Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1871-08-31
THE DIGGER's STRATAGEM.


there stood at the foot of hill, not many
miles from Nevada. one Of those rough
built gambling houses so common through
out the mining sections Of the Territory.
4 description Of this structure and its sur
roundings will convey TO the reader bet
ter idea of the incident we are about to re-
late The building contained but one
room. the entrance TO which was situated
mt one end, with large adob fireplace in
the other end, and nearly opposite to the
entrance. On the large stone hearth
burned wood FIRE. giving TO the rom n
cheerful appearance. On the front. at the
right Of the entrance, was well-filled bar.
around which were congrcgatcd reprcsen-
tativcs Of different nations, some spccula-
ting on the success Of various mining op-
crations, while others were discussing the
general topics of the day. Along the rear
side Of the room extended rows of tables,
around each Of which was seated n party
Of miners, playing poker" and stalking
large sums of gold with rs much coolness
and apparent uncosccrn rs If they were
partaking Of a meal 4 few rude seats
occupied the space around the fireplace and
in the front portion of the room beyond
the bar. The cabins Of the settlers ex-
tended some distance 20 the front Of the
spot. while the unsettled portion of the
country lay IN the rear.
The hill before mentioned, rising ab-
ts<uptly from this position, was thickly III
tersperscd with sage brush and thick bush
-cs. aifording a temporary hiding place for
the fugitive As the evening wore on,
the patrons Of the saloon became more nu-
merous, while the chilliness of the a,mos-
phere caused those most interested in the
games at the tables to gather round the
FIRE. The conversation, which at this time
was becoming animated. was suddenly in
tcrruptcd by the entrance Of n tall. raw
boned Yankee. bearing in his hand long
rife around his waist he wore n belt,
from which was suspended powdcr-fask
and bullct-pouch.
Advancing to the fireplace. he deposited
his rifle i'm the corner. and, after accep-
ting the scat courteously offered him by
one of the company, he seated himself by
the fire. resting one elbow on his knee and
dropping his chin into his hand. he sat
gsoomily watching the fire as il some
mighty grief were preying upon him. He
mumbled incohcrertly at tunes, and sat
without changing his position. The at.
tention Of the company was soon drawn tc
the stranger. and an occasional glance
from those Mt the table was directed to.
yard the place where he sat He Al
tngth broke out into such lamentations n.
hCsc:
II am tired Of life. Ny claim has fail
ID. and am without friends or money
have not even enough to purchase sup.
per. I have been out all day hunting anG
have killed nothing"
He addressed no one personally, and nc
bnc seemed to sympathizc with him in hi.
disturbed condition. He sat in silence a
few minutes. then raising his head, cx.
claimed:
"a man may as we'll be dead as out o!
luck. will take my own life"
Then taking from his side the flask. he
unscrewed the cap from the top. and poured
from il into His hand some apparently fine
Hazard power. then pouring it carefully
back, he replaced the cap, and screwing
ii firmly on. yelled:
"Ycs, will die myself. and all around
me shall die also.''
lie thea flung the flask upon the burn.
ing Goals. The tumult that followed was
indescribabic. The rush for the door was
simultaneous with the last rash act Of the
stranger The windows served IS means
of escape to those who werc unable to
press passage shrongh the door. The
Yankee sat calm spectator to the scene,
till the last occupant Of the room had
made his exit then, with the rapidity oi
lightning. he sprang to the tables and
.scrapcd from them the shining piles oi
s,old which had been left BY the gamblers
and deposited them in his hat. escaping
through one CT the rear windows. With
de<perate strides he assembled the hill,
s..d. jumping upon q fallen trcc, turned
a survey the multitude below. All wers
waiting brea,hlessly, watching the build
iar, expecting every moment when the
,ces.ents OF the heated essk would blow Il
a ..erns. when the shrill voice ofour herc
rsay out on the clear night air:
aUO.'t Be atruid gesilemem! IAere a
.osaiss Dat uaek saad IN che ca.f
: Then. springiug from his perch. nc dls'
anosa-ea ameng the chapparel, complete
II eluding the pursuit Of the gamblers
,.ho rcturncd 10 the saloon TO find the ts'
BE all cleared Of the last sistige OF thei'
treasure.