The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

i E i f." E s ...¢.¢.;Lu.~cu.â€"~rm.â€",.famed. a... » WW... “3... . . www.1«as‘taau mm?€s:...~..nmzimuM... . . . assigns] 3.13 .z.',, 5; _f 12;? ‘ - . W..- km. 1.5:. â€" ~4 l i é. w .. .Mu._,..._.. .. UN DER_A CLOUD. A THRILLIIIG TALE OF HUMAN LIFE. CHAPTER IX. “too can !" “Sir Mark at home, Andrews 2" said Stratton as the door was opened by the butler. “Yes, sir. Mr. Barron’s with him, but of course he’ll see you. Will you step up in the drawing room 2 Only the young ladies there." “No, tnanks,”ssid Stratton hurriedly. “Ask Sir Mark if he will see me or make some appointment. Where is he 2" "in the library, sir.” “Mr. Barron with him,” thought Strat- ton as the butler showed him into the din- ing room and closed the door. "Wonder what he is like. Oh ! impossible. How easily a man can be jealods." As he stood looking up at the portrait of a ladyâ€"Myra’s motherâ€"he fancied he heard steps in the hall, and directly after the butler entered. “Sir Mark will see you, sir,” said the butler. “But Mr. Barron is there ‘2” "No, sir, just gone up to join the ladies.” Strattou winced, and the next moment was shown into the library. “Ah, Malcolm Stratton,” admiral bluntly. “Come in, my dear boy. How are you 2 Glad you’ve called. My friend Mr. Barron was here. I wanted to introduce you two. Traveled much, but he’s chary of making new friends. You’ll like him: though, I’m sure. Wonderful fellow at the management of a yacht, and magnificent swimmer. Why, I believe that- man, sir, could swim for miles.” ‘Indeed, Sir Mark.” “Oh, yes; but sit down, Stratton; you are quite a stranger. Want to see me on business ‘3” “Yes; I ” But before he could get any further the admiral, who seemed in high spirits, inter- rupted him. “Pity you were not ten minutes sooner. Barron was telling me a most amusing story cried the said business or an appointment, my dear boy. Bad man to come to unless its about sea. What is it ‘2” Stratton made no answer for a few mom- ents. The difficulty was how to begin. It was not that he was strange with the ad- inii'al, for, consequent upon the friendship orinerly existing between Miss Jerrold and his mother, Sir Mark’s house had been open to him times enough. Seeing his hesitation the old sailor smiled encourage- ment. “Come, my lad,” he said. "out with it. Is something wrong '2 Want help '3” » “Yes, sir, yours,” said Stratton, making his plunge, and now speaking quickly. “The fact is, Sir Mark, I have bad news this morningâ€"glorious news for me.” "Glad of it, my dear boy. But you look- ed just now as if you were going to court~ martial for running your ship aground.” ~ "I suppose it was natural, sxr. Yesterday I was a poor struggling man. today I have "had the letter announcing my appointment to the Headley Museum, and it is not only the stipenedâ€"a liberal oneâ€"but the posi- tion that is so valuable for one who is fight- ing to make his wayin the scientific rank.” The admiral stretched out his hand, and shook Stratton’s warmly. “(Had of it, my dear boy. My congratu- lations on your promotion. I shall see you an admiral anicng tlzescientific bigwigs yet. To be sure ; of course. I have been so taken up with other thingsâ€"being abroad -â€"and so much worried and occupied since I came back, that I had forgotten all about it. But my sister told me she was moving heaven and earth, and going down on her knees to all kinds of great guns to beg them to salute you.” "Then it has been her doing,” cried Stratton excitedly. “Oh, yes ; I think she has done some- thing in it. Do the girls know 2” “No, air : not yet,” said Stratton hast- ily. “I felt that it was my duty to come to you first.” “Eh ‘3 Very good of you I’m sure. I’ll send for them. They'll be delighted.” He rose to ring,but Stratton interposed. "Not yet, sir, please.” he cried ; "I have something else to say." “\Vants to borrow a hundred for his out. fit,” thou1lit the admiral. “Well, I like - the fellow : he shall have. it. Now, my E lad,” he said aloud as he resumed his seat. ; uWhat isit‘.’” ; Straiton hesitated for a few moments, and then said hurriedly : g “l have met Miss Myra Jerrold and Miss i l’erriu frequently at- ilieir aunt's. Sir Mark, g an. to a great extent you-have made me i free of your house. You Will grant, I hope, i that feelings such as have grown up in me were quite natural. It was impossible for ; me to be in their society without forming an attachment, hntI give you my word, sir, as a man, that never by word or look have I trespassed upon the kindness you have! accorded me: and had I remained poor, as I i believed myself yesterday, I should never l have uttered a word." “Huniph l" ejaculated the a lmiral, gazing ‘ at him sternly. “But now that I do know my