Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-09-13
CHAPTER XIX.

" much like those at Hang
mans Gulch, except that
they were rather more extensive and
branched out more into the tributary
ravines. The men working there We're,
many of them, of a much better type
than those we had seen In town,
though even here was large element
of rough looking, wild, reckless Gus
toners. We wandered about here and
there, our hands in our pockets. vast
leisure filling our souls. With some OF
the more pleasant appearing miners
we conversed. They told us that the
diggings were rich, good ounce a
day" diggings. We saw good many
cradles in use. 1t was easy to tell the
old timers from the riffraff Of newcom-
ers. A great many Of the latter seemed
to lack the steadiness Of purpose char
acteristic Of nearly all the first rush.
They worked haphazardly. spasmod-
ically, pulling and hauling against each
other. Some should not have been
working at all, for their eyes we're
sunken in their heads from illness.
We've got to hustle now" they told
us. I'VE can take good rest when
the rains stop work asl.ss~a..
l.. We noticed especially a marked
change In demeanor among some OF
the groups. In the early part OF the
summer every man answered every
man good naturally, except he hap
pened to have a next days head or
some other sort of personal crouch.
Now many compact little groups OF
men worked quite apart When adj
dressed they merely scowled or looked
sullen, evidently quite unwilling to fra
ternize with the chance conner.
We sauntered along peering into the
various buildings. The saloons were
here more elaborate than at hang
mans, the gambling places larger and
with some slight attempt ut San Fran
cisco splendor-that Is to say, there
were large gilt framed mirrors on the
walls, nude pictures and in some cases
q stage for musical performers one
of the three stores was devoted entire
" to clothing and notions" to us a
new departure in specialization. We
We're sadly in need of garments, so we
entered and were ut once met by a
vefs oily, suaye specimen of the chosen
people. When we had Escaped from
this robbers den we looked at each
gt1er Lii huMorous dismay. "7n"S'
"Giad Yank don't need clothes, any.
way" said Johnny.
We were. it will be remembered, out
OF provisions, so we entered also one
Of the general stores to lay In small
supply. The proprietor proved to be
an old friend, Jones. the storekeeper
at Hangmans.
(which said Johnny shrewdly, us
a sad commentary on the decline of
the diggings at Hangman's.'
Jones was evidently prosperous and
doing business on Il much larger scale
than Mt the old place. for in his com.
modious building We're quantities OF
goods displayed and many barrels and
boxes still unopened. lie did not rec
ognize us, Of course, and we had TO
await the completion of tale he was
telling group perched on the counters
and on the boxes.
We turned into the entrance OF the
hotel, to find ourselves in the well re-
membered long, low room wherein we
had spent the evening few months
before. It was now furnished with a
bar, the tlimsy partitions had been
knocked out. and evidently additions
had been constructed beyond the yarl'
GUS closed doors.
The man behind the bar looked
vaguely familiar to me- but could not
place him. -.
"Where's the proprietor OF this
placer I asked him.
He indicated short, blowsy, trucu'
lent looking individual who was at the
moment staring out the window.
"There used to be an Italian be-
gan.
The barkeeper uttered short bark
ing laugh as he turned to attend to
customer.
"He found the climate bad for his
heart and sold out" said he.
On the wall opposite was posted O
number of printed and written hand
bills. We stopped idly to examine
them. They had in general to 90 witt
lost property, stolen horses and re
wards for the apprehension of various
individuals. One struck us i'll partlc
ular. It was issued by citizens com
mittee of San Francisco and announced
general reward for the capture o.
any member of the ..srrounds.'
Looks as If they : Got tired OF thai
gang down there Johnny observed
..They were ruling the roost when We
left. DO you know, saw one OF those
fellows this afternoon-perhaps yot
remember him-a man with a queer
sort of blue scar over one cheekbone
l swear 1 saw him in San Francisco
There's our chance to make some mon
ey. jim"
The proprietor Of the hotel turned Il
look at Johnny curiously. and severa
Of the loafers drinking at the ba
glanced in the direction Of his clea
young voice. We went on reading ant
enjoying the notices, some of which
were very quaint. Suddenly the doc
burst open to admit big man follow
ed closely by a motley rabble. TIT
leader was red faced, burly. whisk
cred individual, with red beard ant
matted hair. AS he turned l saw
star shaped blue scar above his cheek
bone.
where's the blamed cur that is go