The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-04-16
HOW 1 BECAME RICH.
A California story .

About seven miles southwest of the
middle Fork of Bowlder Creek was a
farmhouse that went by the name of
Bloom Fallow. An exceedingly retired
man, surmised to be an Englishman,
named Kent, lived there in great seclu-
SION with his single servant, an old man,
who owned-and that was all you could
get him to own to-the name of Jerry.
AS to when Kent came there, or who he
was before he came there, or how he
made a hving-there being no appear
ance OF farming or stock-raising going
on-nObody knew. Happening myself,
however, to become possessed somewhat
s1ngularly of certain interesting particu-
lars on the subject, I viii lay them before
you, and leave you to form your own
conclusions.
had been gold-seeking in that vicin-
ity for several days with Indifferent sue
cess, when one evening, finding myself
near this house, which had never seen
before, and much preferring a roof over
my head if I could have it, I walked up
to the door and knocked, determined to
ask permission to spread my blankets on
the floor for the night. I heard a voice
within direct ''Jerry" to open the door.
Then it was opened, and 1 was admitted
by the old man. Iproffered my request :;
but he bent his ear as If he did not under
stand. I repeated it in a louder tone,
when man whom I had not before OBJ
served, crouching over a low fire, with
out turning, answered me in the affirma-
tive.
I entered, spread my blankets, took a
bag containing gold dust from my pack,
and placed it under my pillow, and then
began eating few biscuits which I had
with me for supper, when a slight noise
against the thin partition at my elbow
made ma f1,Y11 Yav hno6 Ia9,1x- %J,a4
direction. There was knot-hole about
two feet from the ground, and looking
through it was an eve as red as a game
cocks. A moment more, and it was
gone. / heard the subdueds sound of
retreating footsteps, and a door gently
closed.
A little while after, old Jerry came in
from out doors, and sat down by the fire
without speaking. ventrred a few re-
marks, hoping to start conversation,
but receiving no reply, gave up the at
tempt, and rolling myself in my blanket,
endeavored to go to sleep. There was
some singularity in the conduct of my
hosts, I thought !; but then was used to
singular people, and as for fear, so long
as my two pistols were in order, did
not know what 1t was. / troubled my
self but little with these or any other re-
dections, however, and was soon worship
ing the " drowsy god. -
How long slept, / do not know. Ny
next recolections are of a state of half
consciousness, in which seemed to be
struggling violently to wake, without the
power to do so j; as if some indetinable
but imminent danger were near me-that
/ should perish if I slept. Suddenly I
awoke. think it was the sound of gal
1oping steps of a horse approaching the
dwelling that caused me to regain my
= a.
noise which first struck upon my ears as
/ opened my eyes. But did not devote
much time to reflection, I can assure
you for as I did SO, the first object I
saw was the figure of old Jerry bending
over me, while the moonlight, which
slanted through the single broken pane,
glittered upon the white steel blade of q
huge bowie-knife, which he held uplifted
in the act of striking. I must own that
I considered my life gone, for there was
not even time for me to cock a pistol :;
but luckily, while the villain had not
seen me wake, the noise outside suddenly
called off his attention.
The delay was renewal of life to me-
and fatal to him. In an instant more. I
had covered him with pistol in an
other, flash, report, cloud of smoke,
and he fell dead, shot through the brain.
Almost simultaneously I heard the
horse stop at the door. Some one dis
mounted, and tried to force the door, It
was immovable. Next heard efforts at
the door In the rear, communicating with
the partitioned apartment I have made
reference to. At last, I heard it give
way; and some one whose tread I fancied
was too light for a mans, entered.
There was breathless silence for mo-
ment, during which the steed's restless
champing of his bit outside seemed
painful contrast. Then I heard singu-
1arly sweet voice, which, however con-
Trajectory it may appear, had yet with it
tone of intense ferocity, uttering the
following with slightly Spanish accent:
William Kent, you are In this house.
You cannot escape by the other door, for
have tied 1t with my inSSO. You cam
not pass this, for / guard it. / know
that you are hearing me; I know that
you recognize my voice. am Juanita
You entered my fathers house, and re-
ceived his hospitality. You cruelty muir
dered him-you and your villainous com
patriot You fled with your booty. You
thought you were safe; but you were
mistaken. I have followed you six nun
dred miles; I have been on your trail for
three years. I have found You At last.
VIII the bloodhound forego to rend his
preY2 Do You think will lose my re-
yenge now7 just heavens N9fl"
AS she concluded, there wasa rush, as
If some one had made for fhe door;
sudden shrek, struggle, 4 sickenilg
swish, as of keen metal penetrating flesh,
q pistol shot, q loud cry, a heavy, Efeless
fall. did not listen longer, but tore
away the slight boards which formed the
partition. The body of the host, traitor
as he was, and a lovely young Spanish
girl, her features terribly beautiful, with
the shadow of her accomplished purpose
still on them lay on tie floor. As the
moonlight shone on the face of William
Kent, / fancied saw smovement of the
lips, I bent over him, and caught the
fIintly, dyingly uttered words, = It is
true r,
Perhaps you think I did not spend