Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-09-25

within twenty feet of the bank, the person
was seen to crawl rapidly across the few
planks, and with desperate jump, sprawl
into the water within a foot of the land
Bill Saunders watched the man until he
scrambled up the steep bank and hid himself
in small cave that overlooked the river.
Then, without word, he turned and hur-
ried back to where he had left his comrades.
The miners skulked up noiselessly to the
natural den where the young swindler was
concealed, and it was surrounded before the
one within had time TO escape When the
men closed in and commanded the hider to
| come forth, there was no sound to Indicate
the presence of person in the cave. No
one volunteered to enter the place, for such
an attempt would be a foolhardy feat.
81 guess he's escaped afore we got here"
muttered one of the miners disconsolately.
Don't b'lieve he was ever in here, said a
second. bills kinder cracked on that sub
iect ever since We met them fellers from
Steal Clearin'n
Bill Saunders heard the remark, and his
rugged old face flushed up little. He
glanced at the speaker, and then, turning to
the men, he said:
..Boys, this amt yer quarrel, an faint
right We should endanger yer lives. I'll go
inter tibet cave, an either he or nell hev ter
die. Eff he kills me, I'll leave it ter ye to
avenge an old mans death"
Before reply could be made the old miner
cooked his rifle and fearlessly walked up to
the mouth of the cave Slowly his form dis
appeared from sight, and the watchers out
side listened for the report of a rifle. But
none came
Bring light, boys It's dark in here"
With different degrees of astonishment
they heard Bills voice making this request.
When they entered the dark cave in a body
they found the Old man bending over the
PROSTATE form of the swindler. He was
dead, killed by internal injuries received il
the river. By his side was a small package
containing $4,000 in United States gold Ger
tifcates, and pinned to his breast was a large
visiting card, on which was scrawed in {
trembling business hand these words:
s.Give this money to old Bill Saunders ant
his pard meant to pay them in full wha
took from them But we have parted com
, pany forever now. l hope luck will com
, to the miners of Silver Camp. William
: Swinton, gambler, swindler, land grabbe
and gentleman of leisure"
> "'Tain't bad o him wishin' US good luck,
laconically commented one of the miners.
NO." grinned another, pointing toward
= the river, seeing that there amt no NOR
: Silver Camp"
!, "Still, boys, I've heerd it said, interrupte
= Sandy Tip, the prophet of the camp, The
;. what's one mans loss is anuther mans gail
!, So who knows but we will hev better luc
arter thisin
: And they did When the waters subsidet
y the miners returned to the old place of the
= homes, and erected another village of hut
Gold was found on the surface of the groun
!, where the water had washed it up, and IL
: diggings yielded good profits the first da
they were worked. The food had been
. blessing to the men, for it brought the ion
y looked for luck 10 Silver Camp.
By the unanimous consent of the miners
, was agreed that the new village should
:. christened Golden Camp, and the name
. Silver Camp gradually fell into diSuse.-
George Ethelbert Walsh in The Epoch.