Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1895-01-11
MiscellanenMs.
LONE GULCII.

A dark, tempestuous night, the wind
bowling and the rain beating so furious
ly against the windows as to ALMOST
drown the voices of those within the
rough cabin of Jack Moore at Lone
Gulch. They were talking in low tones,
though the procaution was quite unne-
cessary on account of the noise made by
the tempest without, but dark as was
the night, still darker deed was con
templated by the two men lowering over
the dying embers, and it was meet that
they should discuss it with bated breath.
They had been out in the storm, and
were drenched to the akin when they
came in ut dark so they still fingered
over the decayng fire that had been kin
died to dry their clothing, unconscious
of the fact that as they unfolded their
diabolical plot an unsupported listner
drank in every word, while lip and check
blanch at the thought of their contcm-
plated crime.
There had been dissatisfaction among
the miners at Lone Gulch for months -
The pay was often kept back. wages had
been lowered, and unnecessary cruelty
from some of the CROSSES" had rendered
part of the miners desperate. The huge
coal mine seemed like cavern of death
to them, and the growls of dissatisfac-
ton grew louder and more frequent
The pay was in arrears, and by some
unknown process of reasoning Jack
Moore and his companion, Dick Jones,
had resolved to wreak vengeance by rob-
bling the express train the next night. -
That the undertaking was attended with
danger to themselves did not cause either
Of them to hesitate, for they were both
Of that reckless class to whom spice of
danger makes plan more attractive /;
asd beside they calculated that no one
would ever discover the hand they had
in the wreck
"Not word to your wife, mind. This
job must not be known to any one or we
shall swing for it," said Dick Jones, as
he prepared to mount the ladder to the
loft.
Meantime, in the little bedroom ad-
joining lay the involuntary listener who,
though shaking with fear and apprchcn-
sion, resolved to Illustrate their evil de-
signs. Poor Katie Rose. Her lot had
been sad one, though no more so than
that of thousands of the very poor Her
father, brave Ned Rose, hearing the
rose. coored tales Of American life, had
left his comfortable home in bonny Scot
land and with bis wife and ten year old
Katie had sailed for I'll Dorado, finding,
like poor old Ponce de Leon, grave
instead Fever had broken out aboard
ship; sweet Mary Rose was one of its
first victims, and all the light and joy
went out of Ned's life when her frail
form sank from sight beneath the waters
Of the blue Atlantic.
Almost mechanically he made bis way
to the mines His old friend, Jack
Moore, welcomed him to his cabin, and
Mrs. Moore was kind in her way to this
motherless little girl. Ned only lived
two weeks, and did not discover that the
Jack Moore of to-day was far different
from the friend Of his boyhood, and ut
terly unfit to care for his child. SO be
passed away in happy ignorance.
Katie had been with the Moores over
year, and had partly regained her for
mer cheerfulness but their ways were
80 different from those to which she had
been accustomed that her heart was sad
and lonely. Mrs. NJ GORE was cross and
rough, and Jack frightened the child
when he cursed and swore about the
cabin but for all that they gave her a
portion Of their scaDty fare willingly,
and made her welcome, and so her loyal
heart was now torn with contendiug
emotions She knew if the men discoy-
cred that she had learned their secret her
life would not be worth rush. for Dick
Jones was several degrees lower in the
scale Of morality than Moore she could
or or would not denounee them, even il
she had the opportunity. and thus be til,
means Of sending the father Of the Moor,
children to Jail.
She thought long and earnestly, and