Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-06-11

hcult to see at distance, but the
dawn came early, hence no provision
had been made for torches.
Five minutes before the hour the
Inight-shift boss lowered the gates in
the dam, and, as the rush from the
sluices subsidized, his men quit work
and climbed the bluff to the mess tent
The dwellings of the Midas, as has al
ready been explained, sat back from
the creek at distance of city block,
the workings being thus partially hid
den under the brow Of the steep bank.
| 1t is customary to Ieave watch
man in the pit during the noon and
midnight hours, not only to see that
strangers preserve neutral attitude,
but also to watch tie waste-gates and
water supply. The night man of the
Midas has been warned of his respon-
sibility, and knowing that much gold
lay in his keeping was disposed 20
gaze on the curious-minded with the
sourness of suspicion. Therefore, as
man leading a pack-horse approach
ed out of the gloom of the creek-trail,
his eyes were on him from the
moment he appeared The road
wound around along the gravel Of
the bars and passed in proximity TO
the fumes. However, the wayfarer
paid no attention to them, and the
Waterman detected an explanatory
weakness in his slow gait
Some prospector getting in from a
trip he thought.
! The stranger stopped, scratched a
match, and, as he undertook to light
his pipe, the observer caught the ma.
hogany shine of negro's face. The
match sputtered out and then came
impatient blasphemy as he searched
for another
"Evenin', sab! You-all oblige me
with match?" He addressed the
watcher on the bank above, and, win
out waiting a reply, began to climb up
ward.
No smoker on the trail will deny the
luxury of light to the most humble,
so as the negro gained his level the
man reached forth to accommodate
him Without warning, the black man
leaped forward with the ferocity Of an
animal and struck the other fearful
blow. The Waterman sank with a
faint, startled cry, and the African
| dragged him out of sight over the
brow of the bank, where he rapidly
tied him hand and foot, stuff1ng a gag
into his mouth. At the same moment
two other figures rounded the bend
below and approached. They were
mounted and leading third saddle
horse, as we'll as other pack-animals.
Reaching the workings they dismount-
ed. Then began a strange procedure,
for one man clambered upon the
sluices and, with pick, ripped out
the rifles. This was matter of only
a few seconds; then, selling shovel,
he transferred the concentrates which
lay in the bottom of the boxes into
canvas sacks which his companion
held. AS each bag was filled, it was
tied and dumped into the cut. They
treated but four boxes in this way,
leaving the lower two-thirds Of the
flume untouched, for Anvil Creek gold
is coarse and the heart of the clean
| up lies where it is thrown in Gath
ering the sacks together, they dashed
them upon the pack-animals, then
mounted the second string Of sluices
and began as before. Throughout it
all they worked with feverish haste
and in unbroken silence, every mo-
ment flashing quick glances at the
figure Of the lookout who stood on the
crest above; half dimmed in the shad-
ow of a willow clump. Judging from
their rapidity and sureness, they were
expert miners.
From the tent came the voices of
the night shift at table, and the fain1
rattle of dishes, while the canvas
walls glowed from the lights within
like great fire-f1ies hidden in the grass.
The foreman, finished his meal, ap-
peared at the door of the mess tent,
and, pausing to accustom his eyes to
the gloom, peered perfunctorily to-
wards the. creek. The Waterman de-
tached himself from the shadow, NOV
ing out into plain sight, and the boss
turned back. The two men below
were now working on the sluices
which lay close under the bank and
were hidden from the tent.
McNamara's description Of Anvil
Creeks riches had fired Helen Chester
with the desire to witness cleanup,
SO they had ridden out from town in
time for supper at the claim. she had
not known whittier he led her only IN
derstanding that provision for her en-
tertainment would be made with the
superintendent wife. Upon recogniz-
ing the Midas, she had endeavored to
question him as to why her friends mad
been dispossessed, and he had answer
ed, as it seemed, straight and true.
The ground was in dispute, he said
another man claimed it--and while
the litigation pended he was in charge
for the court, to see that neither party
received injury. He spoke adroitly,
and it satisfied her to have the prop
osition resolved into such simplicity.
She mad come prepared to spend the
night and witness the early morning
operation, SO the receiver made the
most of his opportunity. He showed
her over the workings, explaining the
many things that we're strange to her.
Not only was he in himself fascinat-
ing figure to any woman, but where
ever he went men regarded nim de-
ferentially, and nothing effects a wo-
mans judgement more promptly than
this obvious sign of power. He spent
the evening with her, talking of his
early days and the things he had done
In the West, his story matching the