The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-09-25
MINERS STORY.
TWICE ~ENrRAPPED.
BY c LEON MEREDITH.

Years ago, when Pixies Peak was
the centre of attraction to the gold
finder. as the Black Hills are today,
!. with o multitude OF others, went
and returned with but little of the
yellow metal 20 show for the endur.
ance of mining hardships.
Nv venture, however, vas not en-
tirely improbable, for, as luck would
have it, an opportunity was offered
to benefit others in benefting myself
/ had become restless and discomfort
ed through i'll success, and threw up
claim after claim without very thor
oughly prospecting" any Of them.
One day ! visited a mine said to be
paying, having q curiosity to see
such a one, and here met o character
that changed my whole purpose.
Among the miners was one, a low
browed, blsck-eyed, dark-complexion-
ed man, whom | recognized as a des-
perado that | had seen in New Or
leans two years before, and Cd whose
head was placed a large reward.
he was changed into almost anoth-
er being with his various means Of
disguise. but withal | was certain
that | knew the man as the very one
| had seen in the criminal box and
convicted of robbery and intended
murder.
| watched him until the suspicious
were made doubly sure, and then dis
patched q letter to the proper author
tiles in Louisiana, informing them
that the escaped convict was there,
and that | would keep my eye upon
the villain until the officers Of the law
could arrive to secure him.
1t would not be safe, | thought, to
trust the secret TO any 4 among the
miners, for / did not know who could
be trusted, and it would not be a very
pleasant undertaking to attempt to
handle him single handed. He was
powerfully muscular and armed TO
the teeth, besides bis desperate char
acter and small regard for human life
would make him an ugly customer to
contend with.
Under the pretense Of being out OF
money, employment was obtained to
assist in digging. There vas no risk
in this, for Mezler, alias Benson, |
was convinced, did not recognize me;
indeed. it was doubtful whether be
had ever noticed me before, as | had
no personal acquaintance with him,
80 | worked on day after day until a
full month had passed before any re-
ply came to the letter Of information
that had been sent.
At last a brief note was received,
asking further instructions as to the
whereabouts Of Mezler, cent down
from Denver, to which ! Immediately
replied, asking the officers to arrive
at the gulch after nighttall OF a GER
tain evening appointed, and / would
meet them outside the mine and have
everything in readiness for the arrest
of the criminal.
On the afternoon Of the day APP
pointed for the meeting, / managed
to get hold of Mezler's revolvers, and
having filed the barrels with blank
cartridges, felt tina; g good work had
been accomplished. His knife could
not get away from him without awak-
ing suspicion, &c concluded not to make
the attempt.
R,. 4y-o man anna "a p,oEo tho ~
rest, not 30 many as | had hoped for,
as il was uncertain what resistance
would be offered on the part Of Mez-
ler's messmates. We, however, con-
cluded to u the risk and make the
attempt.
was to lodge with Benson, as he
was called among the miners, and re-
paired to the tent as soon as the
plans of operation mad been matured.
He sat in the lodge smoking bis
pipe, and paid but little attention TO
me as | entered. l sat down on s
stool, and both remained silent for O
time. l could see by the light of the
dim taper that Mezler was troubled
about something.
At last he broke the silence by set
ting his black, ~glistening eyes upon
me, and 10 a hoarse voice he growled
between his teeth
"You are a devilisb scoundreli
/ started as if a bomb shell had bit
me, but instantly controlling the emo
ton, l replied firmly
"Your words, sir, demand an ex-
PLANTATION. | allow no man to talk to
me in that manner"
Whether you do or not" he growl-
cd, "you are! You are here for O
false purpose. You have tempered
with my pistols to-day. have load
ed them again, and have q mind to
empty a barrel now in your--bead!"
he concluded with Gu oath, at the
same time slipping a revolver from his
pocket and holding it threateningly
in his hand.
] saw that ] must change the tae-
tics or lose the game, and perhaps
my own life. Rising 10 my feet, l
said:
Benson, you are a Southerner, are
you not ?"
81 am" was the cold reply.
80 am |, and to show you that /
am not a coward, | will meet you at
the table rock aloue, and at a distance
of five PAGES, show who is the better
man. If you arc a true Southerner
you viii not shoot 8 man down in cold
blood for imagined wrongs"
allow soon do you want the lead
Of my pistol ?" he asked with a sneer.
"As soon as we can get TO the rock.
The night is not so dark but what we
can get q fair range"
Mezler rose as if be was bat going
to dinner, and saying "eomer
passed out of the cabin Aae ers
10 the direction of tho 18th
which was not more than hfty sy.
distant. 49,
/ kept quiet until we had passed
che cabins of the miners, and then
talked loud enough Of our trouble to
let the officers know that | was Turing
him away, for l knew that they were
on the alert, and had probably heard
all thsi had taken place at the hut.