tory sooner or later
anyhow. Still, I hate to mention the girl's name."

"You have done right," said Francis. "The girl might have helped the
robbers without intending to. Frightened out of her wits, perhaps.
Somebody might question her kindly, and see what's back of this. And,
gentlemen, as Bailey spends a good deal of his time at Nevada City, it
seems to me he is the man to follow up this clue. Call on the girl, Mat,
and see what you can find out."

So out of a sordid tragedy there was spun a thread of romance. The
school-teacher and the stage-driver are about the only characters who do
not require the "gold cure." Mat had ridden over the mountains at all
seasons until he loved them. His chief delights were the companionship
of his stout horses and his even more intimate companionship with
nature. To scare up a partridge, to scent the pines, to listen to the
hermit thrush were meat and drink to him. That there was gold in these
noble mountains moved him very little, though this fact provided him
with a livelihood for which he was duly grateful. The school-teacher was
fortunate to be brought up with a sharp turn so early in life, and to
find so true a friend as Mat Bailey.

But this was only the beginning of the council at Moore's Flat. It was
suggested that John Keeler, Cummins' old partner, be employed to scour
the country in search of the assassins. There was no more trustworthy
man in Eureka Township than Keeler. His affection for Cummins was well
known. But his peculiarities might unfit him for the proposed mission.
His Southern sense of chivalry unfitted him for detective work that
might involve deceit and downright lying. He cared more for his honor
than he did for money, and had been known to refuse very tempting
offers. Finally, he was opposed to violence. He had refused to act as a
watchman for a ditch company on the ground that he might be expected to
shoot some one. It was a question whether Keeler could be induced to
bring a man to the gallows.

Presently, Dr. Mason spoke up:

"You couldn't employ a better man than Keeler. He is the soul of honor,
as you all admit. For several years he was Cummins' partner. As sheriff
of Nevada County he would free it of thugs and murderers as he frees
every claim that he works of rattlesnakes. He is death on rattlers.
Killed more than a hundred of them last summer. But the lawless element
of this county take mighty good care that Keeler is not elected sheriff.
So mu