Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1895-11-15

| -HS"ot Hoe YIN 0Olu I'LL, DuI In
several outlying camps, as we'll. Rev
enue officers shook their heads, too,
and sought to ascertain the cause of
this unaccountable slate OF things.
But only ono OF them had found what
he sought, and ho mysteriously disap-
peared, failing even to call for bis
baggage or to pay his bill at tho hotel.
And Mcssrs. Fulton, Hanks, ct AL. j.,
waxed fat and prosperous IN the midst
OF seeming adversely, yet we're ever
clrcumspcct, as behoo7es gentlemen
who defy tho laws of Government.
There were no informers in Gold Hill.
The man who gave the revenue officer
who mysteriously disappeared tho in
formation that led to the finding of
the still. WAS shot in "self-defense" by
henchman of the ring within day
or two after the officer turned I'D miss.
ing.
Several circumstances had caused
suspicion of tho man who had been
The subject OF tho afternoons sessions
III the present instance. Ie had been
III Gold Hill about two weeks, and
had hardly spoken to any one in the
camp; lie had said nothing about his
business; he took not even hummer
with him when lie walked or rode
about the country presumably pros
pccting); mud ho had been seen on
several occasions, after nishtfall This
liGht-coiored clothes were conspicu-
ous), outside the camp, talking to some
one, probably n stranger, who was us
yet unidentified, innsmuch rs the two.
had never yet been seen together by
daylight or within the limits of thY
rcGunp.
On the evening i!fttt;r tl4a conTiltn.
ton of the powers in the Merchants,
Hotel, Professor Hendrix met the
stranger, vino claimed tho namo oil
'Tcnnison, and tried, in his I'M st suavo
and diplomatic manner, to draw him
out and to learn something OF his bus
mess; but the young man. while will
ing enough TO discuss matters in ger.
crnl, became rs dumb rs an oyster
when it got to personal questions, and
displayed MI nptncss in turning the
conversation worthy of one OF twice
his years. So Hendrix tried another
tack.
'Er-Mr. Tcnnison." no began, In
his mildcst manner, ut what he con-
sldcred m opportuno moment, 81
greatly fear you think mo I'M
duly curious about your-ah or
affairs, but"
eyes, do interrupted the other,
CURLY; you're about the scventeen,..
mnn that has tried to sound me-" Ana
he bit of the end of his cigar in n
manner that bciokcned not IL little ro.
sentiment.
Hendrix was bit Disconnected !;
but, not IL bit cast down, he resumed
"Im sorry, Mr.. Tennison, but-cr
the fact is, il l must tell you, that
that there nro rumors-that is, there
nro those who affect to believe you arc
not what you pretend 10 be-"
"What have / pretended to bc?"
asked Tcnnison, shortly.
Nothing nothing" snid the pro.
lessor, i'll some haste. CHATS just the
trouble. They think you ought to"
"Atr. Hendrix, we are in free Amer
ica, are we not? Well, then, / pro.
pose to attend TO my own affairs; and
ns for these prying gossips you refer
to, have the su6iimcst contempt for
them. " Whcrcupon Mr.. Tcnnison
roso abruptly, went into the hotel,
aud retired 10 his room.
As n matter of fact, lie was through
with most OF his business ut Gold Hill !;
but he did nct proposc-cven though
he expected, before his departure, TO
discuss other matters with certain
mining men--to give the lido gossips
II chance to have any satisfaction out
of him.
Hendrix, mt IL session of the ring in
his bnck Office, reported his failure TO
extract anything from tho close
mouthod ''tendcrfoot."
"!Sce?' said Major Fulton, az
knowed how 'twould be. They haint
but one thing left T. do, as L en- see. >"
Little Ike looked at him lntcrroga-
lively. eye don't mean" ho began,
with some apprehension.
"Nothin' !" replied the major, short
~. "Jes' give this angel III run,
that's ALL"
About two o'clock in tho morning
Tennison was suddenly awakened by
repeated raps Mt his door.
who's there?" he called, sharply.
"Mc- Hanks" WINS the response, in
what the colonel intended to be n
trembling voice. "Opcn the door
IL minute"
GrumbIing ut thus having his sleep
broken, Tcnnison complied and ut
once found himself covered by half
dozen revolycrs in tho hands of
masked men. S;ensibly no threw mp
his hands and they entered tho room,
pushing tho apparently unwilling land
lord, vehcmently protesting against
what he called their brutality, before
them.
"Nhat does this mean, gentle
menu" asked Tennison, angrily. "Do
you propose to rob or murder me?-
or both?"
'S5hct up!" wns the reply, San git
intuth them clio cs an puck that there