Year: 1870

surest and safest"


have nothing further to say added
Zachary, and to prove to you that I'm On
the square III go to my camp and say moth
ing about this meeting to any one"


How well Romaine would have like to
have followed Zachary was told by his long
ing look and lukewarm heart but he had
forever linked himself with Howard and
Lowry. lie had been their associate in lesser
crimes. aud 1t was too late too withdraw from
their companionship. This is the last time
l will ever stain my hands with a good mans
blood" he thought to himself. Mngruder
had been so generous and so true tn Romaine
that he would have gone to him and confessed
the whole had be not feared instant death in
consequence.


Hardly had the sounds of Zachary's foot.
steps died away when Howard laid open his
whole plan, which was to murder Magruder,
Allen, Phillips, and the two boys on the
eighth night from Bannock Citv, in the Bit.
ter Root mountains, 1870 miles from any set.
tlement Regarding Page, Howard agreed
to take care of him upon the night of the mur-
der, up to which time he would keep him in
Ignorance of the entire affair


On the eighth day from Bannock City,
along in the middle of the afternoon. Page
rode up to Howard, and pointed out the
camp in the distance, saving


There's one of the best camps on the road.
It's up on the top of the mountain, nearly,
but there is any quantity of wood, and the
water is better than in the canon.'


''lt is just the place want to stop at to-
night, of all Others" said Howard. Aud
when you go into camp. want you to pro-
ceed with your train to distance Of at least
half mile from the spring. Bill Page"
he said in cold. low tone, which almost
froze the thin blood Of the listener. 1--WE are
going to kill Magruder and the other four
men tonight.


And


81 Be quiet -


- But"


- Hold your tongue until get through,
and. then I'll listen to what you have to say.
You are to stay with the stock You are not
to have anything to do with the killing of
any of the men, neither are you to be harmed
yourself. You may at once rest contentedly
upon that score; for, really. Bill, we could
not get along with you. So, you see, you
are safe from the force of circum stances. -
When we call yOu in the morning, all you
will have to do is to take your share Of the
dust and help us throw the dead men down
the mountain"


Page was thunder-struck, and as silent as
the grave.


g What do you say 2" continued Howard,
his cold gray eye piercing the shriveled face
of poor Page with stiletto keenness and
cruelty.


" l can say nothing gasped the traprer,
in powerless amazement.


:" That's all ask of you SAY nothing, and
do nothiagr'


Bill Page had lived west of the Rocky
mountains for over tweuty years. and had
never before participated in a robbery even
The bare thought of the proposed murder
terrified him with fear. lie would have gone
to Magruder and informed him of the dread
ful plot against his life, but there were q
dozen obstacles in his way. Magruder would
not believe him. he thought, especially as
Howard had made himself such fav0rite
lie knew nothing of the plot, and could ex-
tend no Information of an intelligent charac.
ter. Besides, Howard remarked to him, upon
quitting his company, to be sure and not be
seen again that day except at supper.


Recollect, Bill, you are not to be HARM
ed, !" said Howard. as he rode back to the
party, " but be sure you say nothing and do
nothing, If you have any regard for 'ur own
life."


Odmp iuuuS u littio DeibTe u6Tk. n
stiff, binding snow-storm having set in half
hour previous At Q o'clock all had retired
except Magruder and Lowry, who we're on
guard from 6 to IL o'clock, and were sitting
at fire some two hundred feet up the noun
tain from the main camp, which was pitched
within few hundred feet of the back bone
or ridge of one of the Bitter Root mountains,
and under cover of patch of red tree and
juniper. The two Missouri boys were sleep
ing together, about sixty yards from the main
camp; Page was with his stock Romaine
slept with Phillips, Howard was ten yards in
the rear, and Allen slept in front few yards.
in his tent.


1t was agreed that the murder should take
place at ten O'clock At that hour Lowry
took up an ax and went into the bushes for
some wood. Here he met Howard upon
agreement, who had ventured as near as pos
sible to assist Lowry in case of failure. At
the fatal moment Magruder was sitting by
the fire, smoking his pipe and thinking OF the
loved ones at home, and holding a double
barrel shot gun in his hands, the caps Of
which had been previously removed by How
and. Page was sitting up in his corral, al
most stark mad, and watching every move
ment. Lowry arrived with an armful of
wood, and Magruder commenced to stir the
fire. While STOPPING over his hat fell off.
and Lowry struck the fatal blow. Page had
got up in his excitement, and was a witness
of the whole scene. Howard rushed from
bis place of concelement, and taking the ak
from Lowry. gave Magruder two or three
additional blows. The murders then pro.
ceeded rapidly to the bed of the two Missouri
ians, whom they dispatched with an Ak At
the same time Romaine chops vpen the head
of his bedfellow. Phillips. with small
Ratchet, killing him instantly One of the
Missouri boys gave loud groan, which
awoke Allen. Quick as fawn, however,
and before the latter could reach his revolver,
Howard seized a shot gun and blew his brains
out, dischargng both barrels into the back
of his head.


Page gazed at the tragedy from beginning
to end. and fell down against his saddle al
most insane with excitement In moment
or two Howard came down the trail and



Come on, Page, come on hurry up and
help us :"


Page Immediately recovered himself, and
at once proceeded TO the scene eff the assass-
nation Preparation had already commen-