The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-04-17
The Money-Maqiac

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Family borne on the fierce, shrieking
wind of bitter New Years Eve, this cry
rung out weirdly over vast Western plain,
whose winding-sheet was a. white, spark
ling carpet of snow, under the moons pale
light.
And Tom Lisle, the young son of
veteran border trapper, was crossing the
lonely white tract on this night, home
ward bound from the settlements, and
heard the supplication for aii-recognized
the voice as that of man, and urged
on his pony with chirp, while he rub
bed his nose and ears vigorously in order
to keep up the circulation, for the air was
keen and frosty.
"G'lang, old boy; cheer up yer spirits,
fer it's not many miles further we've got to
travel this orful night!"' spoke the young
hunter. "Hello what was that Pa cry
of distress, and in a mans voice, way out
here ? Jupiter! it's mighty poor place
for lost coon, out on Big Flats, burned
if it amt. G'lang, faster, Jack, old
boy, and let's see what ther rumpus is
about"
By the use of voice and spurs the jaded
pony was induced to strike into faster
trot, though very little headway was to be
made in the deep snow.
With all his senses on the alert, Tom
Lisle listened for repetition of the cry,
that he might obtain a bearing. But it
came not, though the wind caused weirdly-
mournful sounds in its fierce flight across
the plains. ..... -..-,
On-on--on the steeming pony foun-
dered, while the youth strained his gaze
ahead through the dim starlight over the
surface of the winters white shroud.
Then all of a sudden, the animal reared
abruptly upon its launches with a terri
+ fed snort, and would have darted away,
: but Lsle's strong hands held the rcins in a
firm grasp.
: "Whoa January! what ails ye now !?
; Ha! by Jupiter, I think see ~
+ He was out of his saddle in twink
. ling, and waded around through the
snow to where a dark object was distin-
: guishable, lying half buried from view.
e 1t was a mana wild, haggard, savage
Z Z looking specimen of humanity, more re-
} sembling some wild beast, perhaps, than
A ought else. A horrible leering face, ter
ribly furrowed and SCARED; eyes that
burned with the fascinating fire of insanity;
: hair and beard heavy, matted snarled,
E and the form clad in ragged, tattered gar
e ments.
4 So much it was that Tom Lisle saw, and
e then he knelt beside the PROSTATE form,
: and producing q flask from inside his hunt
+ ing-shirt, he poured quantity of liquor
!. between the parted lips, that revealed q
, row of cleaning teeth, more like the ivories
: of wolf than of mankind. The liquor
$ went rioting through the lost traveler'f
veins; his eyes shone with increased brill
liancy; words, at first scarcely audible, bu
g growing steadily in volume of sound, came
y to his relief.
"Why did you rouse me?" he spoke
5 tlutching at the snow, wildly. 'Tm raw
i ing madman, boy, at times. I came out
e here to die, but the furnace of hell is moi
Il quite to white heat yet Ha! fancy
G see the old Satan frying me, and seasoning
y my spirit with birthstone. Yes, I am mad
y l had a furious fit, awhile ago, an fiji
: myself. They call me the Money Maniac,
because love gold. went to California
v fifteen years ago, and dug for gold go1
k 1T GOT IT; great bulks of the shining
: scales of Purgatory's walls. l was over.
f joyed. They say it drove me mad mad
d But what care I? All of it shall not
: buy me from the devil Gold! gold
g gold! Oh! how. have worshiped at thy
b shrine !"
:, Then sudden rift of white passed ovel
G the mans face, and he seemed more like q
G sane person, though his eyes burned
"" fercely.
/ "What is your name?' he asked, watch
e ing the young hunter sharply; 'tell me-
: your name, for have something import
ant to. say. Hurry, for I would tel
e YOU before I get mad again -: mad
n mad !"
e my name is Tom Lisle, stranger" th,
r youth replied, nervously, for he had nevs
e before encountered maniac.
:; "Tom Lisle !" repeated the other
y y DISQUALIFICATION Lisle. will put i
}. way down in my memory, where will re
member it. And now, Listen.