man only a week before that dreadful day,
and he said highwaymen are too generous to steal money from people like
Mr. Cummins. And that the best thing anyone could do when a stage 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 himself, was
so positive, that I really believed a criminal has a sense of honor. And
when the robber asked whose valise that was, I was so frightened the
words came right out before I realized what I had done."

"Every word you say is God's truth, Miss Slocum, and I hope you will
forgive me for bothering you this way." It did occur to Mat that he
might inquire who that young 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 matter anyhow. If Miss Slocum
did not care to mention the man's name he would not ask for it. She had
behaved nobly, and he admired her from the bottom of his heart.

"Really, Mr. Bailey, I am glad you gave me this chance to explain. You
don't know what I have suffered. And then to think that I deserved to
suffer it, and more, too, for causing the death of my own friend!" And
here the tears came again, honest tears, as Mat knew full well. He
rather envied Cummins that so beautiful a creature should grieve for
him.

"Now look here, Mamie, it is all right to be sorry that Mr. Cummins got
killed. Every honest man and woman in Nevada County is sorry. But you
didn't cause his death, any more than I did. I never felt meaner in my
life than I did that day, holding those horses and looking down into the
barrel of that robber's gun. 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 I had jumped.
But because I didn't jump I'm not going to hold myself responsible for
Cummins' death. The robbers must hang for it, and not you and me. As for
what you said, I don't believe it made any difference at all. They were
bound to get all the gold on the stage that day; and they knew Cummins
had some."--

"That's just it, Mr. Bailey, and that's what makes it so hard for me."

Mat