, Thenthe murmur W prolonged
until it became the continuous trouble OF
some far-off sea, and at last the wind pos
sessed the ledge itself, driving the smoke
down the stumpy chimney orthemiu, rattline
the sun-warped shingles on the roof, stir
ring the inside rafters with cool hreaths, and
singing over the rough projections Of the
self up in his blankets before the fire as was
his wont, and fell asleep.
Itwas iustmidnight whenhe wasawakened
by the familiar cIatter Of bouldcrs down the
grade, the usuual stimulation OF d wild rush
from without that encompasscd the whole
mill, even TO that heavy impact against the
door which he had heard once before
In this ne recognized merely the ordinary
phenomena Of his experience, and only
turned over 10 sleep again. But this time
The door rudely fen1n upon him anda figure
strode over his PROSTATE body with a gun
leveled al his head
He Spraug Sldcwise for his own weapon,
whIchstoodbyth ythehearth. InanothcrseConG
that action would have been his last and
the solitude Of Seth CoIhnson might have
remained henccforward unbrOken by any
mortal But the gun OF the first figure
was knocked sharply upward by a second
man, and the one and only shot fired that
night sped hannlessly TO the roof With
the report he felt his arms gripped tightly
behind him; through the smoke he saw
dlmIy that the room was filed with masked
| and armed men, and in another moment he
was pinioned and thrust into his empty
armchair At a signal three Of the men
left the room, and he could hear them ex-
plOring The 0therrUOns and OuthOuses Then
the two men who had been standing be-
side him fell back with a certain disCi-
pnned precision as a smCoth-chinned man
! advanced from the open door. Going to the
! bar he poured out a glass Of whisky, tossed
il off deliberately, and, standing IN front
of CollnsOn with his shoulder against the
chimney, and his hand resting lightly on
his hip, cleared his throat. Had CoIinson
been an obscryant man he would have
noticed that the two men dropped their
eyes and moved their feet with a hair
impatient perunctory air OF waiting Had
| he witnessed the stage robbery he would
/ "a NH Eunppflf- faced
| the presence of the orator" But he only
gazed at him with his dull, imperturbabie
patience.
We regret exceedingly to have to use
| force to a gentleman in his own house"
began the orator, blandly, but we feel it
| our duty to prevent a repetition Of the un-
| happy incident which occurred as we en-
tered We desire that you should an
swer few questions, and are deeply CRATE
full that you are stiu able to do so, which
| seemed extremely improbable a moment or
! Two ago"
He paused, coughed and leared back
| against the chimney.
How many men have you here besides
! yourser?"
Mary one" said Collinson.
The interrogation glanced at the other men
who had re-entered. They nodded signifi-
| cantly.
: Good" he resumed. You have told
the truth-an excellent habit, and one that
! expedites business. Now, is there q room
in this house with door that locks?
Your front door doesn't"
'No"
''No cellar nor outhouse?"
NO"
we regret that, for It viii compel Us,
| much against our wishes, TO keep you bound
as you are for the present. The matter is
| simply this: Circumstances ola very pressing
nature oblige US to occupy this house for
| few days-possibly for an indefinite period.
| We respect the sacred rites Of hospitality
too much to turn you out OF it; indeed,
nothing could be more distasteful to cur
feelings than to have you, in your own
| person, spread such a dsgraCcful report
| through the chiyairous Sierras. We must.
| therefore, keep you close prlsoner-open
| however, to an offer. 1t is this: We
| propose to give you five hundred dollars
| for This property as it stands, provided that
| you leave IT and accompany pack train
| which viii start tomorrow morning for
the lower valley Is far as Thompson's
| Pass, binding yourself to quit the State
| for three months and keep this matter
| secret. Three of these gentlemen Will go
| With you They will point out 10 you your
| duty; their sho,guns will apprise you Of any
| dorpIictiOn from il What do Won sa W"