The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1879-11-29

OF io0d.
Warren went his rounds as usual,
but in vain.
At length he found himself OH
the outskirts Of the city.
lie hoped he might be lucky
enough to kill some bird or rabbit
with n stone.
But bird and rabbit kept shy of
him; he failed to obtain either.
BY this time he was faint, and
his brain rcclcd. He felt strangely
bcwildcrcd.
All at onco hc heard a pitcous
voice. 1t came from n rude hut q
few feet distant.
There he discovered dying
MANA wan, cmaciatcd creature
in patched garments.
"Give mo y little water" he
gasped.
Warren gavo him water from n
jug near him.
aHavo you no friend, no relative.
that | can go to and bring here?'
inquired Warren.
II do not think I have relative
living" "gasped the the man. Il was
| dying here alone before you came.
Will you do mo = favor? Lift up
those bricks in the fireplace and
bring me my keg."
Warren removing tho bricks,
which were loose, discovered a
paint keg, and brought it to the
man.
1t was filled TO the brim with
silver half dollars!
II have been a miser," groancd
the sufferer, "but you can SEQ for
yourself | have not saved much.
Will you take this kcg-to-"
Before he could finish he gavo n
shudder and his eyes became glaz-
cd.
He was dead
Warren looked ut him awhile; ;
then his gaze wandered to the keg
of coins
The whirling sensation was still
in his head. His mind seemed to
stare at the silver heap.
The man had owned hc was n
miscr-probably he fad no relative.
In that case there was no heir to
the money.
How much good that amount
would do little Flora and his wife /!
They were hungry-.lmost starv-
ing.
Ills gaze was caught by q slip Of
Of paper among the silver pieces.
He took it out and read it:
"This keg Of money to be taken
to Roger Barmont, merchant, No.
street, San Francisco, in
case of my DEATH
Rodger Barmont! Warren had
seen the name over wholesale store
of the wealthy merchant.
a fow days before lie had un-
successfully applied there for en-
plovment. There were probably
about one hundred dollars in the
kcg.
TO Barmount, the rich wholesale
| dealer, this would be Il mere tritle
to Warren it would he food and
shelter-pcrhaps life itself"
Why should this trille 30 to the
golden boards of the merchant
when Warren needed it so much
more?
The poor man glared at the coins
-ho looked at them long and visit
fully.
Then at last, ho flung his arms
into tho air, us if to hurl the temp
tation from him.
To take that money would bc to
aeal.
"NIv God, no !" he cried, II can.
not do it, feel ashamed Of my
self for even thinking of such Il
thingl had my brain been right, !
would not have thought Of it.
Ny mind is strangely weakened" !"
Ho picked up the kcg and took
it straight to Roger Barmont.
Tho merchant read it through
his gold spcctacles.
"lt's all right" he said quickly,
after Warren had explained. II
am much Obliged to you. ! will
have the body decentlv buried"
Warren looked around him,
wistfully. Stalwart men were
moving hither and thithcr hand.
ling bales, boxes and casks. A
legion of clerks we're making their
pens fly over the pages of tho
ledgcrs.
There was ono cask half full of
sugar, outside, partly open. a
drizzling rain was falling, wetting
this sugar.
"Would you like to have that
cask moved into the store?" he in
quircd family.
Mr.. Barmont looked up.
ooh! l believe | have not re-
warded you for bringing me these
silver pieces" he said.
lie took a quarter from his
pocket and laid it on the counter.
"No, thank you; but | will
take it for moving the c0sk if you
like"
"very WE'LL" said l'armont more
nnntlv MNInvn Il "a snon Us YOU