The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1907-12-15

The srotchman sank NTH a faint crv.
ceremony that friends of the frontie
are wont to observe, admitting the
tenuated, Tapping. dome crowned a
ure of Slapjack Simms. and Dextry fel.
upon him with the hunger of a wolf.
= =
II was midnight. and over the dark
wallis Of the valley peered multitude
Of stars, while away ON the southern
horizon there glowed subdued efful-
gence as though from hidden fires be-
meath the Gold Gods eaidron or as
though the phosphorescence OF Bering
had spread upward into the skies. Al
though each night grew longer, it was
not yet necessary to light the men at
work in the cuts. There We're perhaps
two hours in which it was difficult to
see at a distance. but the dawn came
early; hence no provision had been
made for torches.
Five minutes before the hour the
night shift boss lowered the gates in
the dam, and as the rush from the
IA
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 q distance OF a 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 hrt aieo -
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 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 a
match, and as he undertook to light
his pipe, the observer caught the ma
hogany shine of a negro's face Tho
match sputtered out and then came inn
patient blasphemy as he searched for
another
.Evenfn'. sab! You-all oblige me with
q natch?" He addressed the watcher
N haA hnTN I1f,x -.
ing reply. began to climb upward
No smoker ON the trail will deny the
luxury of light to the most hunable,
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 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 elambered upon the
sluices and, with pick, ripped out
the rifles. This was a matter of only
q few seconds; then, Selling a 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
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 dashed
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 uEbroken 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 willow ciulnp- Judging by
their rapiaity 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
zfirefiies hidden in the grass The fore
man. finishing his meal. appeared at
sthe door of the mess tent and, pausing
to accustom his eyes TO the gloom,
peered perfunctorily toward the creek.
The Waterman detached himself from
the shadow, moving out into plain
sight, and the boss turned back. The
two men below were now working on
the sluiees which lay close under the
hank and were thus hidden from the
tent. - M -.
(continued Next sunday.3