position. i my first step is to come to you and ex- plain." “And the young lady! You have not spoken to her on the subject 1‘” “Never, Sir Mark. I swear.” "A gentleman’s word is enough, sir. ’ Well, 1 will not profess ignorance. l sister did once drop me a kind of hint about my duties, andl have noticed a little thing new and than." “You have noticed, sir 3" cried Stratton, tacking startled. of slave life in Trinidad in the old days. \Vonderful fund of anecdote. But "Oh, yes," said the admiral, smiling. “I’m not an observant man over such mat- ters: in fact,I woke up only three months ago to find how blind I could be: but in your case I did have a few suspicions ; for you can men are very tran rent.” y “H‘eally, Sir Marx, Iagssure you,” fal- tered Stratton, “I have been most guard- ed.'! “Of course you have, my lad. Well, I am a poor pilot in love matters, but I don't see here why we should not go straight ahead. You are both young and suitable for each other. Rebeccs swears by you, and I confess that I rather like you when you are not so confoundedly learned." "Sir Mark !" cried Stratton, his voice husky with emotion, “in my Wildest moments I never thought " “That I should be such an easy-going fellow, ch 9 But we are running too fast, boy. There is the young lady to think about." “0f courseâ€"of course, sir.” “Not the custom to consult the ship about her captain, but we wrll here," cried Sir Mark with a laugh ; “they generally appoint the captain right off. We’ll have her down. bless her. A good girl, Stratton, and I congratulate you.” “But one moment, sir,” falteied the young man; “is it kindâ€"so suddenlyâ€"give me leave to speak to her first.” “No,” said the old sailor abruptly; “she shall come down, and it shall be yes or no right off.” He rang the bell sharply, and then cross- ed back to Stratton, and shook his hand again. “You’ve behaved very well indeed, my lad,“ he said; “and I like you for it. Inever knew your father, but he must have been a gen tleman. Your mother, Becky’s friend, was as sweet a lady as I ever met.” The butler entered. “Mr. Barron gone?” “No, Sir Mark.” “Don’t matter. Go and ask Miss Perrin to step down here.” The butler bowed, and left the room. Stratton started from his seat with his face ghastly. l l “No,” replied Barron quickly, “but that will be your borne.” "Trinidad," said Myra thoughtfully; so many thousand miles away." “ Bah! what are a few thon miles now? A journey in a floating hotel to a place where you can telegraph to your father’s doorâ€"instantaneous messages, and receive back the replies. “But still so far." said Myra dreamily. “Try and drive away such thoughts, dear- est," whis Barron. “I shall be there. And besides. Sir Mark will run over and see us; and Edith, too, with her husband." Myra’s manner changed. The dreami- uess passed away and she looked quickly in her betrothed’s eyes. “Yes, I always‘ thought so," he said merrily. “ ’Tis love that makes the world go round. That Mr. Stratton, your old friend, is below. Don’t you understand? “No,” said Myra quietly, “not quite." “I think you do, dearest,” trying to pass his arm round her, but she shrank gently away. “Very weil.”he said, kissing her hand, "I can wait. You will not always so so cold. Mr. Strattou came to see your father on business, looking the lover from head to foot. I was sent up to you, and soon after our dear little Edie is summoned to the library.- Come, don’t look so i .noceut, darling, You do understand.” “That Mr. Strattou was come to p o- pose for Edie's hand?" “Of course." Myra’s brow contracted a little, and as there was a puzzled look in her eyes he said gently: “Yes he has been very attentive io her often. \Vell, I like Mr. Stratton very much, Mr. Barron.” “James,” he said reproachfully. “J ames,”she said, as if repeatinga lesson, in a dreamy tone, and her eyes were direct- ed toward the door. “1 like him, too, now that I am quite safe. There was a time, dear, when I first came here, and had my doubts, I fancied a. rival in Mr. Stratton." “A rival ‘2” she said, starting and color- mg. “Yes ; but so I did in any man who approached you, dearest. But there never was anythingâ€"the slightest flirtation?” “No, never,” she said quickly. “Of course not ; and I so happy, Myra. You, so young and beautiful, to awaken first to love at my words. But you are not cruel and cold to me still ‘3 Our mar. riage so soon, and you treat me only kindly, «Hullo, mylad! what’s the matter? Time as if I were a friend, instead of as the man for action, and afraid to meet the saucy little thing. Isay, you scientific fellows make poor lovers. Hold up, man, or she’ll laugh at you." “Sir Mark!” gasped Straiton. “Ring againâ€"a horrible mistake on your part.” “What the deuce do you mean,sir? You come and propose