Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1900-10-11
ON THE GOLD FIELDS.
BY Frank a

A4OWo5 LIN "o >~OR
enough on the goldfelds in those gor-
geous days when every rascal who
could crawl, walk, or run was akin
his way as fast as his legs could carry
him to the wonderful Tom Tiddler's
ground at BallaraL
But all the same, II came as a shock
to most of us when the word went
round at breakfast Tune, one fine morn
ing, hat Johnny Morgan had been
found lying curlee Up in his claim,
with a smile on his face and a shot
wound in his back that would haV
held an average mans fist.
Everybody who knew him liked john
ny Morgan, for although, being a
Welshman, be was a hot tempered sort
of chap, he was not the sort OF man
to make enemies. Certainly, he was
always as ready to fight as he was to
sing. And his fighting was as good
and fair as his singing, so that tina
men he fought bore him no malice;
and, although they never wanted &c
fight him again, were Away the first
to shout "encore" when he sang.
We sat and talked about poor John
ny. wondering who had killed him,
and saying what we would do to the
murderer when he was caught; for, al
though the police were on the gold
fields to keep order, they were a bit
out of favor on account of the new
mining tax. So most of US preferred
to be our own police, judges, and exc
c~utioners, and, taking it all round,
Judge Lynch was having a pretty busy
time.
There was nothing much the matter
with our justice either, although it was
certainly short, sharp, and severe.
Though, of course, accidents would
happe sometimes.
we had another shock just as we
were finishing breakfast, when the
doctor strolled in to tell us that the
murderer fad been arrested, and that
he was none other han Gentleman
Jim.
I'm afraid he's a goner,' said the
doctor, when he had ordered a CHOIR
and tea, and generally caught the ear
of. the They've found his
gun close by the spot, and it's forled
at the nipples and the muzzle, as
though it has been recently fired. Long
Harry and Dutchy have arrested him,
and they're going to bring him before
the court at ten o'clock"
The. doctor sighed as he wired into
his chop, and We sat around in re-
spectful silence waiting for him to tell
us some more.
We knew that he liked to take forty
two bites at every mouthful of fried
chop, SO We waited on him to speak
without hurrying him.
I'm sorry for Gentleman Jim" he
said at length. 4 don't think he's
the sort Of ma who would shoot a
man in his back at point blank range
besides, I don't like the man who is
going to give most of the evidence
against him"
Who's that?' we asked.
"It's that Spanish Creole chap, Lo-
PEI, 1 hin his name is replied the
5oa+or oLo11;rr ho-5 on tho foil ona
of his chop. He works the next
claim to the Golden Glory and ev-
eryone knows that there was bad
blood between him and Jim over that
pretty little girl who's father keeps
the store oveF at Boomerang. Lopez
says that he saw Gentleman Jim walk
ing over towards Morgan's claim ONE
where about two o'clock this morning,
carrying a gun. and that about a quar-
ter of an hour afterwards he heard a
shot fired in that direction. That is
the evidence, gentleman" concluded
the doctor, "and I'm afraid that having
regard to the present crude form of
law obtaining in these goldfelds, it is
about enough to hang our friend Jim
as high as 8ar1an, more especially as
every one knows he still wears the
black eye that Johnny Morgan gave
him only last week"
Few of us Knew who Hannah was, or
how high he hung, but We felt
sorry for Gentleman Jim. There had
always been a bit of a mystery about
him. Some said that he was an Eng
lish nobleman in disguise, who had run
through all his fortune and had come
out to Australia to try and find ii
again on the golddelds. Others said
that he Yves an army officer, who haG
cut away from MS regiment. At any
rate, most of us knew that he was {
gentleman, and the last man to re.
venge a licking in a fair fight by shoot.
ing a d~efensaleas man in the back.
We felt sill more sorry for hin
presently, when there came a clattel
of hoofs outside the hotel, and a cir
ran into the room, whose pretty eye
were red with crying. Most Of u
knew her, for most Of US had courteC
her and received a clip on the ear 70,
our pains. It was pretty Betty Hub
bard, the daughter oE old Hubbard
who kept the store over at Boomerang
She came straight over to the docto
and kneeled at his feet.
"He is my sweetheart, doctor, m,
we were going to be married mex
month" she cried. Save him! Fo
heavens sake, doctor, save him! The,
say you are a clever man. Wont yo,
use your c1everness to save my Jir
from hanging?"
Dul, my OSdI, WhdI can L 90 [
help him?'' asked the doctor, as n
tried to raise the girl from the foo1
But all she would answer was: "Sa
him! save him!'' and the words ran
In our ears as we tip-toed out of tn
door, leaving the doctor to settle tn
business as best he might.
It was a tall order to give a man. be
cause it was already five minutes I
nine, and giving the Court half an hot
for it's business, we reckoned that Ger
tleman Jim would be hung about ter
thirty. But we had an idea that til