'Fell down a mine shaft, she did, poor 'ooman,' he told me. "Tain't difficult. The cliffs is littered with old shafts. They found her at the bottom. Her head was stove in and she had her dog layin' aside of 'er. They say as 'ow she went down after the dog. But there's others thinks different,' he added darkly.
'What was her name?' I asked.
'Er name? What was 'er name, Garge?' he asked the landlord.
'Harriet, if I remember rightly.'
'Ar, that were it — Harriet Manack. She was a widow woman from Penzance. They say it was she brought 'im 'is interest in Wheal Garth.'
'When did this happen?' I asked.
'It'd be nine or ten years ago,' he replied.
'Was he married before?'
The old man shook his head. 'Not to my recollection.' I felt relieved. I didn't want to go digging up the past.
I finished my beer. 'Which road do I take for Manack's place?' I asked the landlord.