The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-02-06

ne Stops ueTc IO-niBhO dO bWeiNc, oH MS way
to the back country. Jack knowsall about
it, and you can certainly manage every
thing before my return tomorrow night.
You will all be busy on the big thing /
have worked up for you at Benicia. Jack
will attend to everything about the ranch
here in my absence. When you hear Of
the result of my present mission to Stockton,
l know you will not question my motives"
"No," muttered Jack, in an undertone,
''for by that time you will be so far away
that you would not hear them if they do"
Abbott, although he perceived with
alarm that the grumblers were daily in
creasing in number and boldness, had thus
far maintained his power over them by the
uniform success of his schemes of villainy,
and his present little speech was hailed
with considerable applause. After bidding
them goodnight he quilted the house and
proceeded rapidly down the road for the
five-mile walk to San Francisco.
The twilight was rapidly deepening into
darkness when Abbott was once more on
the road from San Francisco to the robbers
ranch. Reaching the door he found it
locked, but at his knock it was speedily
opened by Jack, in another moment Abbott
and Jack were in the dimly-lighted and de-
serted interior Jack had been doing little
else but drink during his masters absence
"Well, Captain George, what's the
news? ?'
Everything going smoothly, Jack, l
have worked up the thing nicely. The
Uncle Sam quits the wharf at ten to-
morrow, sooner than I expected, but I sup
pose you are ready?"
"You may bet your life on that, captain
shan't feel easy until see the blue wa
ters between us and the shore.'
! "But how about the jeweler?"
"The job was done as clean as a whistle!
! He came along at midnight. Between you
and me it was the neatest job we have ever
done-two thousand dollars in dust, besides
casket of gems y
"Good ~ exclaimed Abbott; "How did
the boys act?"
"Prime! Bill white had little row, but
otherwise there was no trouble. Here are
the stones. | suppose they are worth a
pile"
Jack opened strong box and produced
a metal casket highly polished, with the
key attached.
"Superbn' exclaimed Abbott, turning
over the contents, which consisted of rings,
pins and necklaces, and other combinations
of precious stones and metals. "Why,
Jack, they are worth a cool ten thousand
at least"
Suddenly he paused. His hand shook
A paleness more deathly than its accus.
toned hue overspread his countenance.
"Was this ring in the casket?" he ex.
claimed, holding up an elegant chased golo
ring in the form of serpent with ruby
eyes.
"No," replied the other; Z" that was ta
ken from the finger"
"Stranger' muttered Abbott, speaking
to himself in an absent way, but still white
and trembling.
"But after all, it may have been stolen.
Then, after thinking deeply for few mo
ments "Jackp exclaimed he, suddenly
81 must see the face of the jeweler."
"See it You are crazyr' cried tn,
other. "The old man is planted"
"Where ?'
"At the foot of the big oak, over ther
in the timber"
"Jack, / must see his face y
"Don't be foolr'
81 am not one. Humor me this once
like good fellow. Bring lantern an,
tools. We will have plenty Of time to re
turn and pack up. Quick, now ~
The man muttered something about tn
unreasonabeness Of the thing, but never
theless got the requisite implements an
then passed out of the house, followed b
Abbott. When they came to the foot G
the large oak, that stood out grandly in th
} spare forest, and looked far over the sand
tract they had just travelled, Jack sat dow
the lantern, and fell to work with the picl
; The ground was loose, but it was mingle
: with fragments offlinty rock, and the wor
was so hard that the perspiration fe
, from his brow in streams. At length, wit
: assistance of the spade, a considerable o,
, cavation was effected. The man sprang il
to it. With many curse helifted n darl
heavy object partially above the surface
Then leaping out of the pit, he grasped tn
lantern. Abbott had been waiting quietly
i out his breast was tke theatre of a TRACED
of alternating hope and despair. He stal
= gered back as the bright rays of the lal