Evening star., 1936-04-01

wv nouncement of Johnny's
' marriage on the morrow
had at length seeped into him, "as
your gal Flossie must have remarked
when you popped the question: This
is so sudden, Mr.. Warren Lordy, me,
If had your courage, proposin' to one
O. the hometown gals before I had
the price of brass weddin' ring, I'd
be a grandfather by now-seein' as
I'm 10 years older'n you"
"She's waited five years for me-
said Johnny proudly. Takes a real
woman to do that"
An it takes a real man to have
come out into this hurly-burly in a
gold rush an kept himself dainty
a-waitin' for her, as you've done
brother. Well. you got close to three
hundred thousand an If you can't
build that up into couple of millions
before you die, you amt no true Yam
kee. I suppose it'll be my Job to give
the bride away"
II reckon so, Bill"
Then let's clear out o. here and
I'll buy some store clothes, too. Then
we hustle back here an get busy on
these here bachelors diggins with a
heap O. hot water, lye, soap an mops
because this here cabin certainly amt
no place to house blushin' bride
Me, I'll haul my freight up into Jesus
Muriettas OF cabin. If Flossie'll feed
me reckon can git along until we've
cleaned up this claim an light out
for civilization, an stay there. Me
I'm plumb fed up on the rough life
O. the lusty miner. want to go back
to ships"
He and Johnny did some hasty
shopping and spent the next several
hours giving their cabin a thorough
cleaning. About o'clock they fin
ished, donned what they termed their
store clothes, saddled up and rode
down into Sawmill Flat to await the
arrival of the stage from Sonora, bear
ing Johnny's fiancee.
The stage arrived ahead Of time
for the reason that the stage driver
lay slumped down in the boot with
bullet through his lungs; the shot
gun messenger of the express COM
pany was slumped over dead along
side him. The horses were running
away and as the stage came careening
down the main street sundry citizens
including Johnny and Bill. rode theil
horses alongside the teams. graspeo
their brides and finally brought them
to halt.
Held up by the Murietta gang
the driver managed to gasp. There
was four men passengers an Muri-
eta lined em up In the road an
robbed them. Two O. the four he
accused O. havin' helped hang hi;
brother, so he shot them, but let the
other two go. There was a gal pas
senger, too. I dunno what became o
her"
Johnny Warren dismounted and
climbed inside the stage. On the rear
seat young woman lay huddled
"Flossie, is that you?" Johnny called
Hello. Johnny. It's what's left OF
me. darling. When that bandit killed
those two men one of his bullets went
wild and hit me in the shoulder. I'm
not going to die and the robber was
very nice. He apologized and assured
me he never killed ladies; he made me
give him my name and address and
said he'd send money for my doctor
bill. I told him to send it to Mrs. John
Warren, Sawmill Flat--and he almost
tainted. He said he was a friend OF
yours and asked me to ask you to
forgive him and to understand it was
an accident. You have very queer
friends, Johnny"
Johnny did not answer. He was
too enraged to do so. He gathered her
In his arms, kissed her and handed
her out to his brother, who carried
her into the hotel while Johnny sour
ried away for a doctor who, after an
examination, informed the brothers
that the wound was not serious. al
though painful; that it would require
a month to heal fully.
$50 there won't be no weddin' bells
for a month";" Bill joked his brother,
AN an inch lower an mebbe there
wouldn't be none at all. Doggone that
Joaquin. He would have to wait until
your girl come along before startin'
to shoot wild"
Reckon he didn't have his mind
on his Job. Can't say as I blame him,
Bill. I got sort o. feller-feelin' for
him now"
"Well, I amt" Bill gritted. "WeIl
be finished on that claim before Flos-
sizes well enough to git married, an
when We do I'm goin' to join out as
q deputy sheriff an do my best to put
few slugs in Joaquin where they'll
do the State the most good"
He left Johnny and came downstairs
into the hotel bar. A stranger came
up to him. Il understand you're Bill
Warren and that you know this fellow
Murietta very well"
Bill nodded. my name is George
Love-" the stranger continued, "and
I have been commissioned by Gov.
Bigler to organize troop to be known
as the California Rangers and to hunt
down and destroy Joaquin Murietta.
Heretofore, counties and towns have
been after Murietta-but that sort of
thing is too sporadic and disorganized.
With 20 picked men intend to take
the field after that numbering Mexican
an keep the field until I bring in his
head. You are the only man I can
locate who could recognize Joaquin
If we came up on him. You're needed.
The pay Is $3.50 a month. Will you
join my company?"
Gladly" Bill replied. IAN work for
nothin'. been a sailor an while I've
learned to ride horse without fallin'
on. amt what you'd call a good
horseman. An I'm plumb heavy an
must have big, strong horse. I can
shoot pretty good. Me and my brother
has done heap o. shootin' at targets,
with pistol an rifle. Joaquin has Just
by accident. I admit-shot my