Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-14
(Continued.)

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 n 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 pack horse.
was ut the time talking to Barnes
at his hotel and saw them from dis.
tance 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 10 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 crowd
to whom they were offering drinks
free handed. Both were already pret-
ty drunk, but they knew me as soon
as l entered the door and surged to-
ward me hands out.
well, we'll, wellr' cried McNally
delightedly. And here's himself!
And who'd have thought of seeing you
here? | made sure you were in the
valley and out of the country long
since. And you're just in time. Make
a name for it? Better call it whisky
straight. Drink to us, my boy! Come,
join my friendsl 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-2nd it all came from our old
digging. You ought to have stayed.
We had no trouble. Bagsby was an
old fool" All the time he was drag
ging me along by the arm toward the
crowd at the bar. Barry maintained
an air of owllsh gravity
where's Missouri Jones?" in.
quired. but might as well have asked
4tone mountains. McNally chat
.red on, excited, his blue eyes dane
lg. Dragging over and over about his
wo horse loads of gold.
The crowd took his whisky, laughed
nth him and tried shrewdly to pump
i'm as to the location of his diggtngs.
IcNally gave them no satisfaction
here, but even when most hilarious
etained enough sense to put them of
he track.
As will be imagined, was most un-
asy about the whole proceeding and
ried quietly to draw the two men off.
"No, sir" cried McNally, mot any!
;es' struck town and am goin' to have
timer in which determination he
vas cheered by all the bystanders. I
i'd not know where to turn. Johnny
vas 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 Yank is crippled
nd can't move"
That melted them at once. They un-
led their long suffering animals. and
We staggered of down the trail.
On the way down l tried. but in
vain, to arouse them to a sense of
LANCER.
you've let everybody in town know
7ou have lot of dust" | pointed out
McNally merely laughed recklessly.
Good boys!" he cried. wouldn't
harm a f1yp' And l could veer him to
no other point of view. Barry agreed
to everything, very solemn and very
owlish.
We descended on Yank 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 with
dust, Morena went to town and re-
turned with various bottles. Sonora
Morena cooked a fine supper. In the
meantime |. as apparently the only re-
sponsible member OF the party, un.
saddled the animals and brought their
burdens into the cabin. Although Nc
Nally's statement as to the loads con-
sising exclusively of gold was some
what OF an exaggeration. nevertheless
the cantinas were very heavy. Not
knowing what else to do with them, /
thrust them under Yanks bunk.
The evening was lively. I win con.
fess 1t, and under the influence of 1t
my caution became hazy. Finally.
when I at last made my way back to
my own camp. found myself vastly
surprised to discover Yank hobbIing
along by my side. don't know why
he came with me. and / do not think
he knew either. Probably force of
habit. At any rate, we left the other
four to sleep where they would. ! re
member we had some difficulty In find
Ing places to lie.