The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-11-07
DIAMONDS AND GOLD.
A Tale of The Far
West.

seem as the many long, tiresome hours
were going past as though nothing after
all would happen. Still, he thought it
well to reconnoiter bit ere giving up
hope for the night.
SO he carefully removed the triangular
peep-hole, but he could see nothing; for
although the rays from the recently risen,
fast waning moon rendered the saloon
itself light with a pale. ghost-like gleam,
the obscurity within Macpherson's room
was in no wise relieved.
HIS was just about to replace the piece
of wood, when he was conscious of faint
sound within the den, as if of some one
cautiously stirring Hugh never moved
muscle, but lay with the wood grasped
in his fingers, hardly daring to breath or
stir.
By-and-by, Macpherson, apparently
satisfaction he had long ago found out
his dependent to be sound sleeper-put
forth his hand, and slowly and carefully
removed the shade of covered lamp;
for through the irregular crevices of the
partition there shone, crack Frightening
after crack, the same faint radiance
which, in the middle of the night, Hugh
had already observed. And of course
Macpherson was far too sharp to strike
match and thus risk making a noise that
might have reused his man.
The lamp shade being now removed,
and the little den made fairly aglow with
light, the old man listened attentively
once more; and then noiselessly knelt
down beside his rude couch. By-and-by,
he rose again with two objects in his
hands, one broad leathern belt, the
other small leathern bag. And now
there came into the old fellows face a
look such as in Hugh sight it had never
worn before. As his aged hands, with
trembling eagerness, united the strings
of the bag, and he dug his bony fingers
in among the diamonds which filled it,
there was in eveoy feature an air of hun
cry greediness, of CHASTITY delight, that
to the younger man would have seemed
hateful, only that his own countenance,
unconsciously, perhaps, began to reflect
appearance almost similar.
After gazing at and toying with his
treasure, Macpherson laid down the bag
and took up the belt, and then with
needle and thread, commenced patiently,
slowly, and very carefully, to sew the
precious stones into its soft lining This
was tedious work, partly because the old
mans fingers found housewives imple-
nents not easy of management, partly
because ever and anon he broke off from
sewing to examine and caress some
especially fine gem, or to feel lovingly
through the lining the diamonds already
securely fastened; and partly because a
dozen times at least, he stayed his work
to listen.
When this sort of thing had lasted
long while, Macpherson grew evidently
wearied, he laid down needle and thread
for the last time, gathered his materials
together, knelt down, and fumbled once
more about his bunk.
Belt and bag returned, and bottle oi
whisky came forth instead. Very dear
ly did old Sadie love his national bever
age, but he feared it too, for too much
whisky is apt to loosen a mans tongue
and will at times make fool of even the
wisest. Therefore, for all that he looked
so lovingly, he hesitated too, held the
bottle up to see how much it contained
put it back twice, took it out again,
placed it to his lips, and drank.
"If," thought the eager watcher, che
would but get screwed now, and knock
that lamp over, perhaps the whole build
ing might get in blaze, and then"
But no; Macpherson was no fool; he
took only such draught as seemed safe
hid away his bottle, turned out his lamp
and once more the "Eldoeado" wa.
plunged into the darkness of the night.
He slept; not so his man. Everlasting
ly the sheen of diamonds was before en-.
vious Hugh's eyes, while calculations al
to their probable value perplexed hi
brain. These precious stones were evi
IDENTIFY the hoard of many years, since il
mining country whenever saving
man, a product rare enough, is found, i
is his practi ce, if he keeps no bankin,
account, to change his gold dust into th'
more readily postable diamonds. Ant
here were gems actually by the score to
RCbllCl. IL dll Ulldu tlCdSuiC WClC Hio Wv II
Hugh thought, how easily he could re
return to England in the character Of .
lucky miner, become the rest of his day
prosperous man, and hold up his heat
among the proudest of that moneyet
class who make fortunes, Heaven know
how!
For several successive nights Hugl
watched as long as he could keep awake
and during some part of most of then
his perseverance was rewarded by tn
sight of Macpherson again bending owe
his leathern belt, and slowly and patient
" sewing his diamonds into its soft lin
ing.
'How can the old man do with so lii
tie sleep night after night, and yet in tn
morning show no trace of weariness?
thought Hugh, who felt himself CROWN
haggard for want of rest. He forgot t
take into consideration the fact that h
often wasted hours of fruitless watching
while Sadie, self-trained by long habi
IN Wakn of nm particular t;,na xyiaol