Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-08-23
ROCKRIFTS VAGABOND.
BY THOMAS p. MONgFoRT.


The little mining camp of Rockrift, up
IN the Rattail Gulch, was never particu-
larly noted for its piety and morals; yet,
taking it all in all, it was a fair average
Western mining camp Of its time.
There was, of course, the usual amount
of drinking and gambling, with the
nightly carousals and fights, and the oc-
casional and semi-occasional shooting
scrape. 1t was typical in other respects ;
there were men coming and men going
every day; men making fortunes and
losing them within the same week; a
mixture of the good and the bad as they
are found everywhere.
Among the characters of Rockrift was
old Ike Samson, tall, raw-boned, leath-
cry featured man of generally neglected
appearance. If he had ever had any pride
in his personal looks, he had long since
outgrown it. His hair hung we'll down
his back, while his coarse beard had so
long run wild as to give his face more
the appearance of hazel bush than the
visage of a human being.
Old Ike had been in Rockrift from the
first. He was one of the pioneer settlers,
and had drifted from somewhere over the
range; and from that day he had re-
NAMED there, not because he had any
reason for staying, but because it was
easier to stay than it was to move on,
and because he had so far had no incen-
tive to move on. Old Ike was man who
never did anything without an incentive,
and the only incentive that ever inf1u-
enced him to move was an urgent notice
from his neighbors. He was the vaga-
bond of Rockrift.
It was we'll along toward the latter
part of June when one morning the
miners went down toward the lower end
of Rattail Gulch to collect the gold dust
that had accumulated from the washings
of the day before. But what was their
surprise and indignation when they ar
rived at the diggings to find that the
sluice boxes had been robbed during the
night. Of course this discovery created
no little excitement in the camp, and of
course every one knew, before word had
been spoken, what would be the fate of
the offender if he was ever caught.
In those days and in those places p
man might kill another, and if he b. .
shadow of provocation for the ACT he
would not be mOlested, but if he went
so far as to rob a sluice- box or engage in
any theft whatever, he brought down on
his head the severest penalty of pioneer
justice, and was promptly hung to the
nearest tree.
For some time the Rockrift miners
were at loss to con lecture who the of
fender could be, but finally some one
made the discovery that old Ike was alb
sent from camp, and suggested that he
might be the criminal.
''TShat's jes' who it is, boys" said old
Brandy Smith, after he had mentally di-
gested the suggestion for full minute,
at the same time energetically munching
his quid of tobacco ''It's ole Ike, and
nobody else"
81 haint so shore Nv that" Sam Sloan
replied, thoughtfully, rasping his grizzly
jaw with his inger-nails. at mout
a-been Ike and it moutn't."
oval, who else is it eff it amt hlm?"
Brandy asked. ''Who else could it be-
That's what want ter know"
''Wal, es fer that" Sam replied, ''it'ud
be purity doggoned hard ter tell. know
hain't no ice who it is"
"Don't it pear right smart like es eff
Ike is bout ther only teller that could
a-done it9" Brandy asked.
oval" Sam admitted, 81 low pear
ances do seem right smart agin Ike, fer
sartin. Still, somehow, sorter feel like
mebby it warn't him."
However much Sam doubted the guilt
of old likely it was apparent that Brandy
Smith was settled in his mind on that
point, and that nothing short of positive
evidence would influence him to believe
in likes innocence; and it was further ap-
parent that the miners all held to old
Brandy's opinion.
oval, it seems to be settled that old
Ike got the dust" some one remarked,
IAN now the question is, what's goin' tc
be done about it?"
''Nothin', reckon" Brandy replied,