Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-07-11
THE MINER SCABIN

The MINER S CABIn
"When are you going to town wit
your dust, Smith," asked tall un
shaven miner, as be looked down int
our cabin, one day when I and my part
ner, Seth Wiley, were at dinner. W
| knew the mans name to be Mason; an
since our coming to the mines, scare
four weeks before, he had shown us
deal of kindness. for the wolk was ne,
to us, and it was partly owing to hi
friendly suggestions that we had beel
so lucky in finding the golden dust il
our claim, until we had quite heap Q
shining ore, and thought it about tim
to convey it to a place of greater safety
| than in our cabin in the heart of Iarg
mining district.
"To-morrow, if the day is good" wa
my answer, and then I added, "Won'
you come in and take mouthful will
us?"
II don't care if 1 do" he replied il
rather an unnecessary lond tone of voice
AS he stepped through the doorway
got glimpse of couple of fellows ,
short distance off that had paused, APP
parently attracted'by our conversation
but evidently they had heard our FRIEND
accept our invitation, and thinking they
would hear no more, slowly moved on
They were looked upon by the whole
community OF miners with distrust, al
but small portion of their time va
spent at work; and such class ar
always at discount in o community
such as ours, where everybody is ex
pected to earn their bread by tho swea
of their brow.
stake a seat" I said, moving q ittl,
one side, so there would be room for hin
on the bench on which sat.
emo, thank you; am in q hurry
and can't stop but moment. only
stepped in to ask you when you were
going, and to give those chaps ont there
hint to move on, as I thought perhaps
it might be just as we'll that they did moi
hear what passed between us. Aud &C
you go tomorrow
"Yes."
Gone or both?"
"I'm going alone; Seth is to stay
and see that nobody infringes on Us
here"
"But why not send your dust, as
spoke of the other day."
because I have got other business
that takes me to town, and sc can carry
it just as we'll as not, and so save the
big charges they make to insure its
safety"
slipped my coffee aud waited for him tc
speak, if he had further to say.
"What time doyou set out, he asked
at length, looking up.
"Not before noon, as I shall have
plenty of time then to reach old Shar.
keys by dark"
edo you know him?"
: "No; I never saw him yet. His cab
in was deserted when we came by, but
some one pointed it out as sort of half.
way house, where the miners stopped
over night when coming and going from
the mines. There seemed to have been
quite extensive diggings 2bout there al
one time, but they are deserted now
believe"
eyes," they were deserted more than
a year ago, and no one has undertaken
to work them since; but this old
Sharkey-and rightly named he is too,
in my belief-has lived there, keeping a
sort of halfway house, or tavern; but of
late there have been stories current
about him that render people mistrust-
full. Within the last six months, four
miners at least, who set out for town
with their dust, with the intention of re-
turning in day or two, have never re-
turned, nor has any trace OF them been
found, and it has been whispered about
that old Sharkey could let in light on
their disappearance, if he was SO minded.
Some two months ago peoples sus.
picions we're go aroused, that a search
was instituted on his premises; but
nothing was found that would impicate
him, not so much gold as he would be
apt to have had, had he done every
thingssquare with the world. But there
is chance for him to secure it near at
hand, as well as to dispose of his vic
TINS, providing he has any; for the
shafts are deep about bin, 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 bad reason to think had q
pile OF dust about my person"
Things do look rather dark, Fred,
ard perhaps you had better take uE
with our fr!eud's advice. Pvo 10 not on
of dissolv,ng the partnership with you
so soon, or to run the risk. OF losi g ny
sbaee Of the 2ust," "saids Seth, when Nal.
son had couctuds d. .a3s*3s
.Imu town that his story had Ia /;
measure impressed me with doubt as t,
the bon, s y. IF old Sbarkey still. I Ibid not
l]ke tne noliOn Of backing out, or let.
ting NY COMPANIONS So that their words
had any fl; ct to danp eu my courage.
Rumor said that Sharkey. lived a;ol e,
and what had TO fenr from a weak
trembling OH man, ard lame withal? ,
Ii my suspicious were awaks ned.
could keep my eyes open. through The
night, aud my hands Oh u pair of trusty
pistols that had neyer known to iail
me. The more I reflected the higher
10y courage F. SO, aud 60 made reply to
Se1h's 0bservat.cn, that lie would have
no need to fear, either my loss or that OF
his gold; bu' that, at any rate, ] should
try the hospitality of old Sharkey, as
had intended. FL. 4sS:, zf,ss &c. j..
Finding that bis story had no. effect
on my determination, Mason babe us
good day, and went to his work, and
our meal being concluded we soon fol-.
lowed his example. ~ - 49, a.
After dinner the next day, I set out.
The dust was carefully concealed about
me, should any one from sininter mo
tives attempt to ascertain the fact. Ny
pistols had been carefully cleaned and
loaded that morning by Seth and my
SELF before We went to work, aud knew
that they were in good effective condi;
ton, and with these, and keeping my
eyes open, had no doubt but what !