The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1874-09-17

that be resolved 70 Waict them and try 20
5ud oul their business. So closing the
door after him, Be walkal into The next
room with some noise, nd then tip-tocd
silently back sad lisioted The stran.
ger. were evidently hungry, for by the
sounds be heard be judged they were ma
king short work Of the repast. Present
By be heard q murmug Of conversation,
hut DE could not catch word Of t. He
pat down bis bead and crowded his ear
as far as he could into lhe angle formed
by The door aud the casing, and could be
believe ity The word Jewels was plainly
spoken by one OF item and be heard
something about money and he was quite
snrc the word hidden vas also used, It
was Impossible to tell 10 WHIST connection
+ the words were spoken, but he bad GER
lsiuly heard them, sweet significant
words as they were.to. him, The old man
was electrified Guesses aud suspicious
of the nature OF the business that bad
brought these men here flashed upon him
aud hints Of the true Interpretation 10. be
given at some remarkable aud puzzling
dreams that had lately troubled bis slum-
bers ou the bench were not wanting in
/ that moment lie continued to listen in.
+ teutiy, but he heard nothing more OF this
nature, and hearing a noise within that in
] dicatod the rising of his guests, he hur-
ried away 10 avoid discovery.
One Of the men came out and request.
ed him to come into the room with them
for a moment. lie complied and the
dooI was promptly shut behind them.
Pretty good provcnder this for hungry
men after all, Uncle Jacob, said one OF
themen leaning over the table, with his
bat ia his hand. Take that.
lie threw down a coin Oh the table, and
/ il rang most mnsically in Johnson's ears.
Ringt yes, aud glitlered, too. lie
suatched it up, and found it a fve dollar
gold piece,
No mistake, my jolly old cove, said the
man, observing the landlords look OF
surprise. Keep it all; wen show you q
way to get more, If you will give us d
little help. say, and he spoke quite
low, aud bent his head nearer; have you
got any such thing as a spade about here
Uncle Jacob?
p a spadel The words thrilled through
Johnson Mower like charge Of electrici
. ty. He was certain now what were tho
objects OF bis guests.
Yes, he answered, with a grumbing
voice and an unwilling manner; but
don't lend it, because I've only got one
G and
! Oh, bother that interrupted the maj
I impatiently. DO you see this?
a lie held up gold eagle to the old MAJ
= and the latter looked at it wistfully.
+ Now propose to buy your spade, ant
$ give you that for it.
2 1t is bargain cried Mower. II
bring it right in.
Don't hurry; take it cool, said the 9th
1 er, throwing him the coin. This ain
:. all, Can you make mum, old fellow
c and not blab? mean when it's mad
8 an object for you to hold your tongue.
= Yes, yes, yes, cried Mower, trembling
y all over with excitement,
C Well-don't get nervous; ! haven
C told you anything yet, and shan't te
l. YOU much. Here's all we want of you
= never to tell ybody that we've bee
d here. We're going to quit you in tw
II minntes, and you are not to follow vi
e or watch where we go, You may hav
d strange men about here in day or two
/, trying to find out If we've been hert
You don't know us, mind You nevC
Is saw any such chaps as they'll tell you OF
r. you're sure there's been no such cove
If here all summer. That's your cue, n
d member. Now that's easy enough; ca
y you make twenty dollars any easier?
+ III do ii, I'll do i'll Mower exclaime
ie with alacrity. III be as secret as II
grave!
"A Youll tell nobody.
No, not a soul; on my honor, no.
D. The shining double eagle that the ma
held lcmptingIy forth IN bis fingers WI
IA transferred TO tie pocket of Mower, All
re the three went out of the house. ri
spade wa. produced and with a partir
q, injunction to the host to remember h
= promise, the guests plunged into Il
Il darkness. The old man could not 81
ID them, but he distinctly heard the
e. climbing the fence on the further side
ht the road
ID They're bound for Norman's Woods,
Of know it! be chuckled; aud without
moments hesitation he stcalthiIy folio,
.r, cd.
es Guided by the faint sound Of tn,
feet IN advance, he skuIked along sto
IL, ping whenever the cessation Of the soui
ga indicated that they had paused to see
they were followed, The way led aero
- a wide meadow to a thick wood, al
Il. when Mower heard The cracking
8g leaves under their feet a. they enter
% the wood, he took extraordinary preca
x. lIoa- against discovery. lie lay doy
II Dat uu the ground aud worked hims
paiHiuIly along, serpeut-wise, still gui
be ca bg the sound. uBtil they had peneti
- ted SOME distance into the wood, VIII
lic they paused There was subdu
~. flicker of light, which instantly disl
he pgared: aud satisfied lhat they had rcat
eh ed tie scene 0f tbeir projected operation
-- ihe watcher worked himself forward {
is t.l &c was uog more than rod e