The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-01-21

The Wdtchmdn sank iotth a faint cry.
ceremony that friends of the frontier
are wont to observe. admitting the at
tenuated, tipping. dome crowned fig
ure of Slapjack Simms. and Dextry fell
upon MIN with the hunger OF wolf.
1t was midnight. and over the dark
walls Of the valley peered multitude
OF stars. while away on the southern
horizon there glowed n subdued efful-
gence as though from hidden fires be
meath the Gold Gods caldron or as
though the phosphorescence OF Boring
had spread upward into the skies. Al
though each night grew longer. 1t was
not yet necessary to light the men nj
work In the cuts. There were perhaps
two hours In which it was difficult 20
see at q 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
slulces subsidized his men quit work
and climbed the blum to the mess tent
The dwellings of the Midas. as has al
ready been explained. sat back from
the creek at a distance of a city block.
the workings being thus partially hid
den under the brow Of the steep bank.
1t is customary TO leave n Waterman
in the pit during the noon and midnight
hours, not only 10 see that strangers
preserve a 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 10 gaze on the
curious minded with the sourness OF
suspicion. Therefore. as a man lead
ing a 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
tho 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" lie thought.
The stranger stopped. scratched n
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 i'm
patient blasphemy as he searched for
another.
"Evenin'. sab! You-all oblige me with
q match?" He addressed the watcher
on the bank above and, without wait.
ing a 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, stufiing a gag
hto his mouth. At the same moment
two other figures rounded the bend
below and approached. They were
mounted and leading a third saddle
horse as well as other pack animals.
Reaching the workings, they dismount-
ed. Then began strange procedure.
for one man clambered upon the
sluices and, with pick. ripped out
the rifles. This was matter OF only
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 1t was
tied and dumped into, the cut. They
treated but four boxes In this way,
leaving the lower two-thirds Of the
fiume untouched. for Anvil creek gold
is coarse and the heart of the clean
up lies where II is thrown II I. Gather
ing the sacks together. thy dashed
them upon the pack animals, then