The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-04-07
JUDGE LYNCH CoUET.
an EPISODE NEAR DOUGLAS CREEK
CANON.


tFrOm the Detroit Free Tress.
4 canon in the mountains. noar
the prosperous mining town of Doug.
las Greek, in Wyoming Territory.
Grand end picturesque The peaks rise
up on either side, towering far up
toward the clouds, which hang in
groups OF golden beauty overhead.
The crystal water of the creek, from
which the town took its name. danced
merrlly over its rocky bed, its plash.
Tags blending in ripping melody with
the soughing Of The breezs throug b
The lofty pines
Scattered here and there over @
grassy plat were q number Of deter.
mined looking men, dressed in the
garb Of mouutaineers, conversing in
low, earnest tones, as though their
attention was engrossed by some
mater Of more than ordinary import.
A little apart from the rest, closely
guarded by two brawny mouataiaesrs
stood d youth apparently net over
eighteen years OF age, with features
OF remarkable beauty and form of the
most perfect mold Near him, coiled
upon the grass, iay rope, in one end
I Vi which moose bad been artisLically
formed. There could be 40 mistaking
the scene-Judge Lynch was about
TO hold court.
The youth had arrived iD the camp
but three days before on the stage
from Laramie City, aud bad register
ed Al the hotel as Harry Forrest. He
told the inquisitive landlord (all
Western landlords are inquisitiye)
that be was the son of a wealthy
merchant in the States" aud was
GA tour Of pleasure and observation
in the mountains. He circulated
freely among the rough element,
v hich is marked feature OF every
mining camp, and on account Of the
uuusnsl beauty of his face was dab
bed Handsome Harry" 5y the deni.
Zsns OF tho town.
Douglas Creek. Ike every other
mining towB, was infested with q
large number Of the sporting frater-
nity," otherwise known as profession
al gamblers. Among these was a
iiGe-looking, well-dres-ed man named
George Watson. He had turned up
in the camp about three months pre-
yious to the date Of which write,
with plenty Of money, which be spent
with lavish hand His open hand
ed generosity had made him favor
lie with all, and bis skill 10 manipu-
lating the cards could be attested by
every one who had faced him al the
gambling table
IL was soon observed that Hand |
some Harry" was closely watching
Watson's every movement, and sew
eral friends called the gamblers al
ten ion 10 The fact. To each one b.
replied that there was a familiar look !
on the youths face-sn expression !
that be mad seen before, though when /
or where ne had seen it bis memory |
failed 10 divulge
Il don't know what ibe boy is |
watching me for" be would say, yet
d feeling Of unegsiness which be could |
not hide would manifest itself, and it |
was noticed ths; since Harry 5 advent
10 the ;niges hc began 20 drink hesvi-
ly.
90 the morning Of the day on |
y bicn this story opens Watson be- !
came intoxicated, a1d while sitting
in TIE Fl Dorado saloon began 10 joke
good-naiuredly with the inmates. a
young miuer had jast finished the
rsudiug o: q letter which be bad tax
en- from the p9stoiiica ard while re-
turning l. TO a dainty white envelope
said:
a letter from your sHeethsart
back il the States, eh, Tommy? III
BET any man ia the house teu 20 one
that I've called the turn
That's just what you've done,
Wat, " replied the miner "Iis from
my girl in Michigan, aud prettier
OF better girl don't live. If | ever
strike pay-rock in this claim of mine
III scoot back there quick, and give
some preacher a chance to make a
few dollars"
"Clear gone on her, see, Tommy
Well, I've been there myself. | had
a sweetheart once, and | feed Cos
pei sharp for two minutes sce ,ch,
but the felicity of the game oidn's
stick six months. On! bat she was
8 daisy, though, high-toned beauty,
but never cared a curse for her.
You see her old man had just bushels
Of shekels, stored away, and the mans
3 precious fool that won't tackle mat
rimony when it's buried 10 mine of
ready coined gold The old bloke
didn't seem to cotton a. ell to bis
dear son-in-law, so when L got grab
Dt the pot | jumped the game and
carried the swag with me The old
ROSTERS dead and roasting 10 Hades,
reckon, and | suppose the high
strung daughter done as most dissp-
pointed females dO-supped dose of
,olG poison, or joined the big array
)f females OF easy vir, ie that every
:ity-"
The sharp crack of revolver
echoed through the room, and Wat
'on fell quivering in death, shot
brough the head, while Handsome
iarry's voice rang out:
DE, you thrice accursed villain,
lie ! and remember Edna y
The gals brother, far sny amount
, dust y cried a gambler, as the
rowd rushed up toward the youth
lie was at once disarmed ard secur-
a. meeting called on the spot and