for my niece’s handâ€"â€"” “No; no, Sir Mark," cried the young man wildly. “What! \Vhy I’ve seen you attentive to her a score of times. I say again, what the deuce do you mean? Whyâ€"whyâ€"you were not talking about my own child?” “My words all related to Miss Jerrold, Sir Mark,” said Stratton, now speaking in a voice full of despair. “I never imagined that youcould possibly misunderstand'nie.” "But, confound you,I did, sir. \Vhat the devil do you mean [by blundering on; such a lame tale as that?” “\Vant me, uncle dear?” said Edie, enter- ing the room. ' “No, no, my dear._ Run along upstairs. You’re not wanted. ' I have business with Mr. Stratton here.” ~ Edie darted a frightened glance from the choleric flushed countenance of her uncle to Stratton’s, which was almost white. , “Oh, poor Mr. Stratton.” she thought as she drew back. “Then he did not know before.” The door closed, and Sir Mark turned upon Stratton fiercely. “Why, confoundyou, sir!” he began; but the des airing face before him was disarm- ing. “ o, no, he cried," calming down; “no use to getin a. passion about it. Poor iad! poor lad!” he muttered. Then aloud: “You were speaking, then, of Myraâ€" my dang}.- terâ€"all the time '2” “Yes.” Only that word in a despondent tone, for he could read rejection in every line of the old sailor's face. “But I always thoughtâ€"oh, what a confounded angle. This is not men’s u ork. “'hy isn’t Rebecca here? Mr. Stratton, this is all a horrible blunder. Surely Myraâ€"my daughterâ€"never encouraged you to hope?” “Never, sir; but I did hope and believe. Let me see her,Sir Mark. I thought I was explicit, but we have been playing at cross purposes. Yes; ask Miss Jerrold l0 see me hereâ€"in your presence. Surely it is not too late to remedy such a terrible mistake." “But it is too late, Mr. Stratton; and really I don’t think I could ever have agreed to such an engagement, even if my child had been willing.” “Sir Mark!” pleaded Stratton. “For Heaven’s sake, let’s bring it to an end, sir. I never imagined such a thing. Why, Man, then all the tin c you were making friends with one cousin, so as to get her on your side." “I don’t knowâ€"was I?" said Stratton dcjectedly. “Of course, sir. Acting the timid lover Iwith the old result !" cried Sir Mark angri- y. Stratton gazed excitedly in his face: theze was so much meaning in his words. “There,” continued the admiral: “out it must come, sir, and you must bear it like a man. My child, Myra, has accepted my friend ‘-lr. Barron, and the marriage is to take place almost at once.” Stratton stood for a few moments gazing in Sir Mark’s face, as if he failed :0 grasp the full tenor of his words. Then, turning slowly, and without a word, he left the room, walked back to his quaint, paneled chambers. and hid his despair from the eyes of man. CHAPTER .\. as users-sari urn. Myra Jerrold stood looking very calm and statuesque, with James Barron holding her band. "Yes," he said. “I am going now, but only for a few hours. I cannot live away from you. Only a fortnight now, Myra, and then good-bye to cold England. I take you to a land of beauty, of sunny skies,and joy and love. ” “Can any land he as beautiful as that which holds oue's home 3" she said. â€" W _â€"â€"â€"â€"_~__â€"__.____.~..._____,______â€"â€"â€"~â€"~â€"- so soon- to be your husband,” maiden calm within her breast was agitat. ed by the first breathingsâ€"the forerunners of a tem tâ€"and she saw little thoughts of-the past, which she had crushed out at once as silly girlish fancies, rising again, and taking solid shape. Looks that had more than once startled her and set her thinking. but suppressed at once as follies, now coming back to be illumined by this wondrous light, till, in the full awaken. d the sides ing that had come, she grasps to tremble, as Edie's of the chair and voice came out from beyond the darkness in which externals were shrouded, the essence of all coming home to her in one terrible reproach, as she told herself that she had been blind, and that the awaken~ ing to the truth had come too late. “How could youâ€"how could you i” cried Edie in a low voice, full of the emotion which stirred her. “You thought I loved Malcolm? 0 Myry, as if I should have kept it from you if i I had. Like him ‘.’ Yes, always as the dearest, best fellow I ever met. I didn’t mean it, dear. I never was sick of him ; but he used to make me angry,because I felt that he almost worshiped you, and was making me a stepping-stone to get nearer. Well, why don't you ask me why I did not speak ‘2" There was no reply, and Edie went on as day I felt sure that he loved you, and would confide in me ; the next time we met he was so quiet and strange that I told myself it was all fancy, and that I should be a silly, matchmaking creature if I said a word. Besides, how could I? \Vhat would uncle, who has been so good to me, have thought if I had seemed to encourage it? And you, all the time, like a horrid, cold, marble statue at an exhibition, with no more heart or care, or else you would have seen.” Edie relieved her feelings by unlaciug her fingers, taking out her bankerchief from her pocket and beginning to tear it. “ And now,” she went on, “ you tell me you believed that he cared for me, and suggest that but for this idea things might have been different. But they would not have been. You are a hard, cold, heartless creature, Myra. He was too poor for you, and not likely to buy you dia. onds and pearls like Mr. Barron does. Promise me pearls, would he ! Insulting me as he did this morning ! \Vhy, I would rather have Malcolm Stratton withouta penny than Mr. Barron with all the \Vest Indies and East Indies, too, for a portion. Malcolm is worth a hundred millions of him, and I hope you are happy now, for I Myra- With dFeWher hand» for the (1001‘ shouldn’t wonder if you’ve broken the poor opened, and Edith entered the room, look- ! fellow’s hearth” ing troubled and disturbed. “Good-by, then, once more, dearest,” said Barron, taking Myra’s hand, ' “till dinner time. ‘ Ah, Edie l” he said as [he crossed to the door, which she was in the act of closing. Then, in awhisper. “Am I to congratulav you? My present will be a suite of pearls.” Edie started, and Barron smilefi,nodded, and passed out. As he descended the stairs his ears twitched,and his whole at- tentio l s emed to be fixed upon the library door, but he could hear no sound, and, tak- ing his hat and gloves from the table, he passed out of the great hall, erect, hand- some, and with a self-satisfied smile, before the butler could reach it in ausu er to the drawing room bell. “Wedding a statue,” he said to himself. “But the statue is thickly gilt, and the marble underneath may be made to glow without a West Indian sun. So itwas little Edie, then. He hasn’t bad taste. The dark horse was not dangerous after all, and was not run for coin.” He was so intent upon his thoughts that he did not notice a hansom cab drawn up about a hundred yards from the house, in which a man was seated, watching him intently. and leaning forward more and more till he was about to pass, when there was a sharp fist-psi, which made him turn and scowl at the utterer of the signal. “Hi ! What a while you’ve been." “What the devil brings you here '2” said Barron. “To find you, of course,” said the man sourly. “Thought you’d be there," Barron looked quickly toward Sir Mark’s house, turned, and said sharply : “What is it 2” 1 “Jump in, and I’ll tell you,” whispered the man. “Getting hot.’ Barron jumped into the cab, which was rapidly driven off after instructions had been given through the trap to the driver, and the next minute it was out of sight. Meanwhile, Edie had stood listening till she heard the hall door closed, and then turned to where her cousin was gazing thoughtfully at the window, not having moved since Barron left the room. “Listening to his beloved footsteps, My- ra?" said Edie, sarcastically. Myra turned upon her with her eyes flashing, but a smile came upon her lips, and she said: “ \Vell, Edie, am I to congratulate you, too ?" “What about?" flashed out the girl, bit- terly mortified by the position in which she had been placed. “Being madea laughing stock for you ‘2" “What do you mean, dear?” said Myra, startled by the girl's angry way; but there was no answer, and, full of eagerness now, Myra caught her hands. “Mr. Barron said just now that Mr. Stratton came to propose for you.” “ For me?" cried Edith bitterly. “Ab- surd 1” “But I always thought he was so 'atten- tive to you, dear. I always felt that you were encouraging him." “Oh, how can people be so stupidly blind 3” cried Edie. snatching herself away. " It is ridiculous." “But, Edie, he was always with you. When he came here, or we met him and his friend at auiitie’sâ€"â€"-" “ Leave his friend alone, please." raged the girl. Then trembling at her sudden outburst, she continued seriously : “Always with me ! Of course he was : to sit and pour into my ears praises of you : to talk about your playing and sin ing, and ask my opinion of this and that w ich you had said and done, tillI was sick of the man. Do you hear ‘2 Sick of him 1” A mist began to form before Myra’s eyes, gradually shutting her in as she sank back in her chair, till all around was darkness, and she could not see the unwonted excite- ment of her cousin, who, with her fin ers tightly enlsced, kept on moving from p we to place and talkin rs ’dly. But thereuwss a bright light beginning to flash out in Myrs's inner consciousness l b g Y Myra could bear no more, and turning