ve down into the canon 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, this very hour his partner was being laid at rest in his
"ain countree."--And his soul? Well, he believed as Palmer did, that all
is well with the soul of a brave man. Was he, Keeler, on a fool's errand
to San Francisco? Well, he had determined on his own account to do a
little investigating in Nevada City that very day. So had Mat Bailey.
Hence his unusual taciturnity. So had "Bed-bug Brown," and he kept the
secret to himself.

Arrived at Nevada City, with its steep streets, compactly built up at
the centre of the town, church and county court-house on the hillside,
the traveler finds himself fairly out of the mountains, the luring fatal
mountains, 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 frugal dinner at the moderate cost of two bits. He sat where he
could observe the movements of Mat, and lingered in the neighborhood
until the stage-driver had disposed of his own dinner and set out to
call upon Mamie Slocum.

This young lady now spent most of her time at home. She had hardly
recovered from the shock of the tragedy; and her imagination had
conjured up a visit from the sheriff for 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! How
glad she was to see him! And Mat thought that she looked very sad and
pretty! She conducted him to the parlor, and proffered the seat of
honor, a hair-cloth rocking-chair.

"Let me call Mother. She will be so glad to hear about her friends in
Graniteville."

"I'd rather see you alone, if you don't mind." And Mat blushed through
his tan, but assured himself that duty prompted, if pleasure did
consent. It was the best arrangement all round, as "Bed-bug Brown"
himself thought,--for this worthy gentleman was eaves-dropping in the
cellar, with only a floor of thin boards between himself and these
interesting young people.

Under other circumstances Miss Slocum