Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-07
ar nrURpERER,s BAR.
,.auty, Backed by Nerve, Cages q Grim
iual and Saves Loved Life.

bat that incident was did not live in the
.-,l5tion Of the rough miners who worked
=. the Bar in my time. Certain it was,
E1ysyer. that the name was no misno-
,r.r for in no other camp on the coast
Isre there to be found so many law
los md desperate men, all ready to cut
ana shoot on the slightest provocation.
The diggings had not been very profit
o0le Of late yeals, and that fact did not
add to the kindly spirits of the miners,
vino were disposed to revenge their i'll
luek upon any one who might present
binself as a possible scapegoat.
No mining camp can possibly exist, or
over has existed, without fair proper
tiog of drinking salO0ns-about one to
e,arv ten inhabitants is the average.
the proprietor of the principal saloon on
tba Bar was one Jack Davis, and his
Sress and general demean0r indicated
that he had seen better days-had been
y high-toned faro dealer down in Frisco,
or sometning of that kind. Even now
some traces of loud dressing hung about
him. but it was miserable failure, for
Inc once fashionable clothes were seedy
ard the jpwelTy was sham,
The oily other occupant of Jacks sa-
loon at the time the reader is introduced
To il was young WOman-Jaek's wife,
Inv courtesy, and MollIe by name-whO,
with her really delicate beauty, seemed
wonderfully out of place on Murderer's
Bar She was rather above the middle
height and about "a years of age, slim
and graceful as to figure, with soft blue
ewes and dropping lashes; her mouth was
small, her lips full and rosy, with beauti-
FIJI ulariy teeth. When animated or talk
TNln nil Inc.
smile would play around her mouth,
bat sometimes, when she iancied no one
was looking at her, her features would
assume hard, carewOrn expression. Her
rounded shoulders and Voluptu0us bosom
were revealed 10y a low dress. She shared
the honors Of the bar with Jack, and dis
pensed bad whisky and smiles to the
miners with the dash and grace that drew
many customers.
Presently a crowd came in, and among
them was one whose liberal rotations had
t0ld on him considerably. His compan-
ions called him VOWhead, from the color
of his hair, and that was the only name
be mad IN camp. In his pocket he had a
air-sZed sack of gold dust, which he
displayed on several occasions during the
i evening when treating the crowd.
At y O'Clock he rose to 60 to his cabin,
ma calling Jack outside the door, he
ared the sack of dust in his hands.
That's my pile, Jack" he said, ''and
HHt you to keep it for me till tomorrow,
I'D a little too drunk to pack it along
ah me, and some Of these hard cases
NO follow me for it."
Jack slipped the bag in his pocket,
Il both returned to the harroom.
soon alter tb- party broke up and de-
parted. 1cWtead's path led him up
da> red gUlch a couple of miles. As he
tH his companions the form Of a man
shuIked after him in the shadow. Thus
followed, Towhead staggered along until
be reached a point where the gulch
merged into deep, narrow canon. Then
The follower advanced stealthily and
killed his unresisting victim with MUIR
d.rous stab. A hasty search Of the peck
l els convinced the assassin that the prize
for which he committed the terrible crime
was not there. Then the cOwardice of
he man showed itself. A storm had been
coming on, and now, as it burst forth in
taunder, lightning and flood he shivered.
With blood on his hand and horror in his
yes the wTetched man turned and fed,
On he went over hills and across raw
mes, until he sank exhausted at the base
huge pile of rocks.
Early next morning the body of Tow
read was found by some miners on their
way " WI NJ my NeAA AANh II bctNh w
jack Davis saloon, uttering threats OF
vengeance against the murderer. Arrived
there they laid the body on the floor,
wolfe one of the party went behind the
8r to help Jack to wait on number If
men who had crowded into the saloon. HIS
yves tl upon the bag of dust with Tow
esd's mark on it.
whats thisE' he said, holding it up.
That's ToWhead's sack" replied sew
ai.
How did it come in your possession,
:l!' they asked.
.sck Davis turned pale as he realized
predlcament in which he was placed.
gave the true version of the affair, but
ny would not believe him. They We're
& aXiOus to fix the guilt upon somebody,
BIZ TOWhead had always been a popular
II sliOW in the camp. Several remained as
guard over Jack, while others went
at TO collect the miners for the purpose
q holding trial at once. judge Lynch
nows Of no delay, and there was eV ny
81 aspect Of hanging for the suspected
81 an.
Il Noble had come into the bar shortly
ier the corpse had been brought 10 the
81 use. She had watched Jacks face
Qsely, and believed in his innocence.
Jack" she whispered, ~ know you
8 innocent" and then added aloud: 81
3 llnk know who dId this. There was a
ranger here last night drinking with
le rest. More than once | saw him
Il looking at poor Towhead's sack Of dust,
nd ] know that he followed him from
Il aafeV
But the unreasoning crowd would not
Fl I,len.
Jack" she again whispered, "keep
4 Wy your courage aud Pll get you out Of
4 yetp
"No,' said Jack, doggedly, 81 didn't
. ao II and won't run. Let them hang me
hey want to-"
don't want you to run, jack" she
sad Pm gong after that fellow my
sei,' 90 d-by. Keep up your courage"
hollie kissed him, and armng herself
WIN couple of revOlVers, she slipped
out unnotlced. Taking tbs path toward
lne murdered mans cabin, her rapid gait
Slon brought her to the spot where the
Vtlm had been committed. From there
sAt mad no difficulty in trailing the muir
geiers steps through the muddy path.
ou he went for couple of miles when,
uet as ner strength was beginning to fail
lei, She came 10 the rocky bluff where
Ae assassin was still crOuchng for shell
W from The storm. He started up TO fee
Z ne saw her, but Mollie's revolver COW
yea him.
Move steD further and III shootp
ue WIS entirely unarmed, having
IoWn away the bloody knife, and 50 he
q, ". forced 10 obey.
4 il going TO take you back TO the sa-
~ she continued; ego on ahead, and
member chat 1911 kin Eou If Won attpmDt