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174 tuted and on the following day the body of Davidson was found hidden in a gulch. The blade of the hatchet with which the young man had cut the kindling wood had been twice buried in his skull.

Davidson was buried on the spot which had appealed to him as being so beautifully located for a cemetery, and his was the first grave on the ground which has since become a repository for the remains of scores of people who, perhaps, knew not the story of its dedication.

The killing of Davidson proved to be the beginning of the end of the lawless regime in Montana.

Every period in the history of man which has seen him borne down in painful subjection, has also produced its giant characters for his deliverance, though they have at times appeared to be tardy in shouldering the task. Montana offered no exception in this respect. Colonel W. F. Sanders, closely connected with later history of Montana, had watched the progress of the reign of the lawless with deep concern and with outspoken protest. Absolutely fearless, highly educated and resourceful, he very naturally was conceded the leadership. Others there were who stood shoulder to shoulder with him, among whom was Mr. Stockman. The popular indignation aroused by the last-mentioned murder culminated in the organization of the most effective league for the suppression of crime ever known in all the history of the Western frontier.

The work of sifting out the undesirables was pursued with the most systematic and persistent thoroughness. The vigilantes were fortunate in overhauling at an early stage of their task, "Red" Yager, who, in a confession, supplied the committee with valuable details covering both the membership and the history of the Plummer gang. "Red" completely exonerated the vigilantes from any blame for his own execution, pleading that he richly deserved the fate and even assisting in the act of vengeance upon his worthless body by accommodating his neck to the noose.

When the moral atmosphere of Montana was finally clari-