Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1885-04-16
SUMMARY JUSTICE.

Pans wers rapidly emptied, and
disappointment or Joy shone in the
faces Of the owners as The fad wa,
larger or smaller than their expecta.
tions.
Three montha before Roaring Greek
had spanked in the sunshine, dashina
its clear waters over untold wealth
and the tiny CLEANS cfgold had re-.
fiected the sunlight for ages, secure
from the grasping hand Of man.
But one lucky day a prospecting
miner, had discovered the place, claims
were staked off, and the quiet vale
became busy camp, while the creel,
swept it's muddy waters suddenly
away, and eager fingers found the hid
den wealth.
One day there came slowly UP the
valley thin-fAced, solemn man, who
located claim upon the outskirts oil
the camp--a poor, despised place,
where, as Bill scriggins said, "a fell
low might shake the par week and
not find pennys worth of dust.
But the man was quiet enough, and
minded his own business, apparently,
so they let him alone, and he was
known throughout the camp as 1.-THE
Parson.
As the days passed each miners
face 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 a .nic. A
robber was at work in their midst |
The parson was the first loser.
One morning, as they had just begun
work, he came rushing down the hill,
his thin face showed more excitement
than they had ever seen before, and
waving excitedly an empty canvas
bag. They showed him a miners
sympathy-substan sympathy, al
ways found in the gold minss--and,
as he went slowly back up the hill,
Jim Haines remarked, jokingly:
Shouldn't won |ses he had more
dust than be los. ,nss, reckon
he needs it, tboS Ter II
But that was mol e last robbery.
In less than wkaSlai 'siJ. '<.,s:.y
miner had lost his treasured store.
Even Jim Haines, who owned great,
yellow bulldog, and boasted that no
one could rob him, came down to the
claim one morning With woful face
and an empty canvas bag.
After talking matters over awhile,
he and Bill Scriggins shouldsred their
tools and went slowly up the bed of
the creek on prospecting tour leay-
ing Scott, the great, yellow bulldog,
to guard their camp. When they were
well out Of hearing, jim said, cauti-
ously:
what dye think ! fecthed ys up
here fer, Bili2"
"Ter look for dust, l reckon, re-
piled Bill.
mot by long chalk. I've spotted
the robber,' said jim, triumphantly,
as he laughed at his comrades aston
ished face.
go long You hain'tnow2" ejacu-
lated Bill.
ayes, hey, though. Did ye ever
see this trinket afors? r"
And be placed in Bills hand q
gold shirt-button Of peculiar pattern.
"Whewl"
Bill gave a prolonged whistle.
did ye ever see it afore r repeat
ed Jim.
"Yes, l hev," he answered, as he
turned it over and over, and gave Jim
a knowing wink.
Where p demanded his comrade.
ain the parsons shirt.front," he
That's bout the size Of IL, pard.
an the parson's the thief | found
this ere trinkst side ofIny dust bag, +
and Jim slapped the Others shoulder
emphatically. 'Itsall plain es the
nose on yer face, an now we must
trap him, Not word ter the rest q
en- till we fpd ont aartin, u
Here's nv hand. DID bpyl Kba
with ye thar, said Bill, Sc be extend
ed horny hand for The shake thas
sealed the bargain.
That was two days before the open
ing Of my story. The night before
the camp had been told every circulEE
stance, for the Person guilt was PROV
en-, and Jim had begged them to keep
at work ss usual until be and Bill
could bring the rcbbef to them for
judgment, that bis suspicious might
not be aroused.
Since then neither Bill nor Jim nor
the parson had been seen, and !
strange spirit Of unrest brooded oydF
the camp--a premonition Of coming
evil, Of something they knew not
what.
The sun rose higher. It's Qoldeh
beams falling lower and lower along
the mountain side, until Pyramid Peak
pyramid Of glorious light
and the valleys shadows crspt away
High up on its rocky shelf the Devils
Pulpit" hung above them over thf
dizzy abyss, clearly defined against
the black mouth Of the cave behind
it. For years it had overhung thb
yawning chasm, and the strongest
nerves would tremble at a glance
from it's narrow foobhoId
Suddenly there came q loud report;
a tiny wreath Of smoke was sect
against the black mouth Of The cavs
a wild, deep barking ives heard, ana
a dark form shot headIoDg from The