The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-03-17
The Goldsmith OF Sc. Lo.

vile, took up his residence IN this little
town, and by dint of energy, economy
and hard savings, amassed large
fortune. AS age advanced upon him the
desire of increasing his wealth did not
abate.
One evening, rather late, as he was re-
| turning from the home of one of his
| friends, he was suddenly attacked by two
| men, and in the affray received severe
wound in the breast. His cries for help
so frightened the villains, who feared
the city guards, that they fled, leaving
the wounded man staggering toward his
abode. As he slowly proceeded, he ar
rived at the residence of goldsmith,
| through whose windows and door fared
q bright, Pickering light. This gold
| smith was endeavoring to recompense his
| loss of wealth by smelling the baser ores
into the more valuable gold. An i'm
mense fire glared on an elevated hearth,
and above was suspended large cru.
chile, into which he was vainly pouring
chemical mixtures and compounds upon
the melting ores, murmuring 'sThis to
/ success"
just at this moment the bleeding Pc
dro staggered into the apartment.
What! you here, good friend, and at
this time of night! What ails you, Pc
DROP" said Maxcelly. advancing toward
him.
''Maxcelly. I am dying!' exclaimed
the unfortunate man. "A murderer has
killed me- With these words he fell
| dead at the jewelers. feet.
| Thoroughly taken by surprise, the af
| frighted Maxcelly stood gazing in stupe-
fed terror at the dead body of his
visitor. So long had he remained thus,
that the smoldering emters and dark
ened room obliged him to light his
torch, and with respectful care he placed
the body on the pallet of
| straw, murmuring almost inaudibly:
"Such is the uncertainty of life"
/ While still cleaning the blood from off
the garments of Pedro, the terrible con-
yiction flashed upon him that to himself
would be attributed the murder.
Trembling in every nerve he approached
drew forth tnerefrom bunch of six keys
the only article contained on the person
of the miser
The bewildered Maxcelly reflected
upon the course to be pursued. Thus he
sat until suddenly aroused by the solemn
tones of the cathedral bell, tolling the
hour of midnight; as the sound died
away he arose, malicious smile distort-
ing MS features, and as though to find So
lace in his thoughts, he began to COM
mune with himself: ST shall be accused
of this murder; my sense of conviction
tells me this, even now as / cast my eye
upon that pallet of blood-red straw
cannot overlook the conviction that
the pallet of straw may prove my ac-
cuser. Pedro has wealth; I am poor.
Pedro does not need this wealth. | have
a wife and children why not be the thief
as well as the innocent murderer? These
keys are the disclosers, no doubt, of
riches; these keys are mine; SO shall the
gold be mine also;" saying which, the
still fearful Maxcelly lifted the corpse in
his arms and bore it down narrow
fight of stairs; here laying it gently
down. ba assembled for his torch; grasp
ing large spade, he again went below
placing his torch in crevice, he tore up
a portion of the planking, and began dig
ging zealously large hole, fully six feet
below the earth, into which he deposited
the body of the miser; carefully covering
it with earth, he restored the flooring
and viewing his work with somewhat
distrustful eye, he proceeded to his la
boratory. Here attiring himself in the
apparel of Pedro, he seized the keys an6
started for his goal.
Arriving at the tenement of the misel
he unlocked the massive though molder
ing door, and ascending another dilapi
dated staircase he encountered another
, door. This also yielded to the keys
Entering, Maxcelly now drew forth hi
dark lantern and by it's light discerneG
an old bed ard large chest in the corne
of the apartment. After carefully lock
ing the door he proceeded to examine th'
chest. Within the larger was found
smaller chest; within this another, ant
> still another was found within the thirc
l This Maxcelly proceeded to open, ant
: raising the lid he almost yelled will
! surprise and joy. Again viewing the
| treasure, he exclaimed: Lucky dog"
that yielded this to mel" AM
grasping the case he took therefrom sever
, small bags, upon each of which wa
{ marked 'stwo thousand pounds" Fl,
thus addressed the remaining jewels
! "You pretty, sparkling gems, leave t,
lull suspicion; gladly would I receive
you all, but fear causes me to be mod
! est Saying this he relocked th,
chest, and placing three of the bags il
, the scanty bedclothes, he took th,
: remaining four beneath his cloak ant
sped quickly to his home. Once again
he returned, and placing these three ais.
. beneath his cloak, he arrived at hi
t dwelling at the hour of two. Here, STOW
ing it away in cavity of the earth, b,
: retired, well satisfied, to rest.
!. Already had one day elapsed, but n,
9 rumor in reference to the misers disap
pearance. The second day gossip began
q to imply that something had happened
: On the third day the house was broker
{ open, and everything found, as the,
8 thought, unmolested. The jewels wer
4 appropriated by the government, an,
z after few weeks the matter died away
Q and Pedro, the miser, was almost foI
gotten.
8 Meanwhile. Maxcelly still continued a
it his crucibles, and at the end of mont
s or six weeks he indicated to his wife tha
/ he intended to go to Paris to dispose Q
:; his manufactured ore, leaving her te
a pounds for her support until his return
d He remained from home two months
about that time, on his return, the Who'll
a town of st. Lo was in an uproar at hi
J. success.
n Maxcelly thus continued TO live upo
II his theft, and bought himself an estat,
e and removed with his family thereto.
X Among those who came to dwell at th
70 estate was o neice of Madame Maxcell,
y q young and beautiful girl, with whom
\ almost unconsciously, the enrapture