Wichita eagle., 1888-08-29

vo1cnev their youthful spryness, sac aet4ey
hurried along down the river, their eys
were as Keen and their footing as sure as
they had been when they first entered Silver
Camp, nearly twenty years before. Every
open glade and rocky elevation was quickly
searched, and then onward the party sped
toward another good place for concealment,
losing no time In following the trail Of their
victim.
The trail led directly toward Silver Camp,
and tho tops Of the huts were just visible
above the surrounding underbrush when the
form Of MAN was seen to skulk up from the
rivers bank and to enter one Of the rude
dwelling places.
'tHist, boys, hist! He's gone inter one Of
the huts. Wen have him now"
It was the voice Of Bill Saunders, and it
trembled With excitement as he uttered the
words Of caution But before they could be
| needed terrible roaring noise behind the
party startled them Faces turned white
with terror, and hearts almost ceased to
beat. The river had broken loose, and was
now overdowing its bank just above Silver
Camp.
'.Save your lives, men. We amt got no
time to waste" shouted one Ct the miners,
and, setting the example, he broke forth
from the clunp Of bushes, and started on a
dead run for tho higher land The others did
/ not hesitate long. Bill Saunders was the
last ono to turn and fee, and ho was heard
/ to mutter to himself, as he hurried
through the bushes, "He'n die anyhow. So
! it's all the Same. But would like
Come ON, Bill; como on" and Jack Wifi
| fes almost dragged the old man along to-
ward a ridge Of rocks where safety for the
time being was promised.
A few minutes later Silver Camp was
swept out Of existence by the roaring waters.
Trees, logs and powders were turnbled from
their positions, and washed along with fire.
| sistAble force. Tho huts were demolished in
| an instant, and left floating on the bosom Of
! the turbulent stream
Bill Saunders stood perched upon the
rocks looking intently at the camp, pa
| tiently waiting to see the struggling
/ form of the one who had robbed him Of
his wealth. But he looked in vain, and as the
wreck Of the village swept down stream, the
old miner left his station on the rocks, and
mechanically followed it, still keeping his
eyes rivetod on certain place. The other
miners did not miss his presence, and he ran
| through the woods alone, muttering inartic-
ulate words to himself. Once or twice he
stumbled; but, picking himself up with an
exclamation Of impotence, he hurried on
again
A mile below the river tho wrecked hutS
were washed close to the left bank Of the
stream. A living being was clinging to one
Of the logs, and, rs the floating raft came
within twenty feet Of the bank, the person
was seen to crawl rapidly across the few
planks, and with a desperate jump, sprawl
into the water within foot of the land.
Bill Saunders watched tho man until ho
scrambled up the steep bank and hid himself
in a small cave that overlooked tho river.
Then, without q 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 tho
one within had time to escape. When the
men closed in and commanded tho hider to
come forth, there was no sound to indicate
the presence Of Q person in the cave. No
one volunteered to enter the place, for such
an attempt would be a foolhardy feat
II guess he's escaped afore we got here"
muttercd one of the miners disconsolately.
'Don't blieve he was ever in here" said a
second "Bill's kinder cracked on that sub
ject ever since we met them fellers from
Steal Clearin'."
Bill Saunders heard the remark, and his
rugged old face flushed up little He
glanced at tho speaker, and then, turning to
the men, he said:
"Boys, this amt yer quarrel, an faint
right ye 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 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 body
they found the old man bending over the
PROSTATE form Of the swindler He was
dead, killed by internal injuries received in
the river. By his side was q small package
containing SO, 600 in United States gold Ger
tifcates, and pinned to his breast waS q largo
visiting card, on which was scrawled in
trembling business hand these words:
''Give this money to old Bill Saunders and
his pard. meant to pay them in full what
I took from them. But we have parted COM
pany forever now. hope luck will come
to tho miners Of Silver Camp William
Swinton, gambler, swindlr, land grabber
and gentleman of leisure"
"'Tain't bad o him wishin' US good luck"
laconically commented one of the miners.
'tNo," grinned another, pointing towards
the river. seeing that there aiu't no moro
Silver Camp"
'Still, boys, I've heerd it said, interrupted
Sandy Tip, the prophet Of the camp, 'thet
what's one mans loss is aauther mans gain.
So who knows but we whl hev better luck
arter thisf'
And they did. When the waters subsidized,
the miners returned to the old place Of their
homes, and erected another village Of huts.
Gold was found on the surface Of the ground
where tho water had washed it UP, and the
diggings yielded good profits the first day
they were worked The food had been
blessing to the men, for it brought the long
looked for luck to Silver Camp
BY the unanimous consent of the miners it
was agreed that the new village should be
christened Golden Camp, and the name of
Silver Camp gradually fell into disusa-
George Ethelbert Walsh in The Epoch.
Wages No Object.
Woman to tramp,-Cant We get any work