d them up
safely and replaced them in his pocket. "As you are unarmed,"
he said, "it would not be safe for you to be seen in this
neighborhood during daylight. We will both spend the night
here, and just before morning return to Auburn. I will
accompany you part of the distance."

With the _sangfroid_ of a perfect desperado, he then stretched
himself out in the shadow of a small tree, drank deeply from a
whisky flagon which he produced, and pulling his hat over his
eyes, was soon asleep and snoring. It was a long time before I
could believe the evidence of my own senses. Finally, I
approached the ruffian, and placed my hand on his shoulder. He
did not stir a muscle. I listened; I heard only the deep, slow
breathing of profound slumber. Resolved not to be balked and
defrauded by such a scoundrel, I stealthily withdrew the vial
from his pocket, and sprang to my feet, just in time to hear
the click of a revolver behind me. I was betrayed! I remember
only a dash and an explosion--a deathly sensation, a whirl of
the rocks and trees about me, a hideous imprecation from the
lips of my murderer, and I fell senseless to the earth. When I
awoke to consciousness it was past midnight. I looked up at
the stars, and recognized Lyra shining full in my face. That
constellation I knew passed the meridian at this season of the
year after twelve o'clock, and its slow march told me that
many weary hours would intervene before daylight. My right arm
was paralyzed, but I put forth my left, and it rested in a
pool of my own blood. "Oh, for one drop of water!" I
exclaimed, faintly; but only the low sighing of the night
blast responded. Again I fainted. Shortly after daylight I
revived, and crawled to the spot where I was discovered on the
next day by the kind mistress of this cabin. You know the
rest. I accuse Bartholomew Graham of my assassination. I do
this in the perfect possession of my senses, and with a full
sense of my responsibility to Almighty God.

(Signed) C. P. GILLSON.

GEORGE SIMPSON, Notary Public.
CHRIS. JACOBS, Assistant District Attorney.

DOLLIE ADAMS,} Witnesses.
KARL LIEBNER,}

The following is a copy of the verdict of the coroner's jury:

COUNTY OF PLACER, }
Cape Horn Township. }

_In re C. P. Gi