The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-27
DON'T DIE, JACK

bUN biIIs bAlhs
Some incident in its early career had
given enLoggerhead Gulch its name. Just
what that incident was did not live in
tho traditions OF the rough miners who
dug and delyed in the gulch. Certain
it was, however, that tho name was no
missioner, for no other mining camp in
the Territory was so rough, quRrrelsome
and pugilistic in the nature OF its inlab.
itants. Everybody seemed ut 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 tlint fact did
not add to the kindly spirits Of the
miners, who were disposed to revenge
their luck upon anything that presented
itself as possible scapegrace. No min.
ing camp can exist, or ut least ever has
existed, without drinking saloon, and
Loggcrhead Gulch Ind its shanty de.
voted to the retailing of drink. 1tspro.
prietor WIS Jack Jeptha, and his dress
and demeanor indicated that he Ind
seen better days-had been faro.deal.
er ror u bArkeeper in big Eastern hotel,
or something of that fashy nature.
Even now some traces Of loud dressing
hung about him but the brim of tile
felt hat was battered, and there was
something tic matter with tho crown :
tho flaming red bic failed to harmonize
with the most equally flaming and shag-
gyred beard Immediately above it /: the
shirt collar was woefully time stained {;
the yelveteen cont was much mirched
and had grown white at the seams, and
ut least three buttons were lacking Mt
tho vest
Tho only otheroccupant of Jack Jep.
tlia's shanty at the moment that the
reader is introduced TO it, excepting the
customers, was n young wOman-Jack's
wife, Mollic by iiame-who, with her
really delicate beauty, seemed. won.
derfully out of place in Loggerhead
Gllch. She was about the middle
height, between twenty-tlree and twen-
ty.four years OF age, slim and elegant MS
to her figure, fair as an angel is painted,
withsoft blue eyes and dropping lashes;
her mouth was small her lips full 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
cied no one looking at her, the corners
of her mouth were drawn with hard,
care-wore expression. She shared the
lonorS of the bar with jack, and dis.
pensed bad wliiskey and smiles to the
Loggerheads with dash and grace
that largely argumented the aggregate
sales.
Among the drinkers was one upon
whom liberal potations had told consid-
erably, His companions called him
Towhead from the color OF his hair, and
that was the name lie had in camp. In
his pockethe had n fair sized bag OF gold
dust, which he had incautionsly dis.
played several times during the even.
ing.
AT 12 o'clock Towhead rose to go but
first hecalled Jack Jeptha outside the
door and placed the bag of dust in lis
hands.
"Thar's my pile, Jack, " he said, IAN
want yer tokeep it'll tomorrow. Tn
II little too drunk to takeit along with
me, and thar might be somebody as
would follow mo for 1t,
Jack slipped the bag in his coat, and
both returned to the bar-room.
Sooon afterward the party broke up
and departed. Towhead's way led him
q asolitary walk for q milo or more; and
MS he left his competitions the form Of q
man skulked after him in the shadow.
Thus followed Towlead staggered
along until his pathl led him through n
deep gulley, which had been dubbed
the Devils Glen. Then and there his
follower advanced from behind, and
killed him with q murderous dirk stab.
A hasty search Of the victims pockets
convinced the murderer that the prize
for which he had committed the villain.
ous deed was not there. Then the cow
ardice OF the man showed itself. A
storm had been coming up, and now, as
1t burst forth in thunder, lightning and
flood, he shivered. With blood on his
hands, with horror in his eyes, and with
the dreadful mark Of Gain branded in
delibly on his brow, tho wretcllod man
iiod, clltching his breast with his pale,
tallon.like fingers, as II to tear hence
his cowardico.
On hc went, flying over rocks and
chasms, and uprooted trocs-on, on,
still on, unable to stop until hc sapk
exhausted beneath hugo nile Of rocks.
The storm was wildly, madly cannon.
aiding against the rocks, as Ii Il would
tear Its way to where ho lay, and boldly
engulf him; hut he heard nothing but
animaglnary and unearthly cry Of SNfur.
lerln--saw nothing but tho cold, still
face and liieless form Of his victim.
Towhead had not been murdered fli.
toon minutes before his body was dis.
covered by party Of miners returning
from some midnight careuse. They