Forty-one Thieves / A Tale of California

Brown,"

er young admirers. He had actually learned that a young man from Nevada City who signed himself J. C. P. Collins had paid her attentions. He had also discovered that the young school-teacher had more than once expres

he ten thousand dollar reward. But the presence of John Keeler, Cummins' old partner, suggested the wisdom of glean

Mr. Keeler, when camels were int

was before

had fairly got started. It was as dry as Sahara on these mou

k, Mr. Brown, what extremes of climate we have right here in Nevada County? Along about the tenth of Decemb

f us forget everything but the gold," replied Brown, smiling inwardl

big company with capital to run the business of hydraulic mining as they do at Moore's Flat and North Bloomfield. Quartz mining is still worse. By the ti

n, "this country has

," remarked Keeler, looking acro

e fifteen years ago," and the little detec

iving; that'

a wealthy man s

ler. "If I could scrape together the dust,

suppose the

I'd go after that ten thousand

er in Jim Crow Ca?on," said Bro

k the trail over the mountains through Alleghany. Both of those places are live towns with cemeteries,-well settled places, y

"is the vast number of tin cans on the city dump. It m

," said Keeler, and

stage-coach; and the little detective's attention was absorbed by the acti

-keeper who had stood by and allowed Cummins to be shot. As they dove down into the ca?on of the South Yuba, he groaned to think of the murders for gold committed therein. Could not a protecting Providence have saved his friend? Was it the decree of fate that one who had manfully defended the right for twenty-five years in that lawless country should be cut off just when he was quitting it forever? Perhaps, he thought, thi

ains, whose very soil has now the color of gold and now the color of blood. Mat Bailey's first concern was the care of his horses. Keeler went to look up his friend Sheriff Carter. And "Bed-bug Brown" partook of a fruga

r her part therein. Instead it was only that splendid Mat Bailey, flicking the dust from his boots with his handkerchief, and mustering up courage to knock at the door! Ho

l be so glad to hear about h

f pleasure did consent. It was the best arrangement all round, as "Bed-bug Brown" himself thought,-for this worthy gentle

nner, and her own overwrought nerves, told her there was trouble ahead. Should she run away, should she use a woman's wiles in self-defense, or should she confide in this

ut it, and I don't know what mean t

with the big stage-driver, who s

r. Francis aske

d of mine. He secured the sc

ul for this he

might inquire

e? Mat Bailey must have told him!" If her intuition guided her t

d. "Damn it!" he thought, "how could he say

told that robber about Mr. Cummins's valise. It has nearly worri

greatly concerned that he should appear in the hateful character of accuser and informer. "We don't demand anything. We know you

gatives properly

s interesting to the little man in the cel

than otherwise. After the strain of the past w

e wanted to talk to some friend about it! But it was so

and the man under the floo

is robbed would be to tell the robbers about the property of passengers like him. I didn't believe it at first, and now I know how frightfully foolish I was. But the young man, who had been in jail once him

ng jail-bird might be. And "Bed-bug Brown" was hoping that his name would be mentioned. But Mat reflected that this was none of his business; and that it did not m

hink that I deserved to suffer it, and more, too, for causing the death of my own friend!" And here the tears came ag

n. He had me, until he started for Cummins. And it was all over so quick, I hardly knew what happened. But I can't quite forgive myself for not jumping down after that robber as soon as ever he uncovered me. It would probably have been too late; and the horses would have run away, most likely; but still I wish

iley, and that's what m

ff his feet by his own eloq

a minute or two more hunting for it, but they would have fo

ought," said Mamie. "Oh, w

rs,-everybody. They're like hungry wolves, ready to tear one another to pieces. Only the wolves have more sense.

the girl shyly. Here was a friend in need! A grea

, determined to prove his philosophy that t

at the dear girl's house, he was astonished to see "Bed-bug Brown" emerge from the cellar. Brown saw him at about the

s! When is the

ply smiled

Brown, de