Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-10
(Continued.)

"Well," said Johnny seriously, 81
wanted to get him close to me. If
had shown him that I'd seen him when
he first came In the door he'd have
opened fire at once. And I'm q rotten
shot But I figured that If he thought
didn't see him he'd come across the
room to me-"
"But he nearly got you by surprise"
"Oh, no." said Johnny; Il saw him
all the time. l got his reflection from
the glass over that picture of the beau
tiful lady sitting on the whisky bar
rel. That's why picked out that ta-
ble."
my son." cried Danny Randall de-
lightedly, "you're true sport. You've
got head, you have!
"Well," said Johnny, "I figured I'd
have to do something; I'm such a rot
ten shot"
We slept late the following morning
and awoke tired. as though we had
been on n long journey.
"Now," said Johnny when our after
breakfast pipes had been lit, "we've
got to get together. There's one i'm
portant question before the house
who and what is Danny Randall?"
81 agree with you there" said
heartily.
We separated until noon. Johnny re-
turned promptly at l..
"As to Danny Randall" he began at
once, "origln lost in mists of obscurity.
First known in this country as guide
to party of overland immigrants be-
fore the gold discovery. One OF the
original Bear Flag revolutionists. Mem,
Der of Fremont's raiders in the south.
Showed up again at Sonoma and head
ed dozen forays after the horse
thieving Indians and half breeds in
the San Joaquin. Seems now to fol
low the mines. Guaranteed the best
shot with rifle or pistol in the state.
Guaranteed the best courage and the
quietest manners in the state. Very
eminent and square in his profession.
That's his entire history"
"What is his profession?" l asked.
HE runs the Bella Union"
"A gambler?" cried, astonished.
"Just so, q square gambler"
/ digested this in silence for a mo-
ment.
"Did you discover anything for your
self?' l asked at last.
BEST job ever invented" said John
ny triumphantly, 'at three ounces a
day, and can't beat that at your
beastly diggings."
"Yes?" l urged.
Il invented it myself, too," went on
Johnny proudly. "You remember what
Randall or the doctor said about the
robberies and the bodies of the drown
ed men floating? Well, every man
carries his dust around in a belt be-
cause he dare not do anything else
with 1t. do myself, and so do you,
and you'll agree that it weighs like
the mischief. So l went to Randall
and l suggested that we start an ex-
press service to get the stuff out to
bank with some good firm in San
Francisco. He fell in with the idea III
a minute. My first notion was that
we take it right through to San Fran
cisco ourselves, but he says he can
make satisfactory arrangements to
send it in from Sacramento. That's
about sixty miles, and well call it a
days hard ride through this country.
with a change of horses. So now I'm
what you might call an express mes
senger-at three good ounces a day."
"But you'll be killed and robbedw !
cried.
Johnny's eyes were dancing.
Think of-the funw said he.
You're rotten shot," l reminded
him.
"I'm to practice under Danny Ran.
dali from now until the first trip"
when is that?"
"Do you think we'll advertise the
date? or course I'd tell you, Jim, but
honestly don't know yet"
CHAPTER XXI.
The ExnrAss Maaeaunar