The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-11-18

| r.
auhewn logs, built up in half-circle
against cavity which answered for a
living apartment and BEDROOM plumber
of shelves being built up against the side
for that purpose, like the berths of ship
| The open air answered for kitchen and
dining-roam. Rude accommodations, but
quite equal to those enjoyed by many OF
the pioneers in those times of general
| privation.
The claiita opened by Sanchez did not
appear at all remarkable for its riches.
Others had tested it along With Sanchez.
and not found sufficient to reward them
for their pains Gradually, all competi-
tors dropped away, aud the Mexican was
left alone in his ravine, which, in accor-
dance with the classical habit of the day,
received the romantic appellation OF
Humbug Gulch a t
In spite of his apparent ill-luck, San
chez was never known to be without mo-
ney and plenty of it. Angels and its
vicinnity, as we'll as San Andreas, Sancha
Pana, and other camps, was infested by
the gambling fraternity, whose invita-
tions to walk up aud try the hazards of
monte were heard on every side, The
person of Sanchez was we'll known at all
these establishments, where his heavy
betting, end the apparent recklessness
with which helost large sums-more than
sufficient to ruin any miner in those parts
attracted considerable attention. That
lucky dog, Sanchez, became very soon
by word throug ghout the country; and, the
+b l. 81.
was accompanied, in imitation of the
drawing of knife across the throat,
showed that the general opinion of his
honesty was not OF i worry gh standard
a handsome young leliov who was loi.
tering one morning, at the gambling able
at Angels watching with that air Of list
lessEess which denotes the distinguished
spectator, the progress of the play. 1t
Was ralQing, ami the stranger had stepped
IN fer the sole purpose Of obtaining shel-
ter
A rudely eontrived bar occupied the
corner of the den in which the priests of
fortune held theft court, and Il one-eyed
cripple, who had been blown up by a blast
in an adjacent tunnel, and forced into
other pursuits for livelihood, was Saw
ing away at the Arkansas Traveller, as
iuriously as ifhis life depended upon his
exertions.
In the midst of the clamor and din,
horseman gailoped turiousy up to the
den, and sprInging to the ground almost
ere the mustang had come to halt, DASH
ed open the door and entered.
The newcomer was "a short, thick set
man, with swarthy counteruuce hemmed
round by patches OF coarse black beard
His jacket and trewsers were Of blue vel
vet, slashed and ornamented with silver
buttons. A bright silver scarf ornament
ed his waist, and from the leathern belt
peered the handles OF whole armory of
death dealing weapons. lis leny blue
black hair was compressed within the
meshes OF net. Leggings of undressed
leather, gay bandanna handkerchief
and a heavy Chilian hat completed his
costume.
There was in the appearance Of this
man as he rushed up to the bar and call
ed for bottle of aqua dtents, throwing
down a twenty dollar piece III payment,
something so repusiSe that the young
stranger involuutarily averted his gaze
with shudder. The man observed it
but it was nothing unusual Returning
the glance with a look of defiance, he
half raised his bowie knife "a terrible
looking Instrumentation its sheath, and
then passed on to the table where the
gaming was In progress, mutterng,
"CnranbdS 1 is he also ambitious?"
Sanchez, for he it was, did not w;iit for
a banter to induce him to take part in the
sport which he preferred to ali other
He dashed handful of
gold upon the cloth, already groaning be-
meath its heaps of treasure, and saw it
increase by nearly the entire amount spon
the board, without the slightest maniies-
tation of delight beyond the excitement
usual so such scenes. Sanchez won and
lost, aud drank and won and lost again
this time quite heavily. His last dollar
had gone the way of the rest. Nothing
daunted by his ill-luck. amid the jeers ol
the bystanders, be drew trorn his pocket
a set of earrings, bracelet and a watch,
aud saw all these also vanish, without
any greater evidences perturbation than
he had hitherto manifested There was
a small red spot upon that bracelet which
might have been blood; but the gam bier
gave it no heed, although, of course, the
possession Of such treasures by man in
Sanchez sphere OF, life was, of Itself, sui
fciept to fasten sus picion upon him.
Finding fortune indisposed to smile
upon his venture, Sanchez lett the table,
exelaiming: r4 q gul -
1Co4pmJds! this is too much like
sluice work for me. 1 will try another
day, when the blind lady may be less ca
pricious,"
Tossing down another draught of raw
liquor, he sprang to his saddle, and paus-
ed a moment, as if undecided which way
to turn. The ysung stranger whose as
peet was that of a person well provided
with the goods Of this word, had ridden
away before him. Forming hasty reso
luton, Sanchez turned has horses head
and dashed away in the direction taken by
the other. aaY
The rain had by this time ceased, and
the road was converted into continuous
pool of mud. Each brook and riyulet
was sweled into torrent, rendering trav-
el through a country so broken both diff
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