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opening； a thousand luminous points around her burst into fire； and in an
instant she was lost in a whirlwind of smoke and flame！ From the onset
of its fury to its culmination twenty minutes did not elapse； but in that
interval a radius of two hundred yards around the hidden spring was swept
of life and light and motion。
For the rest of that day and part of the night a pall of smoke hung
above the scene of desolation。 It lifted only towards the morning； when
the moon； rising high； picked out in black and silver the shrunken and
silent columns of those roofless vaults； shorn of base and capital。 It
flickered on the still； overflowing pool of the hidden spring； and shone
upon the white face of Low； who； with a rootlet of the fallen tree holding
him down like an arm across his breast； seemed to be sleeping peacefully
in the sleeping water。
。 。 。 。 。 。 。
Contemporaneous history touched him as briefly； but not as gently。
〃It is now definitely ascertained；〃 said 〃The Slumgullion Mirror；〃 〃that
Sheriff Dunn met his fate in the Carquinez Woods in the performance of
his duty； that fearless man having received information of the concealment
of a band of horse thieves in their recesses。 The desperadoes are
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IN THE CARQUINEZ WOODS
presumed to have escaped； as the only remains found are those of two
wretched tramps； one of whom is said to have been a digger； who
supported himself upon roots and herbs； and the other a degraded half…
white woman。 It is not unreasonable to suppose that the fire originated
through their carelessness； although Father Wynn of the First Baptist
Church； in his powerful discourse of last Sunday； pointed at the warning
and lesson of such catastrophes。 It may not be out of place here to say that
the rumors regarding an engagement between the pastor's accomplished
daughter and the late lamented sheriff are utterly without foundation； as it
has been an on dit for some time in all well…informed circles that the
indefatigable Mr。 Brace； of Wells； Fargo and Co。's Express； will shortly
lead the lady to the hymeneal altar。〃
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