Do you see that poor wretch
up there?" and he pointed to the suspended body already referred to.
"Yes; what did he do?"
"He was a notorious thief-served a term in the penitentiary East for
stealing, and came out here to practise his profession. But this
climate is unhealthy for gentlemen in that line of business."
"Did he rob anybody here?"
"Yes; you remember Johnson?"
"Is he still here?"
"He is about ready to go home, with money enough to lift the
mortgage from his farm. We all knew it, for Johnson was so happy
that he took everybody into his confidence. He had all his money
tied up in a bag which he kept in his tent.
"Imprudent, of course, but we haven't any banks or safes here,"
added Hunter, meeting the question in Ben's eyes. "Well, this
rascal, Ross, wormed himself into his confidence, found out exactly
where the bag was kept, and night before last, in the middle of the
night, he crept to the tent, and was in the act of carrying off the
bag, when, as luck would have it, my friend, the mayor, who was
taking a night walk in the hope of curing a severe headache, came
upon him.
"Ross showed fight, but was overpowered, and tied securely till
morning.
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