sharply towards her cousin she stretched hands imploringly, as her pale face and dilated eyes seemed to ask forhelp. out her But the look was not seen, for bursting into a fit of weeping, Edie cried: “But it’s too late new i I hope you’ll be happy, dear, and uncle satisfied; but you Will repent it, I am sure, for I don’t believe you love Mr. Barron the slightest hit.” As she spoke those last words she left and thoughts which the room, Myra was alone with grew and swelled till she felt half suffocated, while, like some vibrat- ing, echoing stroke of distant knell, came the repetition of those two words, quiver- ing through every nerve and fiber of her cine: “ Too lateâ€"too lateâ€"too late l" For the bud of love had been lying dor mant in her breast, waiting to expand, and it was opening fast now, as she felt, but only to be withered as its petals fell apart. Hurried on by Barron’s .impctuous ad- vances, approved as a suitor by her father, her betrotlied’s courtship had carried all be- fore it. His attentions had pleased her, and she had reproached herself at times after he had complained that shewascold. Ono eVen- in , when assailed by doubts of herself, she had applied to her father and asked him if he wished her to marry Mr. Barron, and she recalled his words when she had dreamily said that she did not tliiuk she loved him. “ Why, of course I wish it, my darling,” he cried; “and as to the loveâ€"oh, that will come. Don’t let schoolgirl fancies and romances which you have read influence you my child. You esteem Mr. Barron, do on not ‘2” See had said that she did, and let herself subside into a dreamy state, principally taken up by thoughts of the cl: huge, the preparations for that change and visions of the glorious country-â€"-all sunshine, lan- guor, and delightsâ€"which Barron never seemed to tire of painting. But now the awakening haa comeâ€"now that it was too late ! That night, hollow-eyed, and as if he had risen from a sick bed, Malcolm sat writing in his chambers by the light of his shaded lamp. The old paneled room looked weird and strange, and dark shadows lurked in the corners and were cast by the flickering flames of the fire on his left. Since his return from the Jerrolds' he had gone through aphrase of agony and despair so terrible that his actions, hidden from all within that solitary room, had resembled those of the insane; but at last the calm had come, and after sitting for some time looking his position in the face, he had set to work writing two or three letters, and then commenced one full of instruction to Percy Guest, telling him how to act when he received that letter, asking his forgive- ness, and ended by saying: 1 cannot face it. You will call me a coward, perhapi , but you would not if you could grasp all. I am perfectly calm now, sensible of the awful responsibilities of my act, but after whatl have gone through since I have been here alone to-day I know perfectly well that my reason is failing, and that in a few hours the par- oxysm will return, finding me weaker than before. Better the end at once than after a few months’ or years’ living death, con- fined among other miserables like myself. It was my allâ€"my one aim, Guest, for which I toiled so hard, fighting for success. And the cod fortune has come in company with a fafiure so great that the success is nothing. Good-b . He readyhis letter over as calmly as if it contained memoranda to send to a friend rior to his departure on a short journey. "Then, folding it, inclesing itin an envelope, he directed it, and laid it carefully beside the others on the table before sinking back in his chair. “ Is there anything else ‘3" he said quietly. 1 (so in: CUSTISVL‘D.) """°W‘~““*“‘MNTEEL Tm if she had been answered. l “ Of course I could not say a word. One and he had no p’rmer' “GENTLEIIAN JOE" WAS THE DUDE 0F ROAD AGENTS. A sevadu Iobber hr When Eve- lts Vle~ ulna lad a Good Word “Sayâ€"Ila Um paralleled Fons cl' Ileldllx Up 'l‘wo States at Ihe Same Time. Joe Quinn wasneithera terror nor a des- perado the two great railroads crossed the west. He was a gambler, aprospector, a miner, a man who could and did shoot when occasion required, but not one to be warned away by a vigil. anoe committee because he was worse than the average. Joe went broke on cards, got cheated out of a rich "find" of silver, and one day left Virginia City to pick up a new occupation. I had known him personally for two or three years, and from his couâ€" retention and general bearing I had no doubt that he was well educated and had been brought up as a gentleman. He left Virginia City to blossom out as a road I had the honorur misfortune to be a passenger in the first stage heI-‘tried his hand on. The spot was between Virginia City and Silver City, and