Courier Democrat., 1916-12-28

come Dy stop them ana tell them TO
proceed by the cut off to the place
they know Of and to wait there for
me. Understands"
To each Of the other four men he
assigned different watching on other
trails, giving them the same fnstruc.
tions.
"Now git!" he finished.
After informing Yank Of my pro-
jected absence waited at the ap-
pointed place until the appointed time!
then returned to the Bella Union.
"That's all right" Danny greeted my
report. "They came across the Hogs
Back and are now safely in hiding.
Here'-he gave me slip Of paper
during the day contrive to see these
men. Make it casual and easy. as
though you just happened to see them.
Chat a few minutes and tell them this:
Danny Randall calls secret miners
meeting at the upper horse fiat at 9
o'clock tonight. Slip up There without
being seem Be sure to let them un-
derstand that it is who am issuing
er they will or will not come"
l took the slip of paper and read
over the half dozen names it contain
ed. They were all known to me: so I
nodded my comprehension and went
out
All the rest of the day 1 loafed
about, chatting with dozens Of people,
81 l,s,
self. That individual profesed great
zeal for law and order and told of
the wonderful things he. as sheriff, in
tended to accomplish. Among the lot
l contrived to include the six men
whose names were OH my paper, and
to deliver my message. explained
as far as l knew, and got from each a
definite and emphatic promise to be
present.
ITS time this thing was brought to
a head" said one man. IF Danny
| Randall is taking hold Of it enlist.'
| returned to report these facts. re-
ceived an Indifferent nod, and, under
further instruction. went quietly to
camp to await the agreed hour
We started up the trail about s
o'clock. Yank insisted that he was
going. If he had to roll all the way,
but after Il little we simultaneously
remembered that the Morenas had
owned horses. One Of these l caught,
| and on it Yank rode to the place Of
rendezvous
The night was very black After we
had entered the woods its darkness
seemed at first to hang in front of my
eyes like Il filmy curtain, SO that fair
| ly groped. as one would when blind
folded.
AT the Flat Rock we We're halted by
| a low voiced command. l gave the
password. as instructed by Danny
Randall. This experience was once
repeated, Il little farther ON. Then, as
we neared the upper horse fiat. VIC
were stopped by man who flashed a
dark lantern in our faces, scrutinized
us for a moment. shut off his light and
told us to so forward.
We found q small fire behind a screen
| Of frs and around or near it the fig
ures of a dozen men. They stood 81
| lent and scattered little apart from
! the freight. We could not make out
| their features From time to time 9TH
er men came in. singly or in couples,
until probably twenty-five were gath
cred. Then ensued u few moments of
| waiting. y sudden stir proclaimed
! fresh arrivals, and four newcomers
strobe brisl1ly to the fire. AS the light
| fell on them ! recognized Randall and
the three express riders.
| Danny kicked together the fire until
it 1lared.
| Somebody put some more wooo on
this" he said in his natural voice.
| We've got to see each other
| In a moment the flames were leap
ing. | looked about me with consider
able interest to see who of the camp
had been summoned. l must confess
to few surprises, such as the gam
| bier from the Empire, but in general
the gathering consisted of those whom
| should have characterized as solid cit
lzens-Barnes, the hotel keeper: Him
| melwright and men Of his stripe. They
| were all armed and all very grave and
sober. Danny ran his eye over us one
| by one.
Meeting come to order" he COM
llanded briskly. This is a vigilante
| meeting. 1 hope you all realize what
that means. There are just thirty of
us here and Morton's gang is proba-
bly, hundred strong when it is all to-
| gether. We cannot fight them, but we
can give the honest, decent men of
this camp Il chance to fight them. I
myself believe the honest men will
back us and am willing Barisk it. If
any of you who are here now think
differently say So"
He paused, but no one spoke up.
IF anybody doesn't want to go into
this now is the time to back out. Just
| keep your mouths shut: that is all.''
| He paused again. but again no one
moved.
That's all right observed Danny,
| with satisfaction. He lifted a paper.
Listen to this: we, the undersigned,