Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-12-07

"What do you mean by that?" he cried
The sheriff was Morton, and the most
worthy judges were other members Of
his gang.
This move tickled Danny Randalls
sense of humor immensely.
"That's good headwork," he said ap-
provingly. II didn't think Morton had
it in him.
''It's time something was done to
run that gang out of town." fumed DR..
Rankin.
mo; it is not time," denied Danny,
"any more than it was time when you
and Johnny and the rest of you had
your celebrated jury trial"
''Id like to know what you are driv-
ing atv' fretted the worthy doctor.
Danny Randall laughed in his gentle
little fashion l will confess that just
at that time | was very decidedly
wondering what Danny Randall was
at. In fact, at moments | was strong
ly inclined to doubt his affiliations.
He seemed to stand in an absolutely
neutral position, inclining to neither
side.
Tom Cleveland was killed in the
open street by one of the Empire hang
ers-on. The man was promptly ar
rested by Morton in his capacity Of
sheriff and confined in chains. Nor
ton as sheriff selected those who were
to serve on the jury. [ had the curl
osity to attend the trial. expecting to
assist at an uprOarious farce. All the
proceedings, on the contrary, were
conducted with the greatest decorum
and with minute attention to legal
formalities. The assassin, however,
was acquitted.
From that time the outrages in
creased in number and in boldness.
No man known to be possessed Of any
quantity of gold was safe. 1t was
dangerous to walk alone after dark, to
hunt alone in the mountains, to live
alone. Every man carried his treas
ure about with him everywhere he
went No man dared raise his voice
in criticism Of the ruling powers, for
it was pretty generally understood
that such criticism meant death.
This is a chapter hate to write, and
therefore | shall get it over with as
soon as possible.
One Sunday in the middle of October
two men trudged into town leading
each a pack horse.
I was at the time talking to Barnes
at his hotel and saw them from dis
lance hitching their animals outside
Morton's. They stayed there for some
time, then came out, unhitched their
horses, led them as far as the Empire,
hesitated, finally again tied the beasts
and disappeared. In this manner they
gradually worked along to the Bella
Union, where at last / recognized them
as McNally and Buck Barry, our COM
rades of the Porcupine. Of course I
at once rushed over to see them.
1 found them surrounded by a crowd
to whom they were Offering drinks
free handed. Both were already pref
ty drunk, but they knew me as soon
as l entered the door and surged to-
ward me hands out
delightedly. "And here's himself!
And who'd have thought Of seeing you
here? l made sure you were in the
valley and out of the country long
since. And you're just in time. Make
a name fok it? Better call it whisky
straight. Drink to US, my boy! Come,
join my friends! We're all friends
here. Come on, and here's to luck,
the best luck ever. We've got two
horse loads Of gold out there-nothing
but gold-and it all came from our old
digging. You ought to have stayed.
We had no trouble. Bagsby was an
old foolv All the time he was drag
ging me along by the arm toward the
crowd at the bar. Barry maintained
an air Of owlish gravity.
where's Missouri Jones?" l in
quired, but might as we'll have asked