Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-09-05
BY REX E. BEACH.

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 leave a Waterman
In the pit during the noon and midnight
hours, not only to see that strangers
preserve neutral attitude, but also to
watch the waste gates and water sup
ply. The night man of the Midas had
been warned Of his responsibility and,
knowing that much gold lay in his
keeping, was disposed to gaze on the
curious minded with the sourness of
suspicion. Therefore, as a man lead
ing packhorse approached out of the
gloom of the creek trail, his eyes were
on him from the moment he appeared.
The road wound along the gravel of
the bars and passed in proximity to
the fumes. However, the wayfarer paid
no attention to them, and the watch.
man detected an explanatory weari-
ness in his slow gait.
Some prospector getting in from a
trip" he thought
The stranger stopped, scratched q
match, and as he undertook to light
his pipe, the observer caught the ma
hogany shine of negroes face. The
match sputtered out and then came i'm
patient blasphemy as he searched for
another.
sEvenin, sab! You-all oblige me with
a match" He addressed the watcher
On the bank above and, without wait
ing reply, began to climb upward.
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 a 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, stuffing 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 well as other pack animals.
Reaching the workings, they dismount-
ed. Then began a strange procedure,
, for one man clambered upon the
sluices and, with a pick, ripped out
the rifles. This was a matter of only
a few seconds; then, selling Shovel
be transferred the concentrates which
lay in the bottom of the boxes into
canvas sacks which his companion
held AS each bag was filed 1t was
tied and dumped into the cut. They
treated but four boxes in this way,
leaving the lower two-thirds of the
fume untouched, for Anvil creek gold
is coarse and the heart of the clean
up lies where it is thrown in. Gather
ing the sacks together, they lashed
them upon the pack animals then
mounted the second string of sluices
and began as before. Throughout it
all they worked with feyerish haste
and in unbroken silence, every mo-
ment flashing quick glances at the fig
ure of the lookout who stood on the
crest above, half dimmed in the shad-
ow of a willow clump. Judging by
their rapidly and sureness, they were
expert miners
From the tent came the voices of the
night shift at table and the faint rattle
of dishes, while the canvas walls glow
ed from the lights within like great
irefies hidden in the grass. The fore
man, finishing his meal, appeared at
the door of the mess tent and, pausing
to accustom his eyes to the gloom,
peered perfunctorily toward the creek.
The watchman detached himself from
the shadow, moving 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 thus hidden from the
tent
McNamara's description Of Anvil
creeks riches had fired Helen Chester
with the desire to witness a cleanup,
so they had ridden out from town in
time for supper at the claim. She had
AQL huOW1 WAAtACI 44C sou ANAS oA@iJ
understanding that provision for her
entertainment would be made with
the superintendent wife. Upon rec
ognizing the Midas she had endeavor-
ed to question him as to why her
friends had been dispossessed, and he
had answered, 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 re-
ceiyed injury. He spoke adroitly, and
1t satisfied her to have the proposition
resolved into such simplicity.
she had come prepared to spend the
night and witness the early morning
operation, SO the receiver made the
most of bis opportunity. He showed