The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-12-09

came from Il rude hut few feet distant.
, There he discovered dying mana
wan, emaciatcd creature In patched gar
ments.
"Give me II little watcr!" he gaspcd.
Warren gave him water from Jug near
him.
'Havc you no friend, 10 relative, that |
can go to and bring hercy" inquired Wur-
ren.
81 do not think have u relative living, "
gasped the man.. 81 was dying here alone
before you came. VIII you do HE favor?
Lift up those bricks in the fireplace and
bring me my keg."
Warren removing the bricks, which were
loose, discovered paint keg, and brought
ito the man.
1t was filed to the biim with silver half
dollars!
81 have been miscr," groancd tho suf-
fcrer, ''but you can see for yourself have
not saved much. VIII You take this kcg
! 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!
l. The whirling sensation was atill IN his
! head. His mind seemed to have become
weak, He continued to stare at the silver
heap.
The man had owned he was mser-
probably he had 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 hun
gry-almost starving.
His gaze was caught by slip OF paper
among the silver pieces.
He took it out and read IT,:
"rhis keg Of money to be taken to
Roger Barmont, merchant, No. ---
street, San francisco in casc of my death. :"
Roger Barmontl Warren had seen the
name over tho wholesale store of this
wealthy merchant.
| A few days before he had unsuccessfully
applied there for employment. There
were probably about one hundred dollars in
| the keg.
To Barmont, the rich wholesale dealer,
this would be a mere triflo-to Warren it
would be food and shelter-pcrhaps lite It,
self" .r...H ...
Why should this triAe go to tho golden
boards Of tho merchant whom Warren
needed 1t so much morep
The poor man glarcd at the coins he
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 steol
'Aly Godl mol" he cried. 81 cannot do
i'll feel ashamed of myself for oven
thinking of such thing! Had my brain
bccn right, would not have thought of
1t! My mind is strangely weakened"
Flo pickcd up the keg and took 1t straight
to Roger Barmont.
The merchant read it through his gold
spectaclcs.
"It's oil right" he said quickly after
Warren had explained. 81 am much
obliged to you. 1 will have the body de.
Gently buried"
Warren looked around him, wistfully.
Stalwart men were moving hither and
thitlor handling bales, boxes and casks. A
legion of clerks were making their pons fly
over the pages Of the ledgcrs.
There was one caslS, half full of sugar,
outside, partly open. A drizzling rain was
falling, wetting this sugar.
"Would you not like to have that cask
moved into tho store7" he inquired family.
Mr. Barmont looked up.
"Ohl | bolieve I have not rewarded
you for bringing nae tncsc silver pieces, " he
said.
lie took quarter from his pocket and
put IL on the counter.
"No, thank you," said Warren; t'but I
will take it for moving the cask, If you
like"
"vory WE'LL" sold Barmont more gently.
"hlove 1t as soon as soon as you oan."
Warren tugged at the heavy cask. 1t
was too much for his strength, in his pres
ent weakened condition.
But he got 1t In the store. Then lie stag
gered against 1t nearly fainting.
"a glass Of wine, here" called Mr.. Bar
mont.
One of the clerks brought IT, 1t revived
the sufferer, although he still look bewil-
dored.
''What makes you so weakS Have you
boon illP" inquired the merchant.
The others gaze, as If bya sort of fas-
cination, against which he vainly strug-
gled, was fixed, with greedy look, upon
a box Of damaged biscuit, which one Of tho
men was about to throw into rcfuRe caskl
Mr. Barmont drew Warren to one side
''What Is your name, and where do you
live2" he inquired.
"Thomas Warren. I live at No.
street."
"Have you family2"
"a wife and child Would that Mary
"AlStOu lihii ACfGl pOOT WTClCll
like mc'
'tMary Marstonl Was that your wife's
namep" criet. Barmont starting.
eyes, sir"
"Ands had a. brother. What was his
name2lsa .w ~,
''Th6nas Marston. He went away years
ago, and has not been heard Of slnce."
"Your wife was in Boylston, Massach,,-
setts-was she not?"
"Ycs, slr."
Every good; and 50 you did not know,
that tho mlser who just died was Tom
Marston, her brother2"
"Good heaven! MOI"
'tItls the fact---he was. Hero Is half a
dollar for moving the cask will call
upon you to night"
Warren went homo with some provisions
bought with the half dollar. Tl.
To his astonished wife he told his story.
I Not long after, the old merchant, Mr..
Barmont came.