Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-07-28

key, and although the words were
uttered In sort of low whisper, 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 Downings Shaft, and
that paid us we'll, you know"
"Then we shall follow suit, boys
and they've got to have sharp eyes
If they get a trace Of them in that
hole, with ten feet Of water at least
over them, to say nothing Of the heap
of rocks and pillar Of sand"
Hes asleep, you think?"
HE was ten minutes ago, and
didn't wake. though I held the light
above his eyes,"
"Ail right then. He'll give US lit
tie trouble. I 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 so, Sam?" asked Old Shar-
key, with a chuckle.
why, you see was going by their
cabin this morning, and saw them al
work fixin' them up in regular order
and, as soon as they had gone to
| work, I went In and drew the bullets
being careful to leave everything as
I found 1t. Unless the chap has found
out the cheat, we have nothing to
fear from him, even II he wakes up
and not much at any rate, for we are
three to his one. Come, Sharkey, let's
have the job through with for we
must be back to the mines before
they are stirring, or we shall have te
give an account Of ourselves. They
mistrust US now, and II they were
all like that Mason, they would hang
us to the first tree the moment they
could lay their hands on u.s."
Every word of the above had faller
distinctly upon my ear, as strained
every nerve to listen. At the firs1
sound Of the voices I thought they
sounded familiar. and now I knew
that the men Mason had wished me
to avoid the day before were leagued
with Sharkey for murder and robbery
There was not a moment to lose, and
II would escape with my life I had
got to act.
| I placed my hand beneath the pill
low and grasped my pistols, and
moments examination In the dark
ness assured me that they had beer
trified with, as the villain had stated
But had plenty Of bullets In my
pocket, and in less time than 1t takes
to tell 1t I had thrown one into the
barrel Of the pistol held in my hand
and at that moment the door be.
tween me and my foes slowly opened
and, framed in the uncertain ligh
that cleaned through, I saw the hide
Gus face of Old Sharkey, carrying
dim light in his hand, apparently fol
the purpose of seeing. whether I was
asleep or awake. -.. .......-.
He seemed to come to the conclus'
ion that the former was the case, fol
I had concealed the pistol beneath thu
clothes, and was lying motionless, bu
with my eyes sufficiently open tt
note his every movement. Stepping
back a pace he set the light down
and swinging the door open wider
he came on tiptoe into the room, fol-
lowed by his villanous companions
The moment had come that was tt
decide my fate-a moment that
shall never forget to my dying day
so indelibly Is 1t fixed In my memory
Certainly I worked my hand from
beneath the clothes, and when Ole
Sharkey was not more than two PAGES
away I brought my hand by quici
movement on a level with his breast
and pulled the trigger. A flash anc
a report, but the villain stood un'
harmed. My hope for life had failed
| was on my feet in an instant. Lift
was sweet. and I would not give VI
a hold on 1t while my arm haf
strength. Raising 1t, I dealt the vii
lain such a blow that 1t sent hin
headlong to the earth. carrying ont
of the other scoundrels with him.
Giving a bound, I attempted t.
spring over them, hoping to forestal
the other before he should so far re-
cover from his surprise as to wreal
his will on me with the villainous
looking knife he carried; but Oit
Sharkey, recovering somewhat from
the effects Of the blow I had giveI
him, caught me by the leg, and TIT
next moment I was fioundering among
them, carrying down with me the las
man that had kept his legs, who, a.
he fell. uttered a cry Of pain. for M
had driven the knife intended for mt
into his own leg.
| At that moment, when death seem
ed so near, pinioned down by th'
murderers as I found myself, there
was a tramping Of feet in the outel
room, and the next moment a dozer
men filled the apartment, one bearing
the lamp Old Sharkey had set down
and by its light I beheld among the
number both Seth and Mason, who ir
moment had pulled me from the
heap unharmed, and I was saved.
"The first man Of you that stirs
will send a bullet through his head
exclaimed Mason, to the writhing, VII
famous mass upon the floor, as each
individual was making a desperate
effort to regain his feet, and the
threat had the effect desired.
| / told my story in a few words. af-
ter our prisoners were safely secured
beyond a chance Of their escape, not
forgetting to relate that which I had
heard of the terrible contents OF
Downing's Shaft; and when was
done, the look of stern determination
on the faces of my companions look
ed Ill for the trembling villains. who
felt that their last hours were draw
ing to a close.
From Seth and Mason I learned
that they had left the diggings as
| soon as 1t was discovered that the
two villains had also left the place
for they had no doubt that my life
was In danger, and, as events showed