The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-07-08

at that time I was very decidedly wondering what Danny Randall was at. In fact, at moments I 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. Mor- ton as sheriff selected those who were to serve on the jury. I had the curi- 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. It 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 1t was pretty generally understood tat such criticism meant death.
 This is a chapter hate to write, and therefore I shall get 1t over with as soon as possible.
 One Sunday in the middle of October two men trudged into town leading each pack horse.
 was at the time talking to Barnes at his hotel and saw them from a dis tance hitching their animals outside Mortons. 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 at once rushed over to see them.
 found them surrounded by a crowd to whom they were offering drinks free handed. Both were already pret- ty drunk, but they knew me as soon as I entered the door and surged to- ward me hands out
 Well, well, wellr' cried McNally delightedly. And here's himself! And who'd have thought of seeing you here? I made sure you were in tlao valley and out of the country long since. And you're just in time. Make g name for it? Better call 1t 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 foAlv' All the time he was drag ging me along by the arm toward the crowd at the bar. Barry maintained m air of owlish gravity. s
 Where's Missouri JonesT in- quired, but I might as well have asked the sSne mountains. McNally chat tered on, excited, his blue eyes danc. Ing, bragginE over and over about hia two horse loads of gold.
 The crowd took his whisky, laughed with him and tried shrewdly to pump him as to the location of his diggings McNally gave them no satisfaction there, but even when most hilarious retained enough sense to put them ofl the track. |.
 As will be imagined, was most un. easy about the whole proceeding and tried quietly to draw the two men oft
 "No, sir,' cried McNally, mot any Jes' struck town and am goin' to have timeT' in which determination he was cheered by all the bystanders. did not know where to turn. Johnny was away on one of his trips, and Danny Randall was not to be found Finally inspiration served me.
 Come down first and see Yank," urged. Poor old Tank is crippled and can't rlove."
 That melted them at once. They un tied their long suffering animals, and we staggered off down the trail.
 On the way down I tried, but in vain, to arouse them to sense ot danger.
 You've let everybody in town know you have a lot of dust" pointed out McNally merely laughed recklessly. Good boys!' he cried. "Wouldn't harm dyv And could veer him te no other point of view. Barry agreed to everything, very solemn and very owlish.
 We descended on Tank like a storm I will say that McNally at any time was irresistible and irrepressible, but especially so in his cups. We laughed ourselves sick that afternoon. The Morenas were enchanted. Under in structions, and amply supplied witt dust, Morena went to town and re turned with various bdttles. Senors Morena cooked fine supper. In the meantime I, ns apparently the only re l sponsible meuber of the party, un saddlcd the animals and brought theil | burdens into the cabin. Although Me l Nally's statement as to the loads con sisting exclusively of gold was some what of an exaggeration, nevertheless the cantinas were very heavy. No knowing what else to do with them, ] thrust them under Tanks bunk.
 The evening was lively, will con fess it, and under the influence of i l my caution became hazy. Finally 1 when at last made my way back tt