The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1878-05-09

hands held the reins IN hrm grasp
! "Whoa January what ails y,
now 7 Hal by Jupiter, I think
soc I"
lie was out Of his saddle in {
twinkliug, and waded arou q
through the snow to where dsrl
object was distinguishable, lying
half. buried from view.
It was O mana wild, haggard
savage-looking specimen OF human
ity, moro resembling some wild
beast, perhaps, than ought else. A
horrible leering face, terribly fur.
rowed and SCARED eyes that burn
ed with the fascinating fire Of insan-
Iity hair and beard heavy, mattod
snarled, and the form clad in ragged
tattered garments.
So much it was that Tom Lislt
saw, and then he knelt beside the
PROSTATE form, and producing q
flask from inside his hunting shirt
he poured a quantity OF the liquor
between the parted lips, that reveal
ed row Of cleaning teeth, more
like the ivories of wolf than oI
mankind. The liquor went rioting
through the lost travellers veins
his eyes shone with increased bril-.
liancy words, at first scarcely audi
BILE, but growing steadily in volume
of sound, camo to his relief.
"Why did you rouse me 7 be
spoke, clutching at tho snow, wildly.
I'm raving madman, boy, at times.
I came out here to die, but the fur
naco of hell is not quite to white
heat yet, Ha ! I fancy see the old
Satan frying me, and seasoning my
spirit with birthstone. Yes, am
mad. | had furious fit, awhile
ago, an I fit myself. They call me
the Money Maniac, because love
gold. 1 went to California fifteen
years ago, and dug for gold. igot
tt GOT 1T; great bulks Of The
shining scales Of Purgatory's walls
1 was overjoyed. They say it drove
me mad 1! mad But what care ?
All of it shall not buy me from the
devil. Gold gold ! gold /! how
have worshipped at thy shrine /
Then sudden drift of white pass.
ed over the mans 8 face, and he SEEM
cd more like sane person, though
his eyes burned fercely.
"What is your namo?' he asked
watching the young hunter sharply
'tell the your name, for I have some
thing important to say. Hurry, for
| would tell you before I get mad
again mad mad /
MY name is Tom Lisle, stranger,
the youth replied, nervously, for be
had never before encountered Q
maniac.
"Tom Lisle !" repeated the othol
thoughtfully-"Tom Lisle. l will
put it way down in my memory
where l will remember it. And now
listen
"Iam q madman, but sane enough
at times to know what I am about
Years ago went to California and
acquired an immense fortuns-im.
mense because it is counted by mil.
lions. I went mad, aud fearing
should be robbed, I buried it in q
lonely portion Of the wild West.
stationed o guard to watch it--s
faithful Indian who was my slave
from choice.
IL have o child-s beautiful girl
OF eleven now this fortune must &c
to her.
"Ten years from this New Year q
Eve, 60 to the spot where is buried
my gold. You will find there my
Indian slave, Red Pine, or, il he ID
dead, another guard, commissioned
by him, who will know all.
"Show him these gold bullets. ant
here the Money Maniac placed il
the youths hand three rifle-bulets o
|gold, q packet Of paper and golt
ring ''show him these bullets, sAt
be will give you the gold. He will
then take you to my child, and you
will show her this ring. BY thii
she will behold in you the mar
I have chosen for her husband. Th,
packet Of paper is = map Of my
treasure. trove.
snow gol leave me go, and il
ten years do my bidding. Go nc
sooner, no later-then-New Years
Eve, ten years hence. Hurry do
part for feel it coming on-th,
madness I'm then ferocious."
"Whatf and leave yon here tc
perish u Tom Lisle demanded, il
horror.
"Yes I want to die. Don't toucl
me, or I'll scratch and bite you and
you'll go mad, too. Leave me your
flask, then get you gone. And my
curse Of gold 60 with you!"
The flask was given over without
q murmur, and after o last look O
horror and sympathy upon the suf'
fering maniac, the trapper-boy turn.
cd and mounted bis pony, aud Del
out over the white. shrouded plain.
And the bowling wind pursued
him and rung in his ears the cry tina
lever after haunted his life
"Gold gold ! OIL it's all mine !
.
i Five years later, To m Lisle We