Year: 1872

up alone, saying the doctor would be up
in short time with Crump and Neale,two
of the minsrs. Receiving the signal in
about ten minutes again, three men had
stepped out with their cloaks drawn about
them. Crump had spoken to one of the
three-a fellow named White. The third
did not speak--it might have been Dr.
Herndon--they could not swear, they
had taken it for granted, he was,as Neale
was known to have passed the night in
the pit. Crump and White had walked
off together. The third man hadbeen
seen hurriedly to ovsrtake Crouch, who
had been whistling a tune some ten
yards off, in the opposite direction, aud
these two had walked of together. The
next morning about daylight, Crouch had
come to the pit,sayine he must 60 down
at once, as he had message of import
ance for Mike Jones. Crouch had gone
down, remained about fifteen minutes, ,as
near as they could guess, and returned
At twelve o'clock in the day on the 9th
of March, there had been an accident in
the pit, an explosion by which three
men-Crump, White and Mike Jones
had been killed, and six others severely
wounded. DR.. Herndon had not been
down that day, and they sent up for him
in great haste. Mrs. Crew, the old DO.
mestic who had kept the doctors house,
returned word that the doctor had not
been at home since four o'clock on the
preceding evening, and that she had been
sitting up all night expecting him to
come i'll. A messenger was sent to the
hotel, and over the village, but the doc
tor was not to te found.


DR.. Finch n neighhoritg surgeon was
called in. The wounded men had crawl
ed to the opening of the shaft, and
were taken out When the mine could
at last be explored, the charred remains
Of two bodies, identified as those of
Crump and White were discovered, and
given to their friends for interment.-
The third that of Mike Jones who was
also missing, was supposed to have been
entirely Consumed There was much
speculation as to where Herndon could
have gone SO late in the night--the men
grumbling, meantime at being compelled
to have SO inexperienced 6 doctor as
Finch. They presumed he had sudden
ly and whimsically taken the train for
Richmond that passed the mines at one
o'clock, and would return in the even
ing. One, two, three days went by, and
still Herndon was absent. The mana
gers knowing the case to be an unpre-
cedented one, sent to Richmond to in
quire of his whereabouts. His sister
had neither seen nor heard of him. The
citizens began to be alarmed. Crouch
was questioned as the last person seen
in bis company. He stated that Hern-
don had left the pit with White and
Crump, when they had walked array to-
gether, and Hern1on and he had gone
up the hill together. On their way,
Herndon had told him that he could let
him, Crouch, have the money, which he
had refused him earlier in the evening,
as he Herndon had altered his plans
considerably, since going in the pit, and
if he would 60 with him in his office he
would count it out to him. Crouch
stated that he followed the doctor into
his Office on one side Of his yard, and
that Herndon then paid him the money
as agreed, and when he was about to
take leave, Herndon had told him that
he was suddenly determined to make a
visit of few days, and would ask of
him, Crouch, as particular favor, that
he would 60 by light before any of the
daily hands entered the pit, and take q
message to Mike Jones. Crouch prom
ished him TO do SO, and bade him good,
night The message had been this


"TeH Nike Jones If he loses sight of a
single direction Of mine until he sees me
Ggdin he IS a dead man."


Crouch had expressed some surprise
at the nature and urgency of the mess
age, and had demurred, but Herndon
was intensely earnest, and looking much
disturbed otherwise, he, Crouch, had
given his word, and departed. He re-
turned home, slept, perhaps two hours,
and seeing that it was day when he
awoke, got up and dressed to go to the
mine, aud deliver the message. He was
so i'll on coming back that he went to
bed again, AMI did not get up for two
days. Did not know whether Herndon
was going up or down the road, and
had not heard him say where he was to
stop, Could not tell what Herndon's
business had been with such man as
Mike Jones-a fellow of no very good
repute-at the hour of the night stated.
Herndon had net told him, and he,
Crouch. did not like to seem inqusitive.


Matters had remained thus, as the
public received the doubtful version,
until Herndon's body acaS found IN the
pits.


"Who had gone down with him?


He had never been seen since the
windlass men had lowered him in the
mine. Crump and White. the only men
who could have certified to his erer
having come out, were dead. The third
man might have been-the men declared
that he did look like Mike Jones him
self.


Who had certainly come up pjthoM
him?


Who had been investing some Of the
very notes that had been paid out to
Herndon on the last evening he had
been heard to refuse the loan Of them 7


Tom CROUCH.


"Let me see that ball, Finch said
Ned Kean eagerly, as the doctor at
length extracted one from the dead
mans breast Ned took it in his hand
and examined it closely. Then he has
tily drew double barreled pistol from
his pocket, and extracted the single
load that remained in it. "These are
very uncommon balls for pistol" he
continued. II don't think many of you
have ever seen the like before; and ]
think there can he no doubt that the
two are from the same source. The
pistol is mine. l loaded the two barrels
on the 9th of March. On the evening
of that day Tom Crouch came to my
room, aud seeing the pistol seemed to
admire it very much, and asked The
loan of it for few days, as he was
fearin1 difficulty with some one and |