West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-11-22


failed 10 obtain either.
BY this time he was faint, and his brain
reeled. lie felt strangely bewildercd
All AZ once he heard piteous voice Il
came from a rude hut a few feet distant
There he discovered dying man-a
wan, emaciated creature in patched gar
nents.
Give me little water" he gaspcd
Warren gave him water from Jug near
him.
Have YOU no friend, no relative, that
can ~ 10 and bring herr?' inquired War
rem
II 30 not think have "a relative living"
gasped the man Il was dying here alone
before YOU came. VIII YOU do me favor?
Lift up those bricks in the fireplace and
bring me my keg.'
Warren removing the bricks, which were
,oose, discovered paint keg, and brought
ITO the man.
1t was filled to the brim with silver half
dollars!
Il have been n miser, groaned tho suf-
terer, 'but you can see for yourself have
not saved much. viii you take this keg
to
Before he could finish he gave shudder
and his eyes became glazed
He was dead,
Warren looked at him awhile; then his
gaze wandered to the keg Of coins,
The whirling sensation was still in his
head. His mind seemed TO have become
weak He continued to stare at the silver
heap.
The man had owned he was IA miser-
probably he had no relative. In that caso
there was no heir to the money
How much good that amount would do
little Flora and his wife! They were hun
gry-almOst starving.
His gaze was caught by slip of paper
among the silver pieces
lie took it out and read il:
This keg Of money To he taken to
Roger Barmont merchant, No ----
street, san Francisco in case OF my death. -
Roger Barmont! Warren had sOcn the
name over the wholesale store of this
wealthy merchant.
a few days before he bad unsuccessfuly
applied there for employment There
were probably about one hundred dollars i'm
the keg.
To Barmont, the rich wholesale dealer,
this would be a mere trife-to Warren il
would be food and shelter-perhaps life IT.
solf,"
Why should this triHe go 10 the golden
boards OF the merchant when Warren
needed II 80 much more?
The poor man glared at the eDins lac
looked at them long and wistfully.
Then at last, he flung his arms into the
air, as If to hurl the temptation from him.
To take that money would be TO steaL
my God No. he cried 81 cannot do
IT, ! feel ashamed Of myself for even
thinking of such a thing. Had my brain
been right, | would not have thought OF
ii! My mind is strangely weakened
He picked up the kcg and took il straight
to Roger Barmont.
The merchant read it through his gold
spectacles.
'It's all right" he said quickly after
Warren had explained. 'T am much
obliged to you. | will have the body de.
Gently buried"
Warren looked around him, wistfully.
Stalwart men were moving hither and
thither handling bales, boxes and casks A
legion of clerks were making their pens fly
over the pages OF the ledgers.
There was one cask half full of sugar.
outside, partly open. a drizzling rain was
falling, wctting this sugar.
Would YOU not like 10 have that cask
moved into the store?' he inquired family.
Mr.. Barmont looked mp.
"Ohl | believe ! have not rewarded
you for bringing nc tncse silver pieces he
said
lie took a quarter from his pocket and
put it on the counter
''No, thank you, said Warren; ''but
will take it for moving the cask, if you
like"
Every well, said Barmont more gently.
''Movc 1t as soon as soon as you can ~
Warren tugged at the heavy cask.. II
was too much for his strength, in his pres
ent weakened condition.
But he got ii In the store Then he stag
gored against it nearly faintng.
"A glass Of wine, here, called Mr.. Bar
mont
One Of the clerks brought IT, II revived
the sufferer, although be still look bcwil-
dered
''What makes you so wcakg Have you
been illI' inquired the merchant
The others gaze, az if by sort OF fas-
cinaton, against which he vainly slrug-
gIed, was fixed, with a greedy look, upon
box OF damaged biscuit, which one Of the
men was about TO throw into a refuse cask.
Mr.. Barmont drew Warren to one side
What is your name and where do you
hvei" he inquired
Thomas Warren. ] live at No
street"
"Iave you family2"
"a wife and child Would that Mary
Mar-ton had never married poor wretch
like mel"
MARY Marston. Was that your wifcs
namef' cried Banont starting
eyes, sir D."
And had n brother What was his
namc?n
Thomas Marston lie went away years
ago, and has not been heard Of since"
''Your wife was in Boylston, Massacbu-
setts-was she not2'
"Yes, sir"
every good. and 30 you did not know
that the misor who just died was Tom
MarstOn, her brOthe2"
Good heaven NOn
"It is tho fact-hc was Here Is half n
dollar for moving the cask ! will ca
/ upon you to night"
Warren went home with some provisions
bought with the half dollar
To his astonished wife be told his story.
Not long after the Old merchant, Mr.
BarmOnt came.
He made a few inquiries of Mrs Warren
which fully satisfied him Of her identity