Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-01-25
DON'T DIE, JACK.

DON'T DIE, JACK.
Some incident in its early career had
given Ieggerhead Gulch its name, Just
what that incident was did not live in
che traditions of the rough miners who
dug and delved in the gulch. Certain
it was, however, that the name was no
misnomer, for no other mining camp in
She Territory was so rough, quarrelaumc
and pugilistic in the nature of its inhab-
itants. Everybody seemed at logger
heads with everybody else, and ready
upon the slightest 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 presented
itself RS possible scapegrace, No min
ing camp can exist, or at least ever has
existed, without u drinking saloon, and
Loggerhead Gulch had its shanty de-
voted to the retailing of drink. It's pro-
pFletor was Jack Jeptha, and his dress
and demeanor Indicated that he had
seen better days--had been faro deal.
err or barkeeper in a big Eastern hotel,
or something of that fashy 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 the crown
the tlaming r>l tie failed to harmonize
with the most equally flaming and shag.
gy red beard Immediately above it; the
shirt collar Was woefully time stained
the velveteen coat was much mirched
and had grown white at the seams, and
at least three buttons were lacking al
the vest
The only other occupant of Jack Jep,
tha's shanty at the moment that the
reader is introduced to it, excepting the
customers, was young woman-Jack's Is
wife, Mollie by name-who, with he1
really delicate beauty, seemed. won
dertuIly out of place in Loggerhead
Gulch. She was about the middle
height, between twenty-three and TWEEN.
ty-four. years of age, slim and elegant as
to her figure, fair as an angel is painted,
with soft blue eyes and dropping lashes
her mouth was small her lips fall and
rosy, her teeth white as pearls. When
animated or talking to any one, plea.
SAINT, fascinating smile would play around
her mouth; but at times, when she fan.
cled no one looking at her, the corners
OF her mouth were drawn with hard
care-wore expression. She shared the
honors of the bar with Jack, and dis
pensed bad whiskey and smiles to the
Loggerheads with dash and grace
that largely argumented the aggregate
sales. El.s# s.EEtE,
Among the drinkers was one upor
whom liberal potations had told consid
erably, His companions called hin
Towhead from the color of his hair, anG
that was the name he had in camp. II
his pockethe had fair sized bag of golt
dust, which he had incautiously dis
played several times during the even
ing.
At II o'clock Towhead rose to go ; bu
first he called Jack Jeptha outside the
door and placed the bag of dust in hi
hands.
" Thar's my pile, Jack, " he said, "an
] want yer tokeep it till tomorrow. Tn
little too drunk to take it along will
me, and thar might be somebody a,
would follow me for it.
Jack slipped the bag in his coat, ant
both returned to the bar-room.
Sooon afterward the party broke III
and departed Towhead's way led hin
solitary walk for mile or more; an(
as he left his companions the form of
man skulked after him in the shadow
Thus followed, Towhead staggered
along until his path led him through
deep gulley, which had been dubbed
the Devils Glen. Then and there hi
follower advanced from behind, anC
killed him with q murderous dirk stab
A hasty search of the victims pocket
convinced the murderer that the priz
for which he had committed the villain
Gus deed was not there. Then the COW
ardice Of the man showed itself.
storm had been coming up, and now, O
4 it burst forth in thunder, lightning ant
flood, he shivered. With blood on hi
hands, with horror in his eyes, and witt
the dreadful mark of Cain branded in
delibly on his brow, the wretched maj
s fed, clutching his breast with his pale
tallon-like fingers, as if to tear henc
his cowardice. aaa
On he went, flying over rocks an
4 chasms, and uprooted trees--on, or
still on, unable to stop until he san
exhausted beneath huge pile of rocks
The storm was wildly, madly CANNON
aiding against the rocks, as if it woul
tear its way to where he lay, and boldl
engulf him; but he heard nothing bu
an imaginary and unearthly cry of "Mui
der saw nothing but the cold, sti
face and lifeless form of his victim.
Towhead had not been murdered FL
teen minutes before his body was dii
covered by party of miners returnin
from some midnight carouse. The