Hauser was somewhat surprised on entering the coach at Virginia City, to find that he had Plummer for a fellow passenger. Believing, upon reflection, that Plummer was going to Bannack to plan means for robbing him, he resolved to act as if he had the most implicit confidence in his integrity. He accordingly made no effort to hide the sack from view, or conceal the fact that he was going to the States; talked freely and confidentially, and seemed entirely at ease in Plummer’s society. The trip was made in safety, though Hauser confessed that while passing through Rattlesnake Cañon, he did not forget the unenviable notoriety which frequent robberies had gained for it. When the coach drove up to Goodrich’s hotel in Bannack, he felt greatly relieved, and with the sack of gold enveloped in the several folds of his blankets, entered the sitting-room, where he was met by some old friends, and, as was customary in those days, congratulated on his safe arrival. In a few moments he drew forth the sack, and in the presence of Judge Edgerton and several other leading citizens, turned to Plummer who was standing near, and thus carelessly addressed him: [Illustration: SAMUEL T. HAUSER _Ex-Governor of Montana_ ] “Plummer, I hear that any man who has money isn’t safe in this town over-night. I’ve got fourteen thousand dollars in this bag, which I’m going to take to the States with me when I go, and I want you, as sheriff, to keep it for me till I start.” Plummer took the gold, with a promise for its safe return, which he fulfilled; depositing it for safekeeping in George Crisman’s store. Hauser’s friends expressed to him privately their surprise that he should intrust so large an amount to a man of such doubtful reputation. “Why?” replied he, laughing: “do you think he’ll keep it?” “I should be afraid of it,” said one, “especially if he’s the man many represent him to be.” “Suppose he should,” said Hauser. “You and half a dozen other good citizens saw him take it, and heard him promise that it should be safely returned. He knows, as well as I do, that if he fails to keep this promise, or through any pretence attempts to appropriate the gold, it will go hard with him; whereas, if I should attempt to keep it, he, with others of the roughs knowing that I had it, would kill me if necessary to obtain it. The gold is safer where it is; and while there, is a security for my life.” This was a bold piece of strategy on the part of Hauser, evincing an intuitive insight into the character of Plummer; but not one man in a hundred similarly situated would have thought of adopting it. If Plummer had entertained an idea that Hauser suspected his motives in accompanying him to Bannack, this act of gratuitous confidence must have allayed it at once.