The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-02-20
Summary JUSTICE.

-ET7<st McGaDsy.
Summary JUSTICE.
The early sun was just gliding the
mountain tops with splendor, when
the mining camp at Roaring Creek
hads begun its daily labor.
Pans were rapidly emptied, and dis
appointment or joy shone in the faces
Of the owners as the s.find was larger
OF smaller than their expectation.
Three months before Roaring Creek
had sparkled in tho sunshine, dashing
Its clear waters over untold wealth,
and the tiny CLEANS of gold had re-
Aected the sunlight for ages, secure
from the grasping hand of man.
But n lucky day a prospecting
miner had discovered the place, claims
were staked off, and the quiet vale be-
came q busy camp, while the creek
swept its muddy waters s~ullenly away,
and eager fingers found the hidden
wealth.
One day there came slowly up the
valley a thin faced, solemn man, who
located q claim upon the outskirts of
the camp-a poor, despised place,
where, as Bill Scriggins said, "a fol-
low might shake the pan a week an
mol find q penny's worth of dust"
But the man was quiet enough, and
minded his own business, apparently,
20 they let him alone, and he was
known throughout the camp as the
s.Parson."
As the days passed each miners
. 9 grew joyous. for his stock of dust
steadily increased, and the eastern
home seemed nearer and nearer, with
its circle of loved ones, as he worked
with redoubled zeal.
Suddenly there was panic. A rob-
her was at work A their midst. The
Parson wa the first loser.
One morning, as they had just be-
gun work. became rushing down the
hill, his thin face showing moro ex-
citernent than they had ever seen there
before, and waving excitedly an empty
canvas bag. They showed him a miners
sympathylsubstantial sympathy, al
ways found in the gold mines-and as
he went slowly back up the hill, Jim
Haines remarked, jokingly:
s.Shonidn't wonder eli he had more
y ~hAs0 80 ANg AOEks RI OOI CuAA. II T6EkOl
he needs it. thought"
But that raj not the last robbery !
u less than q week, nearly every
miner had lost his treasured store.
Even Jim Haines, who owned a great
yellow bulldog, and boasted that no
2 could rob him, came down to the
claim one morning with q woeful face
and an empty canvas bag.
After talking matters over awhile,
he and Bill Scriggins shouldered their
tools and went slowly up the bed of
the creek on q prospecting tour, leav-
ing Scoot, the great yellow bulldog,
to guard their camp When they were
well out of hearing, Jim said, Eau
tiOns'y:
What dye think I fetched ye up
here fer, Bil1p"
Ter look for dust, / reckon" re.
piled Bill.
mot by a long chalk. I've spotted
the robber," said Jim, triumhpant,y,
az he laughed at his comrades aston.
ished face.
'Go long! You hain't nowqn ejac.
ulated Bill.
"Yes. I hev, though. Did We eve1
b66 Ibis srlnkeL r.
And he placed in Bills hand q gold
shirt button of peculiar pattern.
.sWhew !"
Bill gave q prolonged whistle.
"Did ye ever see il aforePn repeated
Jim.
Yes, I hev," he answered, as he
turned 1t over and over, and gave Jim
Aknowing wink.
Wherepn demanded his comrade.
SIN the Parsons shirt 'front.' he
answered.
That's bout the size of it. pard,
an the Parsons the thief. l found
this ere trinket side of my dust bag,
and Jim slapped the Others shoulder
emphatically. "It's all plain es the
nose on yer face, an now we must
trap him. Not q word ter the rest Of
em, till we find out sartin.'
Here's my hand, old boy. I'm
with ye thar said Bill, as he ex-
tended a horny hand for the shake
that sealed the bargain.
That was two days before the open.
ing Of my story. The night before,
the camp had been told every circum.
stance, for the Parsons guilt was
proved, and Jim had begged them to
keep at work as usual, until he and
Bil,could bring the robber to themfo1
judgment, that his suspicious might
not be aroused.
Since then, neither Bill nor Jim MOI
the Parson had been seen, and q
strange spirit Of unrest brooded ovel
the camp-a premonition OF coming
evil, or something they knew moi
what.
The sun rose higher, its golden
beamsfalling lower lower along the
mountain side, until Pyramid Peak
was indeed a pyrmid of golden light.
and the valleys shadows crept away
High up on its rocky shelf. the s'Dev
lis Pulpit hung above over the dizzy
abyss, clearly defined againstthe blacl
mouth of the cave behind it. For year!
it had oyerhung the yawning chasm
and strongest nerves would tremble a
a glance downward from its marrow
foothold.
Suddenly there came a loud report
o tiny wreath of smoke was seel
against the black mouth of the cave;
wild, deep barking was heard, and
dark form shot headlong from tn,
brink OF the precipice.
s.It's the Parson!'' said Tom Lawson
in q hushed voice. They couldn't'ge
him alive, SO they've sent him dead.
Dropping their pans, they all hui
rfcd down the creek, where the bod
lay, with more curiosity than sorrow
for human life was not valued yer
highly in California at that time