It appearing, however, by the admission of this sighing Strephon of the Foot Hills, that he had himself _found_ this pledge of affection lying in the highway six months previous, the coroner wisely placed it in the safe-keeping of the county court until the appearance of the rightful owner." Thus on the 13th of September, 186-, the treasure found at Blazing Star passed out of the hands of its finder.
* * * * * Autumn brought an abrupt explanation of the mystery.

Kanaka Joe had been arrested for horse-stealing, but had with noble candor confessed to the finer offense of manslaughter.

That swift and sure justice which overtook the horse-stealer in these altitudes was stayed a moment and hesitated, for the victim was clearly the mysterious unknown.

Curiosity got the better of an extempore judge and jury.
"It was a fair fight," said the accused, not without some human vanity, feeling that the camp hung upon his words, "and was settled by the man az was peartest and liveliest with his weapon.

We had a sort of unpleasantness over at Lagrange the night afore, along of our both hevin' a monotony of four aces.