Year: 1873

in her infancy.


Quite crowd had gathered on the
street, and the center of attraction was a
big fellow, who stood with newspaper
in his hand, raving and cursing.


What's the matter, Wolf ?" asked a
newcomer, who was evidently familiar
with the irate man.


"Matter" returned Wolf, for that
was his name, "matter enough, an
rough enough it'll be for some folks.
Them young whelps that prints this pa
per has gone an published something
about me. Oh, III fix 'em They'd bet
ter go an Kill themselves after ten min
utes ; it'll be an easier death fur 'em."


Wolf was a noted desperate, who, it
was said, killed more than twenty men,
and but few knew him who did not fear
him. He was at that time chief of gang
of loafers and gamblers that was nearly
always to be found lounging in the vicin-
ity alluded to, and disturbing the peace
of the whole neighborhood daily with ri
otous conduct. If there was any law in
those days it was seldom executed against
such characters, and in the full conscious
ness that they were feared they did prot-
ty much as they pleased.


The newspaper which had given dead
ly offence to Wolf was little journal,
and its office was in the second story OF
n building near the hotel have mention
ed, and few rods distant. Is was pub
lishcd by two young men-or, | might
say boys, for they were only eighteen and
twenty years old respectively named
Darrel and Haynes. The paper and its
youthful p:oprietors We're already we'll
known in the city of San Francisco.


The article which had excited the wrath
of the ruiiian Wolf was bold dcuunca-
ton of himself and his crowd for their
lawless conduct, and it particularly men
toned him by name, charactcrzing him
rs " clustering bully" 1t was the
work Of young Darrcl, a fearless boy
hailing from the Western States. Before
leaving his home in the Mississippi val
ley, he had acquired fair education, so
that he could at least edit II newspaper in
those early days and he possessed bo-
sides that, courage and daring, which
may be natural in the first place, and
which are more thoroughly developed by
exposure to dangers and hardships.-
Haynes was quite n different kind Of per-
son in point of courage, being Of an unu-
sually timorous nature.


To return to the scene on Sacramento
street. Working himself into his very
worst mood and his best was bad enough,
heaven knows Wolf tore the paper to
atoms and started for the Office Of pub
lication. He was followed by curl
Gus rabble, most Of whom were clatcd
with the prospect Of murder, though there
were some present who would have re-
monstutcd with the evil-hoarted man if
they had dared.


"Jest you watch " said Wolf as he
reached the door, " il ye want to see their
bloody carcasses tumble out o the win
dor. 1t won't be long. / don't spend
much time on such felIers.'


1t was the intention of the cruel hearted
man actually to cut the throats of the
boyish journalists and throw their bodies
out of the window, for the qualification Of
the crowd and the exaltation of his al
ready fearful name. SO the mob on the
street awaited the issue with ievcrish ex-
pcctotion as Wolf, nourshing his knife
and revolver, rushed up stairs.


All unconscious of their danger, the
two young editors were busily pursuing
their usual work in their primitive office.
IT they had heard the noise without they
had paid no attention to it, supposing it
were accustomed to hearing every day.
Darrel was sitting at n rude table writing
and Haynes was at the counter arrang-
ing some papers for the mail.


They heard the clatter of heavy boots
on the stairs, but supposed it was some
rough miner coming up to subscribe for
the paper, or perhaps to see n lawyer who
occupied couple Of rooms on the same
floor for the second floor was occupied
exclusively by themselves and an attorney
their rooms being separated from his by
a narrow hallway that was reached by
the fight Of stairs alluded to.


"Ah-ha! I've got ye, my young impsW
exclaimed the despcrado, bursting in.
: Haynes recognized him and turned
pale-being at the counter, which faced
the door and extended across the room,
he was naturally the first mark of Wolrs
vengeance.


" Ye young devils !" he hisscd, scowl-
ing like a madman, "ye'll never write
nor print nothin' more about me-" Here
he ilourished his knife and revolver above
his head. I've got a sure thing on both
Of ye" saying this, he looked about him
with careful scrutiny, to see that there
was no means Of escape for the youth at
the table, who, Of course would not dare
to jump over the counter and try to pass
him, but would cover down in corner
and take his turn at being killed then
he reached across the counter and seized
Haynes by the hair which was unfortu-
natcly very long.


Coilng the terrified young mans locks
around the great coarse fingers Of the left
hand, Wolf laid his revolver upon the
counter, without the slightest apprehen-
sion that his youthful adversary would
snatch it up and use it on him, as he
might have done had he possessed the