Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-07-28
Che Story Teller.
OLD SH HARKEY.
A Story of the Gold Mines.

"A otOfy vi tho UViu "ih0o'
when are you going to town with
YOUR dust. Smith," asked a tall, un-
| shaven miner. as he looked into our
cabin one day, when / and my part
ner, Seth Wiley, were at dinner we
knew the mans name to be Mason /;
and since our coming to the mines
scarce four weeks before, he had shown
us a deal Of kindness, for the WORK
was new to us, and 1t was partly ow-
ing to his friendly suggestions that we
had been so lucky in finding the golden
dust In our claim, until we had quite
heap of the shining ore, and thought
It about time to convey 1t to place
of greater safety than In our cabin, In
the heart of a great mining district.
Tomorrow, IL the day Is good" was
my answer: and then added. won't
you come in and take a mouthful with
us?"'
'I don't care IL I do" he replied, In
rather an unnecessarily loud tone OF
voice.
AS he stepped through the doorway
[ got a glimpse of a couple Of fellows
short distance off, who had paused
apparently attracted by our CONVERSE
ton: but evidently they had heard our
friend accept our invitation, and
thinking they would hear no more
slowly moved on. They were looked
upon by the whole community Of min
ers with distrust, as but a small por-
ton Of their time was spent at work;
and such a class are always at dis
count In a community such as ours,
where everybody is expected to earn
their own bread by the sweat OF their
brow.
Take a seat" said, moving lit
lie one side, so there would be room
Tor him on the bench on which I sat
mo, I thank you: I am in a hurry
and cannot stop but moment. Ion
ly stepped in to ask you when you
were going, and to give those chaps
out there a hint to move on, as
thought perhaps 1t might be- just as
we'll that they did not hear what pass
ed between us. And so you go tomor-
row."
YES" 6 a
"One, or both?"
"Tm going alone; Seth Is to stay
and see that nobody infringes on us
here"
But why not send your dust, as
spoke of the other day."
Because I have got other business
that takes me to town. and so can car
ry 1t just as we'll as not and save the
charges they make to ensure Its safe
ty."
Mason was silent a moment, while
slipped my coffe, and waited for him
to speak, If he had further to say
What time do you set out?" he ask
ed, at length, looking up.
mot before noon, as shall have
plenty of time then to reach Old Shar-
keys before dark"
do you know him."
mo; l have never seen him. His
cabin was deserted when we came by
but some one pointed 1t out as a sort
of halfway house, where the miners
stopped over night when coming and
going from the mines. There seemed
to have been quite extensive diggings
about there at one time, but they are
deserted now, I believe"
"Yes, they were deserted more thar
year ago, and no one has undertaken
to work them since: but this OLD
Sharkey-and rightly named he is, too
in my belief-has lived there. keeping
sort of halfway house, or tavern
but Of late there have been stories cur
rent about him that render people
mistrustfm. Within the last six
months, four miners. at least, who sci
out for town with their dust. with the
Intention 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 Shar-
key could let In light on their disap-
pearance, If he was so minded. Some
two months ago peoples suspicious
were so aroused that a search was In
stituted on his premises; but nothing
was found that would implicate him
not so much gold as he would be APT
to have had had he done everything
square with the world. But there Is
chance enough for him to secure II
near at hand, as we'll as to dispose OF
his victims. providing he has any; for
the shafts are deep about him. and
partly filled with earth and water, and
once sunk in there all trace Of them
would be lost: but, as I have said be-
fore, as yet this Is all surmise. as
nothing has been proved against him;
but I would not care to be his guest
If he had reason to think I 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 no
ton Of dissolving partnership with
you so soon, or to run the risk Of los
Ing my share of the dust" said Seth
when Mason had concluded.
l must own that this story had In a
measure impressed me with doubt as
to the honesty of Old Sharkey; still, ]
did not like the notion of backing out,
or Of letting my companions see that
their words had had any effect to
dampen my courage. Rumor said that
Sharkey lived alone, and what had
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 trus-
ty pistols that I had never known to
fail me. The more l 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, I should try the hospitality
of Old Sharkey, as 1 had intended.
Finding that this story had no effect
on my determination. Mason bade us
good day and went to his work, and
our meal being concluded. we soon
followed his example.