Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-07-05

| DlOchS OH. DlrlnS ner absence one OF
those prowling vagabonds who frequent
that portion of the city, intent on rob-
bing the honest people of the commu-
nifty, and who was even then seeking his
prey, passed by the window of the
house. Old Huntley had lit the gas,
but neglected to draw down the blind.
The vagrant took advantage of this
omission and looked in. He started
back in amazement and well he might,
for the old man, dressed in the habili-
ments of poverty, knelt ON the floor
counting over bag of coin. Yes, there
was no deception to the thiefs eyesight
for it was gold Here was undoubt-
cdly veritable miser, unwarily display
ing his treasure to the gaze of one who,
to obtain possession of it, would not
hesitate to take his life On the first
glance at the situation, the thief had
determined on making the old cigar
maker his victim.
The old man spoke to himself.
"Bless her little soul "Tis for her 1
hoard my treasure. When / am dead
she shall not be in want. Little does
she think, or the world either, that l
have so much gold. Yes, and all mine
honestly mine. All here--yes, all,
| thank Heaven"
While this scene was passing in one
room, the poor law-student sat listlessly
meditating in the other. His book had
dropped from his hand, and his mind,
now concentrated on his individual af-
fairs, took the color of despairing
mood. He was thinking of his station
in life, his aspirations and unfruitful
efforts, and contrasting all with the
reality of his poverty y-stricken existence.
How he yearned for the great motive
power among men. His lips opened to
give utterance to one sentence:
"Oh for little gold-a little gold.
The avarice of the watching thief had
at last worked him into an uncontrolla-
ble state of excitement, and he involun-
tarily muttered:
"The old fool How the Evil One
tempts me That gold, so useless to
him, would be prize to me. 1t shall
be mine-mine p
An instant more, and he had crossed
the threshold The door creaked and
betrayed his presence.
cha who's there? cried Huntley,
not even turning his head to see, in his
eagerness to hide his gold from prying
eyes. els that you, girl? No-are ye
thieves? Away, I've nought for you to
steal. Bcgone y
The intruder took a step forward. His
victim now suddenly faced him.
Help thieves p cried Huntley.
The burly vagabond clutched him by
the throat, and in an instant the old
mans cries were stifed in sulfocation.
"Silencc, You whining old fool, or
I'll silence vou forever" he hissed.
At this moment Jack, the idiot boy,
who had climbed up to the fanlight be-
tween the two rooms, looked over at the
struggle, and his eyes dilated with ter
ror. With an impulse peculiarly idiotic
he remained silent, but reaching for his
cousins cane, and bending over the
wall, he adroitly lifted the cap from off
the thiefs head, and transferred it to
his own.
Barr started up at the first cry of
alarm from Huntley, but did not observe
the movements of the idiot.
heard cry of distress in the next
room," he said. "Thcn, again who
ever you are, you shall not call in vain
while l have the life and strength left to
aid you." And without hesitation he
passed into the hall.
The man who was assaulting Huntley
heard his approaching footsteps, and
dropped the inscnsible form of the old
man to the ground. Then he seized
part of the gold with one hand, and
grasped knife from his pocket with
the other; but dropping the knife ac-
cidentally, he did not wait to recover it.
Hastily opening the door, he placed
himself behind it just as young Barr
rushed into the room.
The student crossed the floor where
old Huntley lay, and while his back was
turned the adroit thief escaped through
the doorway, but as he did SO he could
not resist the temptation to peer back
Barr fell on his knees by Huntley's side,
and raised the prostrate mans head in
his arms.
The thief's eyes glittered with fiendish
exultation as a devilish device crossed
his mind. A moment more, and he dis
appeared in the gloom of the street.
Barr first thought was that his neigh
Dor had fallen in an apoplectic fit his
next that he had attempted suicide.
He raised the bag of coin in his hand.
The golden contents fell scattering over
the floor.
"Heavens it is gold !" he almost
shouted. "What mystery is this %
Why should he start and turn pale ?
Was this temptation? If it was, his
heart resented it.
Old Huntley groaned in his struggle