Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-08-27
The Money Maniac.

Ile Money Maniac.
"Help! help! for the love of God
help!"
Family, borne on the fierce. shriekin,
wind Of a bitter New Years Eve thi
cry rung out weirdly over vast West
ern plain, whose winding sheet was
white sparkling carpet of snow. unde
the moons pale light.
And Tom Lisle, the young son of ,
veteran border trapper. was crossing th'
lonely white tract on this night, home
ward bound from the settlements, ant
heard the supplication for aid-recogniz
ing the voice as that of a man, and urg
ed on his pony with a chirp, while ht
rubbed 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
a cry of distress, and in a mans voice
way out here? Jupiter? it's mighty
poor place for a lost 'coon out on Big
Flats, burned if it amt. G'lang faster
Jack, old boy, and let's see what thel
rumpus is about"
By the use of voice and spurs the jad
ed pony was induced to strike into q
faster trot, though very little head-way
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, thought the wind caused
weirdly mournful sounds in its fierce
| flight across the plains.
On-on-on the steaming pony floun-
| dered, while the youth strained his gaze
ahead through the dim starlight over the
surface of the winters white shroud
Then, all of sudden, the animal rear
ed abruptly upon its launches, with a
terrified snort, and would have darted
away, but Lisle's strong hands held the
reins in a firm grasp.
whoa! January what ails we now
Ia! by Jupiter. think I see ~
He was out of his saddle in a twink
ling, and waded around through the
snow to where dark object was distin-
guishable, lying half buried from view.
1t was mana wild, haggard, saw
age looking specimen of Humanity more
resembling some wild beast, perhaps,
than ought else. A horrible leering face
terribly furrowed and Scared eyes that
| burned with the fascinating fire of in
|
snarled, and the form clad in ragged,
tattered garments.
So much it was that Tom Lisle saw
and then he knelt beside the PROSTATE
form; and producing flask from inside
his hunting-shirt, he poured quantity
of liquor between the parted lips, that
revealed row of cleaning teeth, more
like the ivories of wolf than of man
kind. The liquor went rioting through
the lost travellers veins: his eyes shone
with increased brilliancy words, at first
scarcely audible, but growing steadily
in volume of sound, came to his relief.
"Why did you rouse me?" he spoke
clutching the snow, wildly. "I'm a
raving madman, boy, at times. I came
out here to die, but the furnace of he'll
is not quite to white heat yet. Ha!
fancy I see the old Satan frying me, and
seasoning my spirit with birthstone. =
Yes, / am mad. I had furious fl
awhile ago, am fit myself. They cal
me the Money-Maniac, because I love
gold. went to California fifteen years
ago, and dug for gold. got til got
it; great bulks of the shining scales o
Purgatory's walls. I was oVerjoyed.- :
They say it drove me mad! mad ! But
what care I? All of it shall not buy me
from the devil. Gold gold gold Oh
how have worshiped at thy shrine p
Then sudden rift Of white passed
over the mans face and he seemed more
like sane person, though his eyes burn,
ed fiercely. ...i..s
"What is your name ?'' he asked
watching the young hunter sharply
''tell me your name, for I have some
thing important to say. Hurry, for ]
would tell you before get mad again
mad madW
My name is Tom Lisle, stranger u
the youth replied, nervously, for he hat
never before encountered maniac.
'Tom Lisle!" repeated the other
Observation-Disclosures I,isle. / will pu
it way down In memory, where I will
remember it. And now, listen.
II am madman, but sane enough a
times to know what am about. Years
ago went to California and acquired
an immense fortune immense because
it is counted by millions. 1 went mad
and fearing I should be robbed. buried
it in lonely portion of the wild west
| stationed guard to watch it-a faith
ful Indian who was my slave from
choice. ss "a
II have child-a beautiful girl o
eloNcu now Ills iOfIun0 inuSC go TO 0or.
"Ten years from this New Years Eve
go to the spot where buried my gold
You will find there my Indian slave
Red Pine, or, if he is dead, another
guard, commissioned by him, who will
know all ,.
"Show him these gold bullets,n ant
here the Money Maniac placed in th,
youths hand three rife bullets of gold
a packet of paper and gold ring "shoy
him these bullets, and he will give yo,
the gold. He will then take you to m,
child, and you will show her this ring
By this she will behold in you the MAJ
[ have chosen for her husband. TIL
packet of paper is a map of my treasure
trove."
"Now go! leave me! go, and in tel
years do my bidding. Go no sooner, n
later-ther-New Years Eve, ten year
hence. Hurry! depart! for I feel
coming on-the madness; I'm thel
ferocious." ia
"What ?and leave you here to perish.
Tom Lisle demanded, in horror.
Yes; | want to die. Don't touch me
or III scratch and bite you; and you'll
go mad, too. Leave me your flask, the
get you gone. And my curse of gold q
with you ~ 'ag 8sA ses
The flask was given over without
murmur, and after last look of horro
and sympathy upon the suffering mani
ac, the trapper- boy turned and mounte
his pony, and set out over the white
lshrouded plain.