The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-02-16

ed to me his account of nis business was
very satisfactory. sorter film the bill
ali round-no mistake thar, y Ec sus-
gested with malicious irony. 81 like
man that's outspoken.'
'I understand him very we'll, !" sale
Briggs quietly.
ssIn course you cid Only when
you've settled in your mind whether he
was describin horse stealin or tract dis
tributing mebbe you'll let me know .
It would seem, however, that Briggs
did net interrogatc the stranger again
regarding it, nor did we, who were
quito content to leave matters in bis
hancs. Enough that 1.lr. Bulger moved
into the empty cabin tie next day, and
with the AID Of few old boxes from
the grocery which he quickly extempo
rized Into tables and chairs, and the
purchase Of some necessary cooking
utensils soon made himself at home.
The rest of the camp, now thoroughly
aroused, made point CT leaving their
work in the bitches whenever they could
to stroll carelessly around Bulger's tene-
ment in the vague hope Of satisfying
curiosity that had become tormenting.
But they could not find that he was do
ing anything Of a suspicious character
except perhaps from the fact that it
was not outwardly suspicious. which I
grieve to say did rot lull them to secu-
rity. He seemed to be either fixing up
his cabin or smoking in his doorway.
On the second day he checked this
itinerant curiosity by taking the ini-
tiative himself and quietly walking
from claim to claim and from cabin to
cabin with pacific, but by 10 means
satisfying, interest. The shadow of his
tall figure carrying his inseparable gun.
which had not yet apparently stood
IN the corner, - falling upon an exca-
waited bank beside the delving miners
gave them sense Of uneasiuess they
could not explain. A few characteristic,
yells Of boisterous hilarity from their
noontide gathering under cottonwood
somehow ceased when Mr.. Bulger was
seen grave]y approaching, and his
casual stopping before a poker party i'll
the gulch actually caused enc OF the
most reckless gamblers to weakly recede
from ga bluI' and allow his adversary
to sweep tee board. After this it was
felt that matters were becoming serious.
There was no subsequent patrolling Ct
the camp before the strangers cabin.
Their curiosity was singularly abated.
A general feeling of repulsion kept
within bends partly by the absence CT
any overt act from Buiger and partly
by an inconsistent oyerconsciousness OF
his shotgun, took its place, but an un
expected occurrence revived it.
One evening as the usual social circle
was drawn around Mosby's stove, the
hazy silence was broken by the familiar
sounds of pistol shots and series OF
more familiar shrieks and yells from
the rocky hill road. The men quickly
recognized the voices Of their old friends
the roisterers and gamblers from Saw
yers Dam; they as quickly recognized
the returning shouts here and there
from their new companions who were
returning them. I grieve to say that in
spite Of their previous attitude Of ref
ormation smile of gratifed expectan-
cy lit up the faces CT the younger mem
bers, and even the older ores glanced
obviously at Briggs. Mosby made no
attempt to conceal a sigh OF relief as he
carefully laid out an extra supply o.
glasses in his bar. Suddenly tie en-
coming yells ceased, the wild gailop o.
hoofs slackened into trot and finally
halted, and even the responsive shouts
of the camp stopped also. Veal looked
vacantly at each other. Mcsby leaped
over his counter and went to the door.
Briggs followed with tie rest OF Us.
The night was dark and it was few
minutes before we could distinguish {.
struggling, vague, bat silent procession
moving through the moist, heavy cir Oh
the hill But to o0r surprise it was
moving away from us-absoiutely leav-
ing the camp! We were still staring il
expectancy when out Of the darkness
slowly emerged a figure which we rec
ognized az once as Captain Jim-one Of
the most reckless members Of our camp.
Pushing US. back into the grocery he en-
tered without word, closed the door
behind him and threw himself vacantly
into chair. We at once pressed arcund
him. He looked up at US dazedly, drew
a long breath and said slowly:
'It's no use, gentlemen; somethin's g
got to be done with that Bulger, and
mighty quick
WHATS the matter?" we asked eager
ly.
Matter" he repeated. passing his
hand across bis forehead, matter? Look
you! You all heard them boys from
Sawyers Dam comm over the hill? You
heard their music-mebte you heard Us
join in the chorus? Well, on they come,
waltzin down the Lill like old times,
and we waitin for 'em. Then, jest as
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