Year: 1870

Gus IN more civilized community. Yet,
here it was both upheld and encouraged,
and, indeed, it was to some extent neces-
sary, for here no regular law prevailed.
Men must have some restraint over them,
ana IN such state OF society as this, brute
force alone can control them.


We had been out just about a week from
st. Louis, when an accident occurred which
gave me an insight into the character and
history of Mountain Charlie. We had en-
camped for the night, and built our fires
upon a convenient spot, and after the
evening meal was over, the party, as
usual, resorted to cards Mountain Char
lie, however, refused to play that night,
declaring he had a headache. He sat
moodily by the fire, occasionally stirring
it with his foot.


The conversation was of a character cal
culated to shock IL refined nature, but
had grown so accustomed to the ways OF
these rude people, that it interested me.
Each of the players around me had killed
his man and tonight they were all relat-
ing the manner in which these deeds had
been performed. One of the group was a
large, powerful man named Ephraim
Bailey. He had gone fromlVermont, and
had been two years at the diggings. He
had been unusually lucky in his efforts,
and had amassed a considerable sum Of
money. He listened in silence to the re-
citals of his companions, and when they
had all finished, he said, quietly


II am not boasting man, gentleman,
but can tell you a more romantic story
than any | have yet listened to. / never
killed but one man, but the manner in
which | did that is well worth listening
to-"


All united in demand for the story,
and saw Mountain Charlie, who had as
yet said nothing, assume an attitude of in
tense interest.


Five years ago." said Bailey, after
pause, Il was living in a little town in
Vermont. In the same town was young
woman with whom l had been in love
since my boyhood. 1 would have sold my
soul to have made her my wife, andI
think she would have married me, but for
Il young fellow who came from the city
and settled in our place. He prejudiced
her against me, and ended the matter by
marrying her himself. l said nothing at
the time, but swore would have my re-
venge. knew my time would come, and
waited patiently, acting all the while in
such manner as to prevent suspicion
from falling on me if anything should hap
pen. Well, one day | met the young hus-
band in a lonely place in the mountains,
about ten miles from the town. Before he
knew my intention, | shot him, and killed
him. He never knew what hurt him, and
to cause it to be believed that he was mur-
dered for his money, took his watch and
pOcket-book, and then returned to the
town by another road. The body was
found the next day. and the whole country
was thrown into the greatest excitement.
1t hurt me to see the grief of the poor Wild
ow, but | couforted myself with the hope
that would soon be able to console her.
| was among the most active in trying to
discover the murderer, and unceasing in
my kindness to the widow. No one ever
dreamed of suspecting me, and after the
expiration of a year | became convinced
that my chance for marrying tho woman
loved was decidedly good. Encouraged
by this feeling, asked her to become my
wife. She accepted me, and we were reg
ularly engaged. In about month or so,
she proposed to me that should come out
here and endeavor to better my fortune,
and promised to marry me when l return
ed. am going home in six months
more. | shall carry fifty thousand thou
sand with me, and shall marry my sweet
heart as soon as | reach Vermont. Now





say tolt, Charlie ?' he asked, turning to
the young man.


Mountain Charlie had been sitting all
this while with his head resting on one
hand, gazing steadily into the fire. The
Pickering light gave his dark features
startling expression, and his whole coun-
tenance seemed glowing with suppressed
excitement, He did not move as he heard
Bailey's question, but replied, calmly:


Its very strange story. Bailey. and
reminds me very much of an affair that
once heard of. The cases are so much
alike that | will tell you the story"


Some years ago knew Vermont wo-
man who had. like your sweetheart, two
lovers. She chose the man she thought
best suited her and married him, never
suspecting that the unlucky one meant any
harm. Well, in the course of time, this
woman's husband was killed and the MUIR
derer was never found She had no sus-
picion as to who had done the deed, but in
her heart she swore an oath, that if the
murderer was ever found he should die by
her hand. You will bear me out, Bailey,
when | say that the Vermont women do
not make such vow in vain. Well, in
her affliction, the widow found the lover
whom she had discarded her best friend,
and when her first wild grief had passed
away she came to love him. At last
he asked her to marry him, and she
consented. One day, during their engage
ment, they We're sitting together when she
noticed her lover in possession of watch
which she could have sworn had belonged
to her dead husband. This startled her
and aroused her suspicious, and gradually
there settled upon her the suspicion that
the man she had promised to marry was
her husbands murderer. Still she was
not sure of the correctness Of her suspi-
cions, and, after much thought, she re-
solved upon definite plan. She persuad-
ed her lover to leave Vermont, and go to
Pixies Peak to better his fortunes. Her
real purpose, however. was to get him out
into that lawless community, worm his Sc
cret out of him, and then wreak her ven-
geance upon him."


1.-The devil!n muttered Bailey, laying
down his cards and looking fixedly at
Mountain Charlie, who had not stirred
from his position. That was strange"