"Good Heavens!" said the Governor. "This telegram should have been delivered ten hours ago, why was it not?" and the Governor grew very much excited. "For the reason, Governor, that you were 'under the weather' and couldn't be wakened, and there was nobody in the city to attend to your business," replied the placid Tompkins. "Then the poor fellow is hanged by this time, and I am guilty of the execution of an innocent man," and the Governor broke down completely. "That would have been true had it not been that I took the liberty of usurping your place for fifteen minutes," and Tompkins showed the telegram he sent in reply. Governor Smithers was overjoyed with Tompkins' actions and thanked him again and again, and a few weeks later he further showed his appreciation by appointing Paul G. Tompkins to a lucrative position in the Territory. Sheriff Henniger arrived in Dos Cabezas in the nick of time. The rope was already around Beecher's neck when one of the deputies who was standing near, spyglass in hand, recognized his chief coming down the trail swinging aloft a paper which was proved to be the first and only official act of Paul G. Tompkins, acting Governor pro tem. THE SEVEN MOUNDS. Many solicitous enquiries have been made in the last decade relative to the whereabouts or probable fate of Aaron B. Hilliker, telegraph operator, minstrel and story writer. Aaron Burr Hilliker was known from New York to San Francisco prior to the War of the Rebellion. His was an adventurous nature, and he assisted materially in making the path to the great West easier for the next comer. He possessed a gentle spirit and many lovable traits, which endeared him to all his friends, who were legion. The following weird story which came to the knowledge of the writer may establish beyond question the passing of Aaron B. Hilliker, and his last days on earth. A party of thirteen left Boston in May, 1888, bound for the West. It consisted of John B. Lansing, his wife and her sister, and eight young fellows around town, well to do and of an adventurous turn of mind, the party being under the guidance of two middle-aged prospectors. These two latter personages had come to Boston to organize this party for the purpose of prospecting and developing some alleged wonderful gold mines in Southern Nevada and California. The members of this little party were in high spirits as they pursued their journey to the far West; the grandeur of the scenery and the vastness of the country filling all with awe and admiration.