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

He removed his pipe from his lips
as / came up, and bade me good
evening, in a voice harsh and discord-
ant as were his features, and mo-
toned me to take seat on a bench
that was standing against the side of
the cabin close beside him.
Where from, stranger? he
asked, as he gave me a rapid glance
from beneath his huge eyebrows.
told him, and asked him if he
could accommodate me with the
shelter of his cabin that night.
Certainly, stranger. There ain't
much here to tempt a fellow to keep
company, but then, perhaps it's bet
ter than camping out and no telling
what sort Of company you may have
before morning."
To this l assented, though |
thought, as l noticed the leer that
accompanied it, that / could not
have any worse company than l
was favored with now.
" suppose you are hungry, so
come in and we'll see what we can
find to stow away inside and drive
out the cold. l wish we had some-
thing to drink, but just now my
cabin happens to be as dry as bone.
The old man rose from his seat at
my replying TO assent to his obser-
walton, and as l followed him into
the cabin couldn't help seeing that
his gait was about in keeping with his
face, but then, without doubt, both
were his misfortunes. He probably
could not help his looks, and one leg
seemed at least two inches shorter
than the other; and was forced to
admit that people in describing him
had done him no injustice.
The cabin was divided into two
apartments, and in the outer one,
that contained rude bed table, and
few rough benches, took a seat,
while Old Sharkey hustled around
and soon had quite a substantial sup
per placed on the table, to which
did ample justice and when the
meal was over, and my companion
was so cheerful like, almost imper-
ceptibly my distrust began to van
ish and when the time had come
for retiring, 1 had arrived at the
opinion that I had been guilty of
been unjustly accused Of the high
crimes that people laid to his charge.
How near right L was, was demon
strated before morning dawned.
1t was between nine and ten that
L expressed wish to retire, and
was shown by my host into the
other apartment, where, setting
down the light and wishing me
goodnight, he left me, going out
and closing the door behind him.
I hardly know how it was, but no
sooner was left alone, than a por-
tion of my suspicious were aroused,
and | remembered, with chagrin,
that L had intimated to my host the
nature of my errand to town, and
also that 1 had been very successful
at the mines.
The words had seemed to have es-
capped my lips against my better
Judgment, and before L was aware
that l had admitted so much. How
ever, there was no help for it, and,
striving to return to my late conclu-
sion that had nothing to fear, l
placed my pistols carefully beneath
my pillow, where / could lay my
hands on them at a moments no.
tice, and then throwing myself on
the bed, essayed to sleep.
The room was as dark as pitch,
for 1t contained no window nor door,
except that through which had en-
tered, and that Old Sharkey had
carefully closed, though not so
closely but what ray of light could
be seen at one spot as 1t flashed out
from the smouldering cinders of the
fire, and watched it until it faded
away, and l no longer heard the
footsteps of my host moving about
the apartment, and concluded he
had retired. For a few moments
longer 1 remained awake, and then
was unconscious of what was pass
ing around me.
How long I had slept know not.
1t might have been one hour, or it
might have been longer, when /
awoke with q start, and a sense as
If some great danger was impending
over me. At first hardly compre-
hended where / was, but, shaking
off my drowsiness by a strong effort,
l was at last thoroughly awake, and
a moment after heard the sound Of
voices in the outer apartment, but
did not first distinguish what was
said. l listened intently, and the
next moment / heard the voice Of
Old Sharkey, and although the words
were uttered in a sort of low whis-
per, each of them reached my ears
distinctly.
"And then you are sure he has
dust enough about him to pay us for
the job ?"
Yes, he has double the last one
we pitched into Downing's Shaft,
and that paid us well, you know"
"Then we shall follow suit, boys,
and they've got to have sharp eyes
if they get trace Of them in that
hole, with ten feet of water at least
over them, to say nothing of the
beap of rocks and pillar of sand"
He's asleep, you think ?'
He was ten minutes ago, and
didn't wake, though 1 held the
light above his eyes,"
"All right, then. He'll give us
little trouble. 1 have a notion he
will find his pistols empty when he
comes to use them on US, should he
wake up" said another voice.
How 80, Sam ?" asked Old
Sharkey, with chuckle.
Why, you see, was going by
their cabin this morning, and saw
them at work fixin' them up in regu-
lar order, and as soon az they had
gone to work l went in and drew the
bullets, being careful to leave every
thing as found it. Unless the chap