Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-06-11
'NNnat Kind OF -four is that:" he
Oats lust plain w'eat -four"

with the frmness of great conviction.
Its full Of yeast powders. Why, It's
r'arin' and risin' like buckin' boss.
I'm plumb seasick." He laid zigzag
course for the door,
- Were you goin'?" asked Poleon.
I'm goin' to get somcthin' for this
stomach trouble. It's fierce" He de-
scended into the darkness boldly and
stepped off with CONFERENCE.-The time
too soon. Poleon heard him founder
ing about. his indignant voice raised
irascibly, albeit with a note Of tri-
umph.
"Wha'd tell you? You put that
step back while was ashleep." Then,
whistling blithely, If somewhat out of
tune, he steered for the new saloon to
get something for his stomach trou-
BILE"
At Stark's he found Il large crowd
of the new men. who welcomed him
heartily, plying him with countless
questions ard barking to his maudln
tales Of this new country which to him
was old. He had followed the muddy
river from Crater lake to the delta.
searching the bars and creek beds in
tireless quest till he knew each stream
and tributary. and. like Gale, he had
lived these many years ahead Of tie
law, where each man was his own
court Of appeals ard where crime was
unknown.
ooh, there's lots Of countries wOrse'n
this" he declared. I'VE may not be
very handsome to the naked eye, AID
we may not wear our handk' chiefs in
our shirt cuffs, but there amt no Wild
derS and orphans Gcin our waSLin',
and man can walk away from his
house, stay Il month and find 1t there
when he comes back"
"Those days arc past" said Stark.
"Theres too many new people coming
in for all to be honest"
They'd better be-" said Lee ag-
gressively I'VE amt got no room for
srealers. Why, l had hand in maxim
the bylaws Of this camp myself, long
with John Gale. and they stiplates
that any person caught Robin a cache
Is to be publicly whipped In front Of
the tradin' post: then. If it's winter
time. he's TO be turned loose on the ice
barefooted. or, If it's summer. he's In
be set adrift on a log with his shirt
off,"
EITHER would mean certain DEATH"
said stranger-"frost In winter, mos
quitoes in SUMMER!
That's all right" another bystander
declared. "a mans life depends on
his grub up here, and I'd be in favor OF
enforcing that punishment to the let
ter"
"AlI the same | take no chances"
said Stark. There's too many stran-
gers here Just to show you how
stand. I've put RunniOn on guard over
my pile Of stuff, and I'll be glad when
it's under cover. 1t isn't the severity
Of punishment that keeps a man from
going wrong; it's the certainty of It,"
"Well, he'd sure get it, and get 1t
proper, in this camp" declared Lee,
and at that moment as if his words
had been a challenge, the flaps of the
great tent were thrust aside, and Run
MON half led, half threw man into
the open space before the bar.
Lets have look at YOU" he pant
ed. "Wel. If it amt niger"
whats up?" cried the men crowd
Ing about the prisoner. who crouched,
terror stricken, in the trampled mud
and moss, while those playing roulette
and bank" left the tables, followed
by the dealers.
"He's a thief" said Runnion, mop
ping the sweat from his brow. II
caught him after your grub pile, Stark.
He dropped q crate Of hams when l
came upon him and tried to run, but l
dropped him." A trickle of blood
from the negro's head showed how he
had been felled.
"Why didn't you shootY growled
Stark angrily, at which the negro half
arose and broke into excited denials
of his guilt. RunniOn kicked him saw
agely, while the crowd murmured ap-
proval.
LIE me see him." said Lee elbow
ing his way through the others. FIX
ing his one eye upon the "re''n' H
spoke impressively.
"You're the first downright tnieI
ever seen. Was you hungry?'
"No; he's got plenty" answered one
Of the tenderfeet He's got bigger
outfit than have"
"Then reckon it's divine manifes-
tation," said "No Creek" Lee tearfully
"This black party is goin' to furnish
an example as will elevate the moral
tone of our community for a year"
"What y'all aim to do?" whined the
thief
"We're goin' to try you," announced
the one eyed miner, land II you're
found guilty, as you certainly are goin'
to be, you'll be logged. after which
perdicament you'll have a nice ride
downstream on saw log without
your laundry"
"But the mosquitoes
"Too bad you didn't think of them
before Let's get at this, boys, and
have 1t over with"
A miners meeting was called on the
spot and q messenger sent hurrying
to the post for the book in which was
recorded the laws Of the men who had
made the camp. The crowd was de-
termined that this should be done le-
gally and as prescribed by ancient GUS
tom ND and down the river. There