The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1872-09-26
IDAHO WORLD.
L0GGERHEAD GULCH.
A TALE OF 4 MINING CAMP.

live In the traditions OF the rough
miners who dug and delved in the
gulch. Certain it was. however, that
the name was no misnomer; for nc
other mining camp in the territory was
so rough, quarrelsome and pugilistic
in the nature of its inhabitants. Every,
body seemed at loggerheads with every.
body else, and ready, upon the slight.
est provocation, to lynch everybody
else.
The diggings had not, of late, been
very productive of profit, and that fact
did not add to the kindly spirits of the
miners, who were disposed to,revenge
their luck upon anything that present
ed itself as possible scapegrace.
No mining camp can exist, or at
least ever has existed, without a drink
ing saloon, and Loggerhead Gulch had
its shanty devoted to the retailing of
drink. Its proprietor was Jack Jeptha,
and his dress and demeanor indicated
that he had seen better days-had been
faro dealer or barkeeper in big
Eastern hotel, or something of that
tlashy nature. Even now some traces
of loud dressing hung about him; but
the brim of the felt hat was battered,
and there was something the matter
with its crown; the flaming red tie
failed to harmonic with the almost
equally flaming and shaggy red beard
Immediately above it; the shirt collar
was wofully time-stained; the vclveteen
coat was much smirched, and had grown
white at the seams, and at least three
buttons were lacking to the vest
The only other occupant Of Jack
Jeptha's shanty at the moment that the
reader is introduced to it, excepting
the customers, was young woman
Jacks wife by courtesy, and Mollic by
name. And, with her really delicate
beauty, she seemed wonderfully out Of
place in Loggerhead Gulch. She was
about the middle height, between TWEEN
ty-three and twenty-tour years of age,
slim and elegant as to her figure, fair
as an angel is painted, with soft blue
eyes and dropping iashes; her mouth
was small, her lips full and rosy, her
teeth white rs pearls. When animated
or talking to any one, a pleasant, fas-
cinating smile would play around her
mouth; but at times when she fancicd
no one was looking at her, the corners
IF her mouth were drawn down with a
hard, careworn expression Hcrrounicd
shoulders and voluptuous bosom, white
as alabastcr, were revealed by low
dress. She shared the honors Of the
bar with Jack, and dispensed bad whis-
Ky and smiles to the Loggcrhcads with
a dash and grace that largely aug
mentcd the aggregate sales.
Among the drinkers was one upon
whom liberal rotations had told CON
siderably. His companions called him
Towhead, from the color of his hair,
and that was the only name he had in
camp. In his pocket he had fair sized
bag of gold dust, which he had incau-
tiously displayed several times during
the evening.
At twelve o'clock Towhead rose TO
go; but first he called lack Jeptha
outside the door, and placed the bag of
dust in his hands
"Thar's my pile, Jack" he said, can
| want yer ter keep it till tomorrow.
Pm little too drunk ter take it along
with me, and thar might be somebody |
as would foller me for it."
Jack slipped the bag in his coat, and
both returned to the bar-room
Soon afterward the party broke up
and departed. Towhead's way led him
q solitary walk of mile or more; and
as he left his companions, the form of
2 man skulked after him in the shadow
Thns followed, Towhead staggered
along until his path led him through a
deep narrow gully, which had been
dubbed the Devils Glen. Then and
there his follower stealthly advanced
from behind, and killed bin with
murderous dirk stab. A hasty search
of the victims pockets convinced the
murderer that the prize for which he
had committed the yillanous deed, was
not there. Then the cowardice of the
man showed itself. A storm had been
coming up, and now, as it burst forth
IN thunder, lightning and flood, he
shivered. With blood on his hands, and
NTH bnrrnr e., b;c ax,au8 oil .,,;.L tha1