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But the coroner opposed his outstretched hand。 〃Not much；〃 he
said； significantly。
〃But it's MINE；〃 continued Cass； indignation taking the place of
shame at his discovered secret。 〃I found it six months ago in the
road。 Ipicked it up。〃
〃With your name already written on it！ How handy！〃 said the
coroner； grimly。
〃It's an old story〃 said Cass； blushing again under the half…
mischievous； half…searching eyes of the girl。 〃All Blazing Star
knows I found it。〃
〃Then ye'll have no difficulty in provin' it；〃 said Hornsby；
coolly。 〃Just now； however； WE'VE found it； and we propose to keep
it for the inquest。〃
Cass shrugged his shoulders。 Further altercation would have only
heightened his ludicrous situation in the girl's eyes。 He turned
away； leaving his treasure in the coroner's hands。
The inquest； a day or two later； was prompt and final。 No clew to
the dead man's identity； no evidence sufficiently strong to prove
murder or suicide； no trace of any kind； inculpating any party；
known or unknown； were found。 But much publicity and interest were
given to the proceedings by the presence of the principal witness；
a handsome girl。 〃To the pluck； persistency； and intellect of Miss
Porter；〃 said the 〃Red Chief Recorder；〃 〃Tuolumne County owes the
recovery of the body。〃
No one who was present at the inquest failed to be charmed with the
appearance and conduct of this beautiful young lady。
〃Miss Porter has but lately arrived in this district； in which； it
is hoped； she will become an honored resident； and continue to set
an example to all lackadaisical and sentimental members of the so…
called 'sterner sex。'〃 After this universally recognized allusion
to Cass Beard； the 〃Recorder〃 returned to its record： 〃Some
interest was excited by what appeared to be a clew to the mystery
in the discovery of a small gold engagement ring on the body。
Evidence was afterward offered to show it was the property of a Mr。
Cass Beard of Blazing Star； who appeared upon the scene AFTER the
discovery of the corpse by Miss Porter。 He alleged he had dropped
it in lifting the unfortunate remains of the deceased。 Much
amusement was created in court by the sentimental confusion of the
claimant； and a certain partisan spirit shown by his fellow…miners
of Blazing Star。 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。 We had a clinch and a
stamp around； and when we was separated it was only a question of
shootin' on sight。 He left Lagrange at sun up the next morning；
and I struck across a bit o' buckeye and underbrush and came upon
him； accidental like； on the Red Chief Road。 I drawed when I
sighted him； and called out。 He slipped from his mare and covered
himself with her flanks； reaching for his holster； but she rared
and backed down on him across the road and into the grass； where I
got in another shot and fetched him。〃
〃And you stole his mare？〃 suggested the Judge。
〃I got away；〃 said the gambler； simply。
Further questioning only elicited the fact that Joe did not know
the name or condition of his victim。 He was a stranger in Lagrange。
It was a breezy afternoon； with some turbulency in the camp； and
much windy discussion over this unwonted delay of justice。 The
suggestion that Joe should be first hanged for horse stealing and
then tried for murder was angrily discussed； but milder counsels
were offeredthat the fact of the killing should be admitted only
as proof of the theft。 A large party from Red Chief had come over
to assist in judgment； among them the coroner。
Cass Beard had avoided these proceedings； which only recalled an
unpleasant experience； and was wandering with pick； pan； and wallet
far from the camp。 These accoutrements； as I have before intimated；
justified any form of aimless idleness under the equally aimless
title of 〃prospecting。〃 He had at the end of three hours'
relaxation reached the highway to Red Chief； half hidden by blinding
clouds of dust torn from the crumbling red road at every gust which
swept down the mountain side。 The spot had a familiar aspect to
Cass； although some freshly…dug holes near the wayside； with
scattered earth beside them； showed the presence of a recent
prospector。 He was struggling with his memory； when the dust was
suddenly dispersed and he found himself again at the scene of the
murder。 He started： he had not put foot on the road since the
inquest。 There lacked only the helpless dead man and the
contrasting figure of the alert young woman to restore the picture。
The body was gone； it was true； but as he turned he beheld Miss
Porter； at a few paces distant； sitting on her horse as energetic
and observant as on the first morning they had met。 A superstitious
thrill passed over him and awoke his old antagonism。
She nodded to him slightly。 〃I came here to refresh my memory；〃
she said； 〃as Mr。 Hornsby thought I might be asked to give my
evidence again at Blazing Star。〃
Cass carelessly struck an aimless blow with his pick against the
sod and did not reply。
〃And you？〃 she queried。
〃I stumbled upon the place just now while prospecting； or I
shouldn't be here。〃
〃Then it was YOU made these holes？〃
〃No；〃 said Cass； with ill…concealed disgust。 〃Nobody but a
stranger would go foolin' round such a spot。〃
He stopped； as the rude significance of his speech struck him； and
added surlily； 〃I meanno one would dig here。〃
The girl laughed and showed a set of very white teeth in her square
jaw。 Cass averted his face。
〃Do you mean to say that every miner doesn't know that it's lucky
to dig wherever human blood has been spilt？〃
Cass felt a return of his superstition； but he did not look up。 〃I
never heard it before；〃 he said； severely。
〃And you call yourself a Califor