The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-09-18
Written for the wosKINsSASs Advocate.
BIRDS OF PREY
OR
FOR LOVE AND GOLD.
BN WELDON j.. COBB, JR.
CHAPTER NNNNlI.
THE BURGLAR
rHE BURGLAR

Upon returning 70 the camp and town of
Placer Valley, our adventurers found it
the scene of 10 little excitement A grand
exhibition was III course of preparation, a
travelling circus having been prevailed upon
III the hopes uf reapIug a golden harvest,
10 visit the place In the excitement so
prevalent. the miners escaped that curious
inquiry which would have usually been
awarded their mysterious departures and
return, aud at once repaired to their tents.
They found their little cabins undis-
turbed and while two Of the party watched
lest their operations should be noticed, the
others drew close the tent covers, and then
lifting the barrel which served as a table,
they dug hole under it. aud secreted the
gold they had accumulated IN the ground,
covering It over with dirt and placing the
barrel again over 1t.
They knew that the mixed population
Of the town had more than one black bird
whose scent for gold Was too sharp and
unerring to exhibit their treasure pub
licly.
50 they Joined in the general commo-
ton, saw the circus visited the town, and
returned To- their tent w"arIed and sleepy,
soon sinking into peaceful and calm slum-
her
So protracted had been their tramp and
50 irregular their sleep that they slept
profoundly, and only Raymond, whose
mluG had been distracted by thoughts Of
Eveline Bertun ever since he had fodnd
the gold, rrstlrssly tossed from side to
side in his sleep, early IN the morning,
partially awake and lying with half-closed
eyes on his rude bed.
In this semi-cumatose condition he be-
came conscious Of the fact that there was
some person in the room other than the
legitimate occupants thereof. His percep-
tions sharpened as he saw in the moonlight
which flooded the tent from a ventiiator or
piece Of canvas left open at the top, form
stealing towards the barrel.
There could be no mistake-it was no
optical delusIon. The man, whoever he
vas, was no bungler, for silently he
reached the side Of the barrel, and noise
lessy lifted it few feet to one side. Then
STOPPING, he examined the ground closely.
Raymond watched him closely. Unfor
tunately he had left his knife, revolver
and gun Oh the other side Of the room.
He had an impulse to call and awaken his
companions, bu; he saw he glitter of re-
vover in the burglars belt, and concluded
to watch and await developments.
Whatever the designs Of the man might
have been, however, they were abruptly
interrupted by the discharge Of a re
volver In some way the mans pistol,
which had evidently been ready to fire,
went OFF in soIse inexphcable manner, and
iii a moment later every occupant Of the
tent were on the alert
Rapid as was possible, the burglar was
on his feet, and had reached the outer air
ana disappeared from sight
This little episode placed the men upon
the alert Whoever the man was, he had
evidently watched them, and surmised
where they had hidden the gold, and had
endeavored to obtain it. with the result as
mas been seen.
They held a consultation upon the fol
lowing morning. The old claim they had
worked it was resolved to 7Jandon, and
with the gold, repair to Sydney, there to
divide their treasure, and then each 60
their own way. A horse was procured,
they piled their traps upon him, and set
out for the nearest town from which the
Sydney stages ran.
So, week later they reached Eastvllle.