Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-05-08
THE GRIZZLY'S POCKET.

"That's pretty little girl you got
with you in the Pullman, Cap. Grand
daughter?''
"No, she amt no granddaughter, "
said Cap" looking at the conductor
with IN injured expression. 81 ain t
no spring chicken, and yit | amt no
grand-dad."
Daughter, perhaps"
Mary daughter"
"Niece?'
"Nur yit niece"
"Child of friend, may be-"
Cap. gave two or three savage pulls
at the long cigar, which had beSuiled
him from the side of the little girl in
the Pullman into the free and easy at
mosphere of the smoker, before he saw
fit to answer the conductors last ques-
ton. The express Zen route TO El Paso)
had entered on that long run between
Oakland Pier-four miles out of San
Francisco-anL LathrOp, ninety-one
miles distant, and seeing several hours
without a stop before him, the conduc-
tor had strolled into the smoker for a
chat
"See here, young fcller," said Cap. at
last, "did pay that little gals way, or
didn't tt? Did you punch her cowPon
with that there silver pistol of yours, or
didu't you? Do | owe this yer road any
thing? Ef do, present your bill; eft
don't, what makes you so ALFRED keen
to know the whole history Of the case?
amt kidnappin' her; you kin bank
on that; but all the same she amt no
kith nor kin er mine, and she don't be-
long TO no friend. I'm takin' her TO
her mother in st. Louey. jest heft that
pile"
He twltched red cotton handker-
chief out Of an inner pocket and thrust
it into the surprised conductors hand.
"Jest heft that pile" he continued,
"it's pure, solid twenty four karat gold ;
every grain of it belongs to that little
gal, and I'll bet the drinks you can't
come within a hundred of its value.
Jest heft it once.'
The conductor held the handkerchief
by its enGs, and gravely "hefted" some
thing of about the bulk Of an ordinary
fist, which was knotted in the center Of
the rag. -i-.
at weighs about two pounds, |
Judge" he said, after some little hesita-
tiOn.
"whati i, The fggtr'"
"Well, if it is pure gold. rs You say,
it may 5e worth $500"
"You are jest hundred ont. She is
worth $402 %. \ greasly bsr played St.
| Nicholas game last Christmas eve and
throwcd that handsome little tribute
into the little girls stocking. He killed
! her dad at the same time and died hin
self-which was two OF the whitest
deeds as ever greasly done, to my way
of thinking
To the conductors way Of thinking,
as we'll as that of every passenger within
hearing, Cap. was altogether too light
/ headed to be trusted with his own su.
perin'endeuce while making his five
days rmi between San Franeisco and
St. Louis. much less to be the pro tenn
guardian of seven-year. old girl. HC
saw the incredulous smiles excited by
the remark, and seemed TO understand
the plying glances which went witt
. them.
"Of course, you think | am crazy
he said, simply. "They can't be NJ
such things as that happen. All the cu
rious things has happened already
There amt no gold in Caliiorny NJ
mere, and there amt no greaslys in th'
Rockies, and there amt nothing ode
nor outlandish in the whole world. Ev
erything is dead open and shet. Wha
you don't see you don't believe. But al
the samoe it's true, and ef | told you i
happened back in '49 yon'd believe ii
but becuz it happened last Christina
eve, and becuz Pm here and the gold j
here and the little gal is back in tn
Pullman asleep it seems too much lik
bringing miracles home to you, and yor
shake your head and say: 'All lie; til
old mans crazy"
lie had the knot in the handkerchie
undone by this time, and gave the con
ductor, as well as two or three OF tn
passengers, satisfying inspection G