The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-08-06
HUNG FOR SUICIDE.


Poor Bob Crawley He would go to
try his fortune in the Australian gold
fields, in spite of the remonstrances OF
his friends and family. 1t was during
the first tide of eager excitement which
followed the discovery of the precious
metal there, and young Crawley, yield
ing with hundreds of others TO the all
pervading gold fever, took leave OF his
family, and departed. He entertained
high hopes of success, and promised n
speedy return with his amassed wealth.
But his success was Indifferent, on ar
irving at his destination, and even this
was not the worst of his trials. Living
as he had among the upper circles at
home, he had hardly been able to form
a correct conception OF the rude classes
among which he would be thrown III the
mining districts, and of the hardships
and deprivations which he would be
obliged to endure. 1t goes hard with
a man among the miners, II he has not
thrown off all lingering traces OF refine
ment and accustomed himself to the
WAYS and manners of his unpublished as
.sociates. SO our friend, who could not
but retain some prejudices III favor of a
civilized state of society, and found 1t
contrary to his nature to mingle socially
with the Tough community, was soon
marked by his companions as not con-
genial spirit; and he found himself held
in anything but a popular regard.
1t was, too, Crawley's misfortune to
have fixed his quarters near those of a
man for whom, from the first, he felt a
strange, unaccountable dislike. This
man, Hooker by name, was III partner
ship with "a companion of even rougher
sort, who occupied the same tent with
him and who answered to the euphone
GUS name of Diggles. Crawley could
not determine whether he liked or dis
liked this latter, nor could he under
stand his character. There seemed to
,be sense of honor and something like
Kindness hidden under his rough eXte-
rior. But his virtues were sadly over
grown with vices, and little of manhood
or self-respect was left in his hang-dog
air. Hooker enjoyed that popularity
which bold, bad man is apt to have
among the miners. He even possessed
great influence over them, owing to his
native cunning and villainy, being, in
deed, their acknowledged leader upon
all occasions.
Crawley's dislike for this neighbor of
his gradually deepened into distrust and
fear. He fancied that the CLEAN of his
dark eyes under their lowering brows
portended some especial evil for him
self. All endeavors to shake off what
seemed foolish notion were in vain :;
he continued to fear and avoid him.
Strange as 1t may appear, he was rem
sdered all the more uneasy upon hearing
the rumor which was current of the
immense treasure of gold which Hooker
had got together and secreted in his
tent. Was it that he already felt the
7forebOdings of n coming doom? Craw
ley had several times thought of re-
moving to another neighborhood, in
q. consequence of his present unpleasant
situation, and because he hoped to meet
with better success in his quest for
gold, when something took place which
FASTENED this determination.
One morning, after a wakeful and
restless night, during which he thought
j he heard some stealthy movements in
Y the neighborhood of Hookers tent, our
! friend was going forth to his work rather
later than usual, when he found the lit
tie mining community in evident excite
ment. Men stood earnestly talking to-
gether in small groups, instead of pro-
ceeding to their regular occupation
there was much hurrying to and fro |;
and, strangest of all, whenever he adj
vanced to group to learn the cause of
this confusion, they all moved away in
different directions, casting side-long,
suspicious chances at him. This was
too much. He made rush at one small
sized man, collared him, and literally
shook from him the intelligence that his
acquaintance of the black eyes had been
} robbed of his riches.
Then it was all plain. Hooker, sus-
,pecting Crawley of the theft, had just
now been making his suspicious gener-
d. ally known, which readily took root in
the minds of all, as coming from their
. leader. This belief was strengthened
by the fact of the proximity of their
tents, while another noteworthy circum-
stance was the tardy and seemingly re-
. luctant appearance that morning of the
{, suspected culprit. Add to this the un-
popularity and even dislike with which
the poor fellow was regarded, and it
would seem that it must go hard with
him under this burden of suspicion.
While weighing in his mind the evil
. dence against him, Hooker passed him
with such an added look of malignant
hatred in his eyes, that he involuntarily
turned away, shuddering at their threat
.ening aspect
He gotthrough the day somehow but
his mind was constantly filed with kind
of horrible fear. Every one seemed to
be against him, and he felt that this state
of affairs could not be endured. SO long
as the guilty man remained undiscov-
9 cred, poor ,Crawley, even though Hooker