Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1888-09-01
SILVER CAMP.
HY GEORGE E. WALSH.

EY GEORGE E. WALSH.
The grim, silent miners took up their
work each morning where they had left
it the night before, ana stubbornly
swung pick and spade through all sorts
OF weather from m rning until night,
even though the return for their work
often amounted to less than half a dollar
day. At night time they smoked their
pipes with asmuch satisfaction as though
they were the owners of unlimited
wealth. Over aud above the discouraSing
fact that they were faring poorly, every
miner had vague. indefinite feeling
that his streak Of i'll luck would pass
away in time and PALMER days would
come.
When the millennium for Silver Camp
did come it was first announced by II
stranger. A beardle>s miner had entered
the Camp one bright SIay day, and, after
purchasing supposed to- b. worked out
mine for n mere song, he set rcsolutely to
work, repairing the damages done to the
mine by the last owner, and then making
preparations to go on with fur
Their excavations. The older Inhabitants
of the place shrugged their shoulders at
the innocence of the ''young 'un," but
no word of advice was spoken to him,
except the laconic remark of one Of the
miners. who one day met the stranger Oh
his way to his hut: eye don't find
much dust thar, dye young 'un' Tain't
likely that you will, nuther."
About two weeks after the strangers
advent, the first excitement for years
was created by the announcement that
gold had been struck The news ran
from mine to mine like wild-hrc, aud
in half an hour all the men were sur
rounding the lucky finder 1t was the
youthful looking, beardess stranger,
who stood in the centre of the group,
and explained how he had made the
lucky stroke. \ few doubted the gen
uineness OF the gold at first, but several
nuggets were handed to them to exam
inc the stranger ssbboTiRGr ol lid value,
which caused more than one grizzly
miner to smile pityingly at the flushed,
handsome face OF the owner Of the gold.
''It's the real stuff" muttered one
burly, red fannelcd Individual, slowly
weighing the nugg is in his hand. "An'
ye can depend on it, stranger, thar's
plenty more where this cum from. These
yellow nuggets never go alone.n
can tibet mine O ycrs ought ter be
wurth anywhere from fifty ter one
hundred thousand, clean cash. inter-
posed second representative of Silver
Camp.
'NVhat? Fifty thousand dollars?" OK
claimed the beardless youth. his eyes
showing his surprise rs much as his
words. "Then all my misery and wait
ing are rewarded ut last. Thank Cod
But it is too good news to believe.
Where can get half that price for it,
who would give me thirty thousand dol
lars for it?''
The stranger looked around upon the
group of faces about HIM, and seemed to
wait for an answer.
sNvell, stranger" remarked the first
speaker, after a little pause, 81 don't
want ter take advantage of yer ignor-
ance. 'Tain,t my natter ter be adoin'
SIGH undetermined work But if thirty
thousand dollar is yer price, Ireckon my
pard an me will buy tibet claim of ye.
i'll tell We beforehand, though, tibet sc
can get double tibet price ef yc wait long
enough; but cf cash is any oh cct ter sc.
We can hev it term ght in rs good gold rs
tibet we've dug out of Yer mine. tf it's
60 jes' say the word, an we'll walk up
ter the cabin, an settle it aGore night
fall.
The face of the stranger still wore IL
doubtful expression but it soon cleared
up, as he turned 20 the bidder for his
gold mine, and said:
''Men, don't know much about these
matters, for have never followed the
business for any length of time; but this
gentleman's olTcr is fair one, and |
think will take it. came here to
make a fortune so that | could marry
could go into business in the East"
The face Of the stranger flushed up
quickly, as he unwittingly revealed his
secret, and knowing LOOK passed acros;
the countenanccs OF the miners. One or
two whispers could be heard about Ga
sweetheart in the case. y "a rich father
in-law, an Il poor son-in-law. > Although
not intended to react the cars OF the
spea er, these remarks were plainly audi
BILE, and they merely served TO confuse
the young man more than ever. But IL
moment later he recovered himself, and,
turning to the miner who had offered to
buy his claim, he said:
''i will accept your offer. ! need the
cash, and want 10 start for the East as
soon as possible Keep out enough from
the thirty thousand to pay you for your
best horse. / eau then start for home at
once, where such % welcome will meet ms
as you men never dream OF.
All that evening the "new fud' was
discussed by @;oaps OF mea all over the
camp, and there were many hopeful
hearts among the crowds. The streak
of i'll luck was now about 10 pass away,
and no one could Tell who would be the
next one to make lucky stroke. The
stranger had already deserted the camp
for parts unknown, taking with him the
blessings and good wishes Of those whom
he left behind, and Bill Saunders and
Jake Whites, the two purchasers OF the
mine were now the centres of curiosity.
To the oft-repeated query "How does
it pan out, pards" they always replied:
"Furst rate. Even bctter'n 'spected.
For the next two days small golden
nuggets were found in the strangers
mine, and the two grimy miners were
convinced that their bargain had been
good one Then, they suddenly ceased
Ir " signs OF the golden meta.
49, ) the vein had taken another
course, and they charged the direction
IF their excavations but all to no nur-
pose The farther they dug into the
sides of the mine, the less of the pre-
cious substance they seemed to find