Year: 1868

On the centre of the floor of a wretched
tavern in California. in the times OF the slg-
ilance Committee, stood tall. ruflaniy
individual. A wide brimmed sombrero was
| slouched over his swarthy, hairy face, and
bis garments hung loosely over frame that
gave every indication of wondrous muscular
| development


His black eyes flashed out revengeful fires
| His long black hair, thrown behind his ears
! with that rude carelessness which ever char
acterizes the vagabond, and his closed white
| lips. ard clenched hands, proclaimed the
! desperate anger that animated his heart
| belt containing three revolvers was but hall
concealed beneath bis coat, and ever and
anon his hand would fall upon it as IT he was
prepared to draw one of his formidable wea-
pons and blow the contents into the face OF
the man who stood before him.
This individual looked to be thirty years OF
age. lie was one of those rough, Wild men
that gave to California, at the time OF which
we write, the reputation of being dangerous
region--who helped, by their actions, to
create Vigilance Committees, and who ever
and always escaped the punishment that was
meted out to other and less guilty men.
lie was a most formidable ruffan, and
could whip. as he boasted himself, any man
of his weight in the locality where he lived.
lie had fought many prize ring battles, and
many duels; he was we'll known as one oil
the most desperate rufhans the new born
State had produced. AS man who would
scruple to take life, and whose greatest de-
light was to see man bringing the blood of
man, and who loved the fire and destruction
of murder, riot, ravage and desolation. The
name he bore was as terrible as himself
Cut throat Bill was an appellation that was
infamous throughout the length and breadth
of California. 1t was feared and hated at the
mines, detested in the cities, but loved by the
blackguards and gamblers of the delectable
locality in which he moved.


The man to whom he was talking was q
TALL slender, gentlemanly looking parsonage;
his face was very handsome, and expressed
great resolution his eyes were of the grayish
blue order, very cold when angry warm and
full of humor when in the social circle. How
he came to be temporary occupant of the
miserable tavern where we find him is easy for
the reader to understand, who has spent even
q month in California, travelling about from
place to place.


The last person we have described was
seated near the large fire place, when the
ruffan, Cut Throat Bill, entered. The bully
had looked about him for a moment or two,
and seeing the slim frame and the gentle
manly bearing of the stranger, at once picked
him out as the object of his wrath.


lie seized his chair by the back and dragged
it from the fire. No sooner had he done so,
however, than the gentlemanly stranger was
upon his feet.


"What do you mean, sir. by such an act?"
h, iIo cba ba1


What do mean ~ returned the bully !;
g mean to have that ere chair"


Ha !" cried the stranger, suddenly, and
he twirled it out of the reach of Bill, and
Immediately confronted him.


In the meantime a magnihcently built,
compact looking man, had arisen from his
corner, and, unobserved, approached the
stranger, and leaning upon the counter of
the tavern, he watched closely the actions of
the bully.


"That ere chars mine, and ye may bet yer
life I'll have it" and Bill darted upon the
man before him, and seizing him by the
shoulder, hurled him to the farther end of the
room. He caught the chair as it fell from
the grasp of the man, and Immediately
planted himself in the same. He had no
sooner done so, however, than the strange
man sprang upon him and planted a heavy
blow under the ear. 1t had no effect upon
him, however, for he Immediately came to
bis feet and grappled with him, and, in a
moment, bad him upon the floor, and was
about to trample upon him.


But the compact little man leaning upon
the bar sprang upon him and pulled him
back. Upon seeing this new assailant the
bully paused for moment, while the other
persons in the tavern gathered around, and
after momentary observation he darted at
him. A cold, frightful smile passed athwart
the hard, bony countenance of the man, and
as the bully raised his hand to deal him
blow that would have felled an OK, the little
man, with most beautiful pass of science,
stopped the attempt. and placed, what the
roughs call a sockdologer, right under the
ear. Then swift as flashes of lightning he
sent in blow after blow, on the eyes, on the
nose, and intothe body, while the bully made
desperate efforts tc defend and retaliate.-
Covered with blood and mad with pain and
rage, he endeayored to draw his revolvers
from his belt; but the small man laughed
sardonically-he dashed upon him, seized
him by the belt, and, in less time than it
takes to write it, hurled him to the floor
| The belt was torn in a moment from his
person, and then the compact little man
struck him blow under the ear that left him
seuseless and almost lifeless upon the ground.
He coolly took the revolvers from the person
Of the vanquished bully, and after receiving
the thanks of the stranger, and small bun
die of bills, he coolly left the place.
| "Who is that 2" said one of the crowd that
had stood up in breathless silence, observing
the little scene we have narrated.


THAT" said the landlord, ais Yankee
Sullivan come, here's yer Ticker; ye may


bet that Cut Throat Bill won t interfere with
anyone in futur."


And he was right. When Bill came to, and


got up from the floor, he carried his gashed


and bloody face from out of the tavern, and


forever afterwards disappeared.