Marshall County Republican., 1865-11-09
THE MISER'S TREASURE.


In one Of the meancst houses of tho meancst
quarter Of London, miser sat porng over a heap
of gold and gems. The only furniture the room
contained Was an old rickety chair, small deal
table, and iron pot. The miser sat in the chair
his treasure WAS spread on the table. and he
gloatng over it by farthing rush-light, the only
luxury he ever INDUCED in.
This treasure was vast in amount-much Of It
consisting OF diamonds-which now, m1ny in mum
heT and OF them OF large size, Clitercd be lore
the miser's eager eyes.
The room which the mser occupied was one OF
several in an old, rickety building, which contain
ed number OF tenants, some OF them as poor in
fact as he was in appearance. Now il happened
that about a week before the night VIC speak of, n
burglar had taken up his quarters in the adjoning
room, which was only separated from the miser's
by \ board partition, and in ono place in this par
,iiiOn there was small crack. Coming into his
room late one night. the man OF crime perceived a
faint glimmer of light and applying his eye to the
crcvice, discovered the m'ser in the act of count
ing over his treasure. He watched him eagerly
until he put il away, but could not see where he
hid it. The next day, after the old man had gone,
he entered the room with skeleton key, and
made search fer tho treasure. but did not succeed
in finding it, so carefully was it concealed. Now
bent possessing it, he returned to his own room
and neatly cut away board, low down, large
enough TO permit him to crawl through, and care
fully put back in its place, determined that the
next Tin, the old MN should count his treasure
he would be with him.
While. therefore. on the present night. the mis-
was engaged with his treasure. the burglar very
softly removed the cut board, and crcpt forward
stcalthily a cat, till he stopped just behind the
MN he had come to murder and rob-.
"Ah!' groaned the miscr at length, beginning
TO rouse from the fascination which a sight of his
treasures had thrown over him, "tliis really does
nv soul good. bat it's too expensive for rue to be
looking at By this costly light. | must say good
night to ron, my lovely gold and glorious diamonds,
and you mu 20 back into nv strong box, where,
as fast as can. l will add good. honest compsn-
ions to you; yes-ha. ha.-good, honest compan-
ions, sssuc you."
At this moment, as if his soul had suddenly re-
ccired an impression from the evil infuences how
crins over him, he started, shuddered,. and threw
his ewes quickly around. 1t was his last look -
Like tiger .prinsing upon his prey, the robbcr
cu,ched him by the throat with both hands, and
s,rangled him so quickly that he never uttered
even crv.
As soon as he was satisfied that his victim was
dead, tine robbcr lifted the BODY aud laid Ii upon
tho straw in the attitude OF natural repose
seized his il-acquired treasure, and thrust it
into different pockets, blew out the light, and
crcpt back into his own apartment and carefully
replaced the board. Then no drew long breath,
circumstances lie wa. now, by one bold, wickcd
deed, the possessor of fortune, amount so vast
that he fairly trerbed TO think about it. What
was he to do nextl how to keep and turn it to ac-
COUNT He man of crime--a convict who
had only recently returned from transportation
was we'll knosn to the detective police, was liable
to be arrested at anv moment. His best plan, he
thought, would be 20 get out OF the country
as possible and as il would be dangerous for him
TO remain where he was, even till morning, the
first thing for him to do TO leave his quarters
and 20 down and get aboard tho first vessel he
could find going directly out of England.
Day was just breaking as the murderer reached
the bank of the Thames, in the quarter ofrhc ship
ping. and he was abjectly skulking along. actually
attracting observation in his efforts to avoid it
when he was terribly startled at hearing sharE
] voice sing out:
"Hallo, FEppcr Jimmy, when did you &C
back7"
"Flipper Jimmy" rs he vas familiarity called
by his cronies, looked quickly around, and boheld
ofall others the very man who had arrested hin
prior to his transportation. Had he stopped ans
spoken to the officer, all would have been well, fo
| the latter only intended friendly hail, and to &c
him know that he&as still about, and ready to ar
rest him again, il necessary; but the murderer
with his guilty conscience and vast treasure, wal
/ too much frightened TO act with cunning, or eyel
with reason, and he at once bounded away.
"Oho." cried the officer, 'thats it, eh!" and h,
at once started after him.
There were few people astir in this quarter, ant
the two had clear run along the quav. Finding
y the officer gaining on him, and determined not Il
be captured the convict suddenly plunged head
foremost into the water, with view of passin:
under a vessel, and, either concealing himself, o
escaping on the other side. This attempt, howev
er, proved fatal for his head came in coutact witt
the sharp corner of a halfsunk anchor, and wa
split open at once.
The officer now called 10 his assistance a rough
looking man, who had evidently just reused u
from a nights sleep among some lumber, and th
two soor. had the body on the quay.
"Here's work for the coroner9' said the officer
as much thinking aloud as addressing the man VIII
hap assisted him. al know this fellow as m oil,
burglar; and probably he has some of hrs thievin
about him."
With this be thrust his hand into one of the dea
mans pockeis, and, to his utter astonshmsnt, DIRE
il forth full Of gold and diamonds, This was s
much more than he had expected to see, that fc
nearly minute he remained as II fascinated wit
the sight, staring at the jewels. turning them ove
looking through them, and really wondering
they could possibly be genuine, totally Oblivion
the while TO the presence Of the stranger. --
Meantime the latter waanot idle The momen
his eye fell upon the treasure, the expression
his dark. ugly features changed to that OF an ava
ricious fend and he at once resolved to be himse
the possessor. Glancing quickly around, and PEI
csiving no one on the quay, and only here an
there one astir on the different vessels in the v
cinity, be stepped softly back, picked up goot
sized billet Of wood, returned and beat in u
: skull Of the officer with a single blow. The .
2 was seen from = near vessel, and the CITY Of mu
i der raised; but the second man Of crime bel