the time ll o’clock in the fore. noon. There was seven men of us besides the driver, and while the four horses were being watered at a creek crossing the road Joe stepped out with a gun in either hand and called for the passengers to descend. I had a seat with the driver, and Joe called me by name as he called me down. It was the first hold-up for a year, and no one was prepared for it. As fast as we dropped to the read he looked to see that all weap‘ one had been left behind, and as we “ lined up” he took position between us and the vehicle. He had a clear, mellow vbice,and there was no menace in his speech as he said : ’ “Gentlemen, I have failed at gambling, prospecting and digging. I am now going to try this profession for a while. I want your money. I propose to rob you in a genteel way. Use me as a gentleman and. I will respect your feelings in return. Mr. ,Blank here is my friend, but under the circumstances he will shell our with the rest of you. I will now ask him to intro- duce me to each one of you in rotation.” in the days before SI'IOOK HANDS “'ITII EACH, VICTIM. Joe took from me fourteen twonty-dollar gold pieces,aud then I introduced him to a Mr. Biscomb, who happened to stand next to him. They shook hands and said they were glad to see each other, and Mr. Bas~ comb handed out $130 in gold. So it went clear down the line, the robber trusting to every man’s integrity to hand ovsr his en- tire boodle. In this instance I believe every one of us did, as he got about $1,300 from the crowd. He did not nskfor watch- es or jewelry, and when some one told him that he had forgotten the stage driver, who stood holding the leaders by the bits, he laughed and called out: “How much cash have you got about you Sam ‘3" “About $30,” replied the driver as he produced the cows. “You are too small pickings,and I know you have a wife and child to support. New gentlemen, I don’t want your firearms, and I don’t believe any of you will be fool enough to fire on me when you get hell of them. File into the coach and drive ahead. Should you meet with another gentleman in the same profession it will console you to realize that you have no cash to be rob- bed of." A week later, though there were fifty men ontlooking for him, “Gentleman Joe." as we had titled him from the first hold-up, stopped another stage on that line, HELD Ul' TWO STAGES AT ONCE. After his second robbery he was so vig- orously pursued that he bud to abandon the Silver City route, but in the course of acoupie of weeks he was heard of up in | the Humboldt Valley. His advent was characterized by a feat which has no peer in stage-robbing. He caught the rip-stage and the down-stage just as they were about to pass each other at 3 o’clock in the after- noon. One had five iron and a woman and the other four men, a woman and a boy. With the drivers there were eleven men and all well armed and yet he appeared so suddenly and moved about so swiftly that it was at first supposed there were four or five robbers in the attack . The drivers he paid no attention to, but be lined up the nine passengers, searched the first and made him so through the others. It was said that his haul amounted to $5,000 and as it was all in gold coin he had it lying on ablanket in the road when the pas- sengers re-embarked and the stage rolled away. By never interfering with the mails or express matter Gentleman Joc escaped making official enemies. Neither Uncle Sam nor the express officials were much concerned about hunting down a man who did not interfere with their property, and such pursuit as was made by sip-riffs ended in smoke. In one year the robber held up thirteen different stages and made a gross haul of at least $20,000. He was never known to enter a town, and probably lived alone in the thickets and mountains. He had a good horse and tvm revolvers, and occasionally appeared at a mill or country store to make purchases of provisions. At the end of a year the rewards offered for him amounted to 87,000. His last hold-up had been on the Yuba River, in California, and seven men set out tocapture him. They hired a regular coach. dressed one of their number up as a driver and hid another in the boot, and all were of course armed to the teeth. It may be that Joe in some way got word of what was up, for he caught the coach in a rocky , shot the driver off his seat and woun ed two men riding with- in before the crowd were really aware of his presence. When he commanded the reward-seekers to get dowu they lost no time in tumbling out. He sent the {our unwouuded men back up the road, strin- ped of everythin , spent half an hour in making the woun ed comfortatle as pou. ble, and then drove the stage into the mountains and turned the horses loose. t ' .v. 7% . g .I, "g. ,_,,