There was no doubt
that George was guilty of highway robbery. He had been caught
red-handed, and ten Chinamen were prepared to testify to the fact. But
counsel argued that by the laws of the State a white man could not be
convicted on the testimony of Chinamen; and that, within the meaning of
the statute, in view of recent amendments to the Constitution of the
United States, George was a white man. The judge ruled that the point
was well taken; and, inasmuch as the prisoner had been thoroughly
bumped, he dismissed the case."
The story is well known in Nevada County; but Mamie laughed gleefully,
and turned her saucy eyes upon Charley:
"Did you help to bump George Washington?"
The Celestial was an honest man, and shook his head:
"Me only look on. That cullud niggah he lob me."
Will Cummins glanced at the Chinaman's pistol and smiled. By this time
the stage had crossed Bloody Run and was ascending the high narrow ridge
known as the Back-Bone, beyond which lay the village of North
Bloomfield. By the roadside loomed a tall lone rock, placed as if by a
perverse Providence especially to shelter highwaymen. For a moment
Cummins looked grave, and he reached for his six-shooter.
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