The Russellville Democrat., 1889-08-29
IKE SAMSON.
How the vagabond of Rockrif5
 Was Disposed of.

The little mining camp of Rock rift up in the RattaI guleh, was never particularly noted for it's 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 carousalssand fights, and the occasional and semi-occasioual shooting serape- IL 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, 8 tall, raw-boned, leathery- 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 moro the appearance Of hazel-bash patch 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 some where over the range; and from that day he had remained there, not be- cause he had any reason for staying. but because it was easier 10 stay than it was to move on, and because he had so far had no incentive to move on Old Ike was a man who never did any thing without an incentive, and the only incentive that ever influenced him to move was an urgent notice from his neighbors. He was the vagaeond of Rcckrift.
 IL was well along toward the latter part oi June when one morning the miners went down toward the lower end Of RaitAl gnlch to cOllect the gold dust that had accumulated from The washings of the day before. But what was their surprise and indignation when they arrived st the digEiugs 10 find that the sluiee-boxes had been robbed during the night. CT course, this discovery created no little excite ment in the camp. and. of course, every one knew. before 8 word had been spoken. what would b. the fate Of the offender fl he was ever caught
 Ia those days and in those places man might kill another. and if he had 8 shadow of provocatiOn for the sCi he would not be nolested, buJ if he went so far as to rob sluice-box or engage in any theft whatever. he brought down on his hes6 the severest penalty of pioneer justice and was promptly hung 10 the nearest tree
 For some time the RockrifJ miners were st loss 10 con jecture who the offender could be, but finally some one made The discovery that old Ike was absent from camp. and suggested that he might be the criminal
 That's jes' who il is. boys, said Brandy Smith. after he had mentally aises1ed the suggestion for faA min uie. ss the same time energeiically munching his quid ot tobacco its ole Ike. an nobody else
 Il Ain't so shone uv that Sam Sloan replied. thogghEfully, raspiug his grizzly jaw with his hnger-asils- ''iJ moui a-heen Ike, and it mount
 Wal, who else is it ef it aia't him?" Brandy asked Who else could it be- That's what l waut ter know.
 Wal. G fer that" Sam replied. ''ii'ud be party doEgoaed hara ter tell ! know ] hain't 10 ice who it iS~
 "Don'fii pear right smart like es et lse is 'h0Gt ther only felleg that oou.1 G-done is;~ Brandy asked
 Wal. Ssm admitted. ''I low pear Rnoes do seem right smart agin Ike. Ter sarsin- Still. somehow. I soTtar icol lize meb5y it wsrn't him
 However much sam doubted The gull, ot old Ike, yet it was apparent thas Brandy Smith vas settled sn his mind on thai point, and that nothing short ot positive evidence would inaueuoe him to believe in Ike's innocence; and it was further sppa-- ent that the miners all held to old Brandy opinioo.
 Wal, it seems % be settled that o.5 Ike Ecg the dust. " some one remarked. '-sn' now the question iS what's goin "a de done abo1I its
 Nuthin', ! recACn." Brandy replied. fer they hsin'y HoiAju' we kin do The 5ust's gone, an ose ISs's coaa an that's the eec5 Dv it, oa.ess he comes back. an h that case low we know whafol6 be to do
 Reckon we know what'ud he oar business in sech CT ease. one cf them answered. -'oar i' haia't hardly likely ss ole ISe'N ever strike RatlaN gGich sEin Guess he thinks too much uv 'is hide fer thAL
 The miners resumed their wcrk and nothing more was sad o3 old Ike aad the robbery. sl0oe every one felt oer- tain that be wGs gone for good. ard that Rattau gultA and Roczrlti esmp would never aEaiu be Srsce6 hy his appearance.
 IL was late ia the evening. and the mea had oatea their sappsrs and were snjoyinz a smoke outside tho cabins. when from awal down tAe glleA faoee aasi~a sF aa as hgea as.