M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1859-08-25

On my back his garments acted just
like nettles, and during the time that
/ wore them, | was never at ease, but
continually haukered after more ras.
cality. O. .sl-.a - e- '..s
. Before quitting my old haunts in
the city llhad taken the preeautiou ia
inform myselfof the most likely plan
to make q raise of some money. A
friend gave me directions by which
could find the cabin of a man who was
well known to the surrounding. cohn-
try from the fabulous amount Of gold
dust be was supposed to be possessed
ganrblers- -tNdprevi6usly
endeayored to fleece tina man but he
had proved too wide awake for them.
Nothing daunted by this state OF
affairs, | commenced my journey, and
after several days iatiguing travel on
foot. Qor which the luxuries of city
life had entirely untitled me,) hove
in sight OF the home Of my intended
victim.
Tie external appearance Of this
house did not speak much in favor OF
the wealth Of its owner, nor was in
decd the country about it very invi.
ting; but | cheered myself with
thoughts that these were things of mi
nor importance to me. Ny business
was with the treasure which was hoar-
ded up there. The snail pace | was
travelling at brought me in due time to
the door Of this hamlet, and as it was
all closed mp, | gave a loud rap. A
grutf voice answered,
"Come in"
Il lifted the latch and pushed the
ricketty door back sufficient to allow
me TO enter, and on doing so | found
myself face to face with the man | was
looking for. | knew him at once from
the description my friend had given
mo,of him.
Taking off my hat, made an awk.
ward bow, and thus introduced my.
self: i have just arrived in these
d ggings, aud have been directed to
your house as the most likely one to
obtain Il nights lodging-They tell
me your name is Nj. Dacey, and that
you are the right sort OF a man, but
that is neither here nor there, tor I'm
nearly gone out, and | wish to camp
here.'
Stranger, demanded Dacey, where
do you hail from, and What is your
businessP
Il replied, 4 came to dig gold, but
| need a little rest first, for | have
made a long tramp Of it. You see,
two months ago left Salt Lake,
where the Mormons cleaned me out
1t is a long story, but to be honest, I'm
an emisrant from the State Of Missou-
ri. | haye.no money, but If can pay
you for q few days board by any light
work, all yoa have to do is to say the
word
well, Mr.. Emigrant, ifyou are sure
you are not yourself Mormon, and
will swear to 1t, I'll let YOU put up
with me; but mind, if you deceive INC,
III kill yon just as sartin as my name
is Bill Dacey, for I'm particularly
down Oh the Mormon tribe
Il convinced Dacey that his suspi.
cions Of my character were ground
less, and by playing the agreeable to
him, | that night drew him out. Like
most men he was vain, and by touch
ing this tender point | set him a talk.
ing while | listened or rather studied
:he man. Before bedtime my plans
were laid, and | tell asleep thinking |
lad an easy task to accomplish.
With the gay light OF the next
morning was up and making my
self generally useful about the premi,
,es. On meeting Dacey he saluted
me with the usual set phrase OF good
and then added, i see You are
no idler, and as you are very handy
with an ak, | wish you to finish the
job you are now working on and then
build me rough shed to put my horse
under in stormy weather.
For three days laborcd steadily,
ana hal nearly completed my task,
when my employer came to me and
bantered me to play game Of cards.
i replied that was ignorant Of the
art, but if he would teach me ! would,
Tor the sake Of amusement, try to
learn.
That afternoon he faithfully ende av-
1red to make me (an old gambler) un-
1erStand the game Of 'seven up but |
proved a poor scholar, and several
times he was about giving up the bu-
siness as being hopeless. However,
| managed to keep him in good hu-
NOR, and thus ended the first day OF
any undertaking.
'Dacey was now so interested in
.eachiug me the secrets of gaming,
hat the next morning he could not
'esiSt the temptation of proposing a
resh trial OF our skill.
On this occasion, seeing, as he.said.