Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-19

there, keeping sort of halfway
mouse, or tavern; but of late there
nave been stories current about him
that render people distrustful.--
Within the last six months, four
miners, at least, who set out for
town with their dust, with the in
tention of returning in a day or
TWO, have never returned, nor has
any trace of them been found; and
1t has been whispered about that
Old Sharkey could let in light on
their disappearance, if he was so
minded. Some two months ago peo-
ple's suspicious were so aroused that
a search was instituted on his prem
ises; but nothing was found that
would implicate him-not so much
gold as he would be apt to have had
had he done square with the world
But there is chance enough for him
te secure it near at had, as we'll as to
dispose of his victim, providing he
has any; for the shafts are deep
about him, and partly filed with
earth and water, and, once sunk in
there, all trace of them would be
lost; but, as / have said before, as
yet this is all surmise, as nothing has
been proved against him; but
would not care to be his guest, if he
had reason to think that l had pile
of dust about my person."
"Things do look rather dark, Fred,
and perhaps you had better take up
with our friends advice. I've no
notion of dissolving partnership
with you so soon, or to run the risk
of losing my share of the dust, :"
said Seth, when Mason had concluded.
1 must own that this story had in
measure impressed me with doubt
as to the honesty of Old Sharkey {;
still, 1 did not like the notion of
backing out, or of letting my COM
panions see that their words had had
any effect to dampen my courage
Rumor said that Sharkey lived
alone, and what had 1 to fear from
a weak, trembling old man, and
lame withal?
If my suspicious were awakened,
could keep my eyes open through
the night, and my hands on pair of
trusty pistols that had never known
to fail me. The more reflected the
higher my courage rose, and so
made reply to Seth's observation
that he would have no need to fear
either my loss or that Of his gold !;
but that, at any rate, / should try
the hospitality of Old Sharkey, as 1
had intended.
Finding that this story had no eff
feet on my determination, Mason
bade us good-day and went to his
nd h4s,
we soon followed his example.
After dinner the next day 1 set
out. The dust was carefully hid
about my person, where ii would
not be liable to excite suspicion that
/ had a large amount about me,
should any one from sinister motives
attempt to ascertain the fact. NY
pistols had been carefully cleaned and
loaded that morning by Seth and
myself before we went to work, and
knew they were in good effective
condition and with these, and keep
ing my eyes open, had no thought
but that 1 should escape any dan
gers that might beset me while on
my way.
NasOn's claim was on the outskirts
L
was pursuing led me past where he
was hard at work. He looked up,
as hailed him, from about a dozen
feet below me.
"And so you are OFF," he said.
Yes; good luck to you till my
return"
"Thank you; the same to your
self! For Gods sake keep your eyes
open. and don't forget, if anything
happens, that warned you"
"I'll not forget; but don't lose
any sleep on my account tonight"
With these halt-jesting words l
passed on, not stopping to hear
clearly the reply made by my friend
whom 1 thought over-cautious.
The sun had sank beneath the rim
Of the mountains when I reached
the deserted diggings and caught
sight of thin, blue smoke curling
upward from one Of the cabins that
were scattered about, which once
sheltered the miners, and / knew it
to mark the abode of Old Sharkey.
1t was still some distance off, and I
made my way slowly over the ground
that much resembled a mole-hill
for there were shafts and tunnels
and piles Of dirt thrown up in every
direction. Apparently, claims had
not been given up until every inch
inch of ground had been dug over,
and every hope of labor being re-
paid. AS L passed the black yawn-
ing mouths of these shafts that were
scattered on either hand, I could
hardly repress a shudder when J
thought of the story Mason had told.
Surely, If Sharkey was the villain
he had pictured him, he could not
ask for better place to deposit the
bodies of his victims than casting
them therein, where it would defy
the sharp eyes of the law to ferret
them out.
had been so brave in the face of
the warning of my friend that IL
would never do to turn coward now,
and at that moment catching sight
of man sitting just outside the
doorway of the cabin from whence
the smoke was rising, smoking his
pipe and watching my advance, 1
hurried up my steps, and in a
few minutes stood face to face with
the stranger, who from the descrip-
tion I had received, knew could be
none other than Old Sharkey him
self.
People who had described him as
ill-favored had not done him injus-
tice; from the first glance thought
I had never seen a more repulsive
countenance in my life. His eyes