Forty-one Thieves | Page 9

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
much the better for us, for he is free to manage this business."
The doctor's speech made an impression. But these Californians had
not yet learned the value of honor. They seemed to think that they
could catch the murderers if they put up enough money. They
themselves were too busy making money to hunt down the outlaws; but
they assumed that money would do it; and they were willing to put up
thousands of dollars. But numerous rewards for the apprehension of
desperadoes were outstanding at that very hour; and the desperadoes
were still at large. As a money-making proposition, mining with all its
uncertainties was more attractive than professional detective work.
Then again, these Californians could not trust a man actuated by
motives higher than their own. Indeed, their chairman, Henry Francis
himself, for some subtle reason which it would have been well for him
to analyze, was opposed to employing honest John Keeler. It would
have been well for Francis, before it was too late, to realize to what an
extent money standards were replacing honor in his own life. It takes
determination, loyalty, devotion, to accomplish a difficult task; and

such qualities cannot be bought.
When Captain Jack and his Modocks held a council of war in their lava
beds, they accomplished things which it was beyond the power of these
fortune-hunters to accomplish. Captain Jack had no gold, but the skill,
loyalty, and devotion of every Indian of his band were at his command.
And yet Francis would have imagined himself the superior of Captain
Jack.
As time was passing, with little accomplished, Francis suggested that
they might first decide upon the amount to be offered as a reward for
the apprehension of the murderers. It was voted to offer a reward of
$10,000, or $5,000 for either of the two men.
"Now, gentlemen," said Francis, "I shall have to go over to Fillmore
Hill to-morrow to see Mr. Palmer, who holds a note against Will
Cummins. You know I am settling the estate. Keeler will be over there,
they say, and I will talk with him. But on the way over, I shall look up a
man worth two of John Keeler in a