The Saga of Henry Plummer Book 1 by Sven Skaar (PH 3-1) (1959) (97 pages)

“Hell no. I've had enough of} this joint, that’s: all.’”’ Tom Bell grinned. ‘Well, it’s time we got along. anyway. Let’s vide.” -. The met. bypassed Grass Valley where’ armed guards still patrolled the smoldering’ ruins and the mountains of tarpaulin cover-. > ed merchandise saved from the blaze, and took the road along)) Alta Diggin’s and the canyon crest above the -rich mines of Deer Creek -the wagon road that rejoined the main Sacramento Turnpike just below the Town Talk .road-house ‘and above the old George Hearst Mine, The four rede silently thiough the dazzling moonlight, watching! the yellow lamp-glows from the cabin windows concentrate into a compact pattern’ as. they came closer to town. : Why Did He Join? . Tom Bell turned his head and studied the’ young, dissipated: face of Arthur Shelly who rode next to him, pa “Say, Art. What made you join up with my gang?” ~~ “That's easy. The good claims were taken when I got out West, and Vl be damned if I'll work twelve hours.:a day for two dollars. A man’s got to eat.” Bell shrugged. “Even if. he’s got to kill for it.’ His remark was more’ a: statement than a question. oe , : “Sure. To me a stranger's a varmint. If he don’t hand over his poke wher L-tell him -whingo! Haven't found one yet as quick with a gun as me,’ ’ “Ifyou had. you wouldn't be here now, Art.” “Any fool who'd like to try his hand against me is sure welcome,” laughed Shelly. “Oh, I guess we’re all in this for the same” réason.” Jim Webster broke in. “Not Tom,” “How's that?" “Hell, Doe, yoo can hang up your shingle in any camp and rake it in. Theré ain't a doctor in the mines who wio't makin’ it. ‘+ You just like tov cake it away from them with # gun, that's the me Shelly was stil} laughing, “One more as I see it,” he said, “A, doctor with 4 shingle gets a med. al, but, for Tom’s kind of doctor. ing, he might get the rope,” "You put your finger on it there, alriglit. Thist’s it -the big. ger the risk thé better Tom ies it.” said’ Jim Webster. “You should've. séén him on the bat: tle fields of México,”. “That's énough, boys, we're! coming ‘in. Now listen. When we reach town, Art and Lee put up their horses at the Plaza Stables. Just hang around Jim and eal but don’t let on that you know us. We're here for a conference s0 no rough. stuff’ “Correct. Want us to leave the guns in the saddlé bags?” asked’ Art . Shelly. s “That'd be like -walking naked into a beehive, wouldn’t it?” They laughed together and Japsed into’ silence again as the horses. paced along the Sacramento road that skirted the foot of‘ Prospect Hill down to Deer; Creek bridge on the Plaza. So close to tows, the horses, tossed snorted impatiently and night's @ g sin sen their heads, and hay in rest, plenty of oats , ble sta some nearby Separate at Plaza four separ~ At the Plaza, the ster ae Web ated, and Bell and and as a across the bridge eet: to : Str ad Bro distance up which 2 s Union Livery Stable ch Wallace whi o b joined the ng. JG@ehr was boardi , the ae rene Armstrong m ys poe the d ete gre proprietor, the poly 8 “J ter having turned ling ant a ea add uns to a boy for to brush the dus down, he began ers. tom cus his vy Union? ae 4 a tipin’ at the gel. room. ““Ajm to, if we can g? lon how “Sure. For Pie “Overnight.” peter vsenith'l fix you sroms men tle are you gen had 3 chant) seni webster aid, “Camp: to speak, Tom Bell s tonville.” only difference,” pene

“Hell no. I've had enough of} this joint, that’s: all.’”’ Tom Bell grinned. ‘Well, it’s time we got along. anyway. Let’s vide.” -. The met. bypassed Grass Valley where’ armed guards still patrolled the smoldering’ ruins and the mountains of tarpaulin cover-. > ed merchandise saved from the blaze, and took the road along)) Alta Diggin’s and the canyon crest above the -rich mines of Deer Creek -the wagon road that rejoined the main Sacramento Turnpike just below the Town Talk .road-house ‘and above the old George Hearst Mine, The four rede silently thiough the dazzling moonlight, watching! the yellow lamp-glows from the cabin windows concentrate into a compact pattern’ as. they came closer to town. : Why Did He Join? . Tom Bell turned his head and studied the’ young, dissipated: face of Arthur Shelly who rode next to him, pa “Say, Art.. What made you join up with my gang?” ~~ “That's easy. The good claims were taken when I got out West, and Vl be damned if I'll work twelve hours.:a day for two dollars. A man’s got to eat.” Bell shrugged. “Even if. he’s got to kill for it.’ His remark was more’ a: statement than a question. oe , : “Sure. To me a stranger's a varmint. If he don’t hand over his poke wher L-tell him -whingo! Haven't found one yet as quick with a gun as me,’ ’ “Ifyou had. you wouldn't be here now, Art.” “Any fool who'd like to try his hand against me is sure welcome,” laughed Shelly. “Oh, I guess we’re all in this for the same” réason.” Jim Webster broke in. “Not Tom,” “How's that?" “Hell, Doe, yoo can hang up your shingle in any camp and rake it in. Theré ain't a doctor in the mines who wio't makin’ it. ‘+ You just like tov cake it away from them with # gun, that's the me Shelly was stil} laughing, “One more as I see it,” he said, “A, doctor with 4 shingle gets a med. al, but, for Tom’s kind of doctor. ing, he might get the rope,” "You put your finger on it there, alriglit. Thist’s it -the big. ger the risk thé better Tom ies it.” said’ Jim Webster. “You should've. séén him on the bat: tle fields of México,”. “That's énough, boys, we're! coming ‘in. Now listen. When we reach town, Art and Lee put up their horses at the Plaza Stables. Just hang around Jim and eal but don’t let on that you know us. We're here for a conference s0 no rough. stuff’

“Correct. Want us to leave the guns in the saddlé bags?” asked’ Art . Shelly. s “That'd be like -walking naked into a beehive, wouldn’t it?” They laughed together and Japsed into’ silence again as the horses. paced along the Sacramento road that skirted the foot of‘ Prospect Hill down to Deer; Creek bridge on the Plaza. So close to tows, the horses, tossed snorted impatiently and night's @ g sin sen their heads, and hay in rest, plenty of oats , ble sta some nearby Separate at Plaza four separ~ At the Plaza, the ster ae Web ated, and Bell and and as a across the bridge eet: to : Str ad Bro distance up which 2 s Union Livery Stable ch Wallace whi o b joined the ng. JG@ehr was boardi , the ae rene Armstrong m ys poe the d ete gre proprietor, the poly 8 “J ter having turned ling ant a ea add uns to a boy for to brush the dus down, he began ers. tom cus his vy Union? ae 4 a tipin’ at the gel. room. ““Ajm to, if we can g? lon how “Sure. For Pie “Overnight.” peter vsenith'l fix you sroms men tle are you gen had 3 chant) seni webster aid, “Camp: to speak, Tom Bell s tonville.” only difference,” pene