Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-06-29
THE MINERS CABIN.

Wiley, were at dinner. We knew th,
mans name to be Mason; and sine
eur coming TO the mines, scarce fou
weeks before, he had shown us dea
of kindness, for the work was new Il
us, and it was partly owing to hi
friendly suggestions that we had beer
30 lucky in finding the golden dust ii
our claim, until we had quite head 0
shining ore, and thought it about tim,
to convey it to place ofgreater safety
than in our cabin, in the heart Of s
large mining districe.
"To-morrow if the day is good" wal
my answer; and then / added: "won'
you come in and take mouthful witt
us2"
81 don't care if | do" he replied il
rather an unnecessary loud tone O
voice, as he stepped through the door
way, 1 got glimpse OF couple OF fel
lows a short distance off, that had
paused apparently attracted by oul
conversation; but evidently they hao
heard our frieMd accept our invitation
and thinking they would hear no more
slowly moved on. They were looked
upon by the whole community of min
ers with distrust, as but a small portion
OF their time WAS spent ut work; and
such class arc always at discount
III Il community such as ours, where
everybody ID expected to earn their
bread by the sweet Of their brow.
Take seat" ! said moving little
one side, 80 there would be room for
him Oh the bench on which | sat.
mo, thank you; am in hurry,
and can't stop but moment. l only
stepped i'll to ask you when you were
going, and togive those chaps out there
n hint 10 move on, as | thought per
haps 1t might be just AZ we'll that they
did not hear what passed between u.s.
And so you 50 tomorrow"
Yes
zone, or bothY'
ppm going alone; Seth is to stay
and see that nobody infringes on us
here"
Bat, why not send your dust, as ]
spoke Of the other day"
Because | have got other business
that takes me To town, and 80 can car.
ry it just as well as not, and so save
the big charges they make to insure it:
safety"
Mason was silent n moment, while
slipped my coffee and waited for him
to speak, If he had further to say.
"Whaf time do you tet QUIZ" he
asked, ut length, looking up.
"No: before noon, as | shall have
plcnty of time then, TO roach old
Sharkey's by dark"
"Do you know him?"
"No; | never saw him yet. He
cabin was deserted when we came by
but some one pointed it out as q aorl
of halfway house, where the miners
stopped over night when coming .and
going irsm the mines. There seemed
To have been quito extensive diggings
about there At one time, but they are
deserted now | believe"
"Ges, they were deserted more than
year ago, and no one has undertaken
to work them since; but this old Shar.
key-and rightly named no is too, in
my bellet-has lived there, keeping q
sort of halfway house, or tavern; bu
OF late there have been stories current
about him that render people mistrust.
ful.-Wlthln the last six months foul
miners at least, who set ont for town
with their dust, with the intention oil
returciug in day or two, have never
returned, nor has any trace of them
been found, and it has been whisppred
about that Old Sharkey could let in
light on their dlSAp )earaace, if he was
so minded.-Some Two months age
nnnnIn's /
that IL search was instituted on his pre-
misses; but nothing was found that
would duplicate him-not so much
gold NJ he would be apt to have had
had he done everything square with
the world, But there is chance enough
for him TO secure it near ut hand, rs
well rs to dispose of his victims, pro.
vldlpg he has any; for the shafts are
deep about him, and partly filled with
earth and water, and once sunk in
there, all trace of them would be lost
but | would not care to be his guest, ii
he had reason to think that | had a
pile of dust about my person.
Things 10 look rather dark Fred,
and perhaps you had better take up
with our friends advice. I've no no.
ton OF dissolving partnership with you
so soon, or to run the risk of losing my
share of the dust" said Seth, when
Mason had concluded.
must own that his story had in a
measure impressed me with doubt as to
the honesty OF old Shsrkey still, did
not like the notion of backing out, or OF
letting my companion see that their
words had any effect to dampen my
courage. Rumor said that Sharkev liv-
ed alone, and what had | to fear from a
weak, trembling old man, and lame
with-al.
III my suspicious We're awakened, /
could keep my eyes open through the
night, and my hands on pair of trusty
pistols that had never known TO fail
me. The more reflected, the higher
my courage rose, and SO made reply to
Seth's observation, that he woul6
have no need to fear, either my
loss, or that Of his gold; but that, at any
rate, should try the hospitality Of Old
Shsrkey, rs I had intended.
Finding that his story had no effsc. or
my determination, Mason babe us good
day, and went to his work, aud on,
meal being concluded we soon followed
his example.
After dinner the next day, Isst out
The dust was carefully concealed about
me, should any one from sinister mo
tives attempt to ascertain the fact. My
pistols had been carefully cleaned and
loaded that morning by Seth and my
self, before we went to work, and
knew they were in good effective
condition, aud with these, and keeping
my eyes open, l had no doubt bu. whai
should escape any danger that might
beset me waile on my way.
Nsson's claim was out on the skirts
ct the diggings, and the direction
was pursuing led me past where he
was hard at work. He locked up as
hailed him from about dozen feet be,
low me.
"And SO you are off," he said.
dyes, good luck to you till my re-
turn"
"Thank you; the same to yourself
For Gods sake, keep your eyes open,
and don't forget if anything happens,
that warned YOU"