The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-08-08
R0CKRIFTS VAGAB0ND.
BY THOMAS p. MoNTFoRT.

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 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 &C.
casional and semi-occasional shooting
scrapc. 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; u
mixture of the good and the bad as they
are found everywhere.
Among the characters of Rockrift was
old Ike Samson, a 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 well 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-
manned 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 influ-
enced him to move was an urgent notice
from his neighbors He was the vaga-
bond of Rockrift.
1t was well 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. BIT 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 a
man might kin another, and if he had a
shadow of provocation for the act he
would not be molested, but if he went
so far as to rob 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 conjecture 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.
"Thats jes' who it is, boys" said old
Brandy Smith, after he had mentally d.
gested the suggestion for full minute,
at the same time energetically munchine
his quid of tobacco. ''It's ole Ike, ant
nobody else"
II hain't SO shore Nv that" Sam Sloar
replied, thoughtfully, rasping his grizzl!
jaw with his finger-nails. "It mout
a-been Ike and it moutn't."
oval, who else is 1t eff it amt h1ma'
Brandy asked. "Who else could it bel
That's what l want ter know"
"Wal, es fer that" Sam replied, "it'u
be purity doggoned hard ter tell Iknow
l hain't no lice who it Is"
Don't it pear right smart like es et
Ike is bout ther only teller that could
a-done it," Brandy asked.
oval" Sam admitted, 81 low pear
ances do seem right smart agin Ike, fel
sartin. Still, somehow, I sorter feel lik'
mebby 1t warn't him.
However much Sam doubted the gull
of old Ike, yet it was apparent that Brand!
Smith was settled in his mind on tina
point, and that nothing short of positiv,
evidence would influence him to believ,
In 1ke's innocence; and it was further up
parent that the miners all held to ole
Brandy's opinion
"Wal, 1t seems to be settled that oil
Ike got the dust" some one remarked
IAN now the question Is, what's goin' t,
be done about 1tS"
"Nothin', reckon" Brandy replied
''fer they hain't nothin' we kin do. TIL
dust's gone, ar ole Ikc's gone, an that
the eend Nv it, onless he como back, an
in that case low we know what'ud b
to do"
"Reckon we know whatlud be GU
business In sech er case" one of Their
answered; "but it hain't hardly likely e
ole Ike'll ever strike Rattail Gulch agin
Guess he thinks too much Nv Us hide fe
that"
The miners resumed their work an
nothing more was said of old Ike and tn
robbery, since every one felt certain tina
he was gone for good, and that Rata
Gulch and Rockrift Camp would neve
again be graced by his appearance.
It was late in the evening, land the me
had eaten their suppers and were enjoy
ing a smoke outside the cabins, whe
from away down the gulch there fioate
up on the soft breezes the notes of rud
song. "Iisten, fellers," old Sam said.
For minute they remained perfect
silent,a and softly, almost sadly, the breezt
waited up these words:
''Oh, the old, old home left behind.
An the purity little gal that's waitin' fer me
"Doggone my hide, boys" Brand
exclaimed, ''if don't b'leeve that's Of
Ike"
at do sound some like his voice." Sal
replied; shut 1 never herd him sin
none afore as long as he's been in tn
ere camp"
'tReckon he'd as well sing while |
kin, Sam, fer if he come on up here, whic
take he's a-doin', he won't never sir
no more after to-day-leastwise, not
this yere world. Whut ye say, fellerst
"Reckon yer talkin' bout right, son
one replied, and the others nodded the
approval.
In about half an hour Ike came
sight. They knew he had been drinkir
when they heard his voice in song aw,
dczrrn the frIllch and ll cor,