Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-06-27


lans," he hissed meaningly.
''My God! Why did you follow me,
when for Elsie's sake l had at last de-
cided to be man again?" poor Dol
lans appealed helplessly.
'Ah! see; you wouldn't have me
tell the miners here that Sam Dollans
helped run a valuable pair OF
horses out of Missouri into the Indian
Territory. You know how the min
ers hate thief. You'd soon make
bacon for the buzzards. Iguess you'll
conclude to let me share your claim
on my own terms, Sam
"You might have spared me for my
child's sake"
Il will-for share of your gold.
Your secrets safe"
No little excitement stirred the
rough souls of Thunderbolt Canon
when Sam Dollans' wonderful discov-
cry was made known.
But the surprise and wonder oc-
casioned by 1.-The find" were less, if
possible, than those created by the
fact that Sau had suddenly and with
out any reasonable explanation. left
Ben Haworth's tent and had shared
his claim with an unpre possessing
stranger.
"Blame him" said Shorty Murphy
grittlng his teeth. 'lf Dollans had
been white, he'd shared with Ben.
after he took him in an started him
on his feet, Std O. sharin' with thet
stranger cuss from Beauty Camp.
Thar's a screw loose between them
chaps. Like as not they've been
pards before in some deyilment.
They will bear watchin', reckon"
Several OF the citizens down in
Thunderbolt Canon shared Shorty
Murphy's views of the sudden and
strange partnership Even cool Ben
Haworth had his suspicious that
something was wrong.
A week later, after much consider
alton Of the question, party, headed
by Murphy and Haworth. was formed
to go up the canon to Sam Dollans'
claim and try TO investigate the mys-
terry OF that peculiar partnership
AS they approached the tent up the
canon, Ben HawOrth, who was In ad
vance Of the Others, came to an alb
rupt halt.
shorty" he called in a quick tone
to Murphy, ''there's something wrong
here"
That's wot I've been a-tellIn' you
galoots all along" he replied, as he
paused by Ben's side.
'Lookm and Ben pointed toward
the still, prostrate form of man. ly-
ing in the bright moonlight before
the door OF the tent.
fastening forward they were soon
bending over the fallen man. They
were not long in identifying him.
1t was Sam DOllans and he lay in a
llfeless condition, a severe cut on his
head.
A little stream ran near the claim,
and after applying liberal quantities
of water, the miners were glad to
note some manifestations OF recovery.
When Dollans had revived sutfi-
ciently, Ben Haworjh supported him
in his strong arms, while he talked
1T was because l said l was going
down to tell Ben tonight, that Stef-
fen struck me, then escaped with all
the gold" Dollans began feebly.
II felt mean and hated myself for
the power which JEFF Steffen held
over me-" he went on. ben is the
first man who has expressed any faith
in me since-l went wrong. When
ever / thought of this, | knew Ben
ought to be the one to share my luck,
and not Steffen. But was a coward.
Steffen knew of my one dark act, and
10
miners. | knew you had no love for
me and would drive ME away from
my flrd, if he told. So for my little
ElSie's sake, l accepted his terms.
But had no peace with Steffen, and
I decided to go down to Ben's tent
tonight and tell him all.
ELEVEN years ago / was a happy
man living in Missouri But a chain
of bad luck fell to my lot My wife
died, leaving me and my little Elsie
alone; then mortgage took my farm,
and everything was being swept away
from me. In an evil hour l listened
to bad man, a noted horse thief, W no
offered me a large bribe to help him
run of a valuable span Of horses. l
fought a good while with my con-
science before yieldei, but | must
have money to make home for my
Elsie. So took the bribe, but l was
captured and lodged in jail, while my
chief got away. One night, how
ever, he returned, and aided me to
make my escape. l dared not re,
main in my old neighborhood, and
finding that my sister had come from
Kansas while | was in Jail, and had
taken Elsie away with her, l came
out here AMI have tried to bury the
past in the rough mining camps
"Stiffen, who was dissipated bar
tender in saloon back in Missouri,
knew me there, and some evil genius
led him to this part of the Rockies.
IIe was in the c'non whom 7 made nv
end, and demanded a share IN M
claim. l was too cowardly to refuse
his terms, much as l hated to accede
to them. And now he has given me
my death blow, and taken the gold
which have been saving for Elsie.
If Stiffen hadn't dogged my steps,
Ike the villain he is, l might have
redeemed myself yet Thank you,
Ben, for"
But DOllaDs did not finish his SEN
tence. His recital had taxed hi:
strength too much. He fell back in
in Ben's arms, white and lifeless
PITY ther pore ole chap couldn't
picked himself up agin, fer his leetle
gals sake" remarked Shorty "But
sich is life out hyer mid the Rockies.
Ben, you an Slim Dave stay hyer an
look after Dollans. Me an ther other
BOYS will git rope an foller up thet
blamed ours trail"
About 10 O'Clock the next morning
Shorty Murphy and his band returned
to Thunderbolt Canon. They lugged
back heavy sack with them, but
certain stout rope which had accom-.
panied them the'preceding night was
conspicuously missing.