Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-09-10
THE BLACK SACHEL.

eve told you SO, prophesled the retro
spcctiyc prophets.
An awful smash" crooked the croak-
ers mot fifty cents ON the dollar"
Pride must have a fall" moraiized the
mUralizera Giles Gregory held his head
altogether too high
I'm have the rascal arrested" cried
Ebcn Malcolm, the money-lender, who
had done bill" for Mr.. Gregory the day
before.
What pity for Mr.. Smugg" every
body said. He's such nice young
man, and now he's thrown out of en-
plOymcnt.'
Mr. Smugg, in whom SO much sympathy
conferred, was Mr.. Gregory's head clerk
ana business manager He had given
his employer timely warning so he now
hintcd confidently of the impending
peril; but Needless Mr.. Gregory had re
fused to take in sail, and in consequence
was dashed upon the rocks.
The hnpless merchant protest that the
blow had fallen unforeseen of course pass
ed for nothing with tho keen Mr.. Malcolm.
That Mr.. Gregory had gotten him to dis
count Il bill the very day before his fail
ARE, to the distrustfuI mind of Eben, was
conclusive proof of fraud, and rs soon
IA Flccccm Bros, his attorneys, could
prepare the requisite papers, he had the
delinquent debtor. arrested and sent to
jail
Leaving him there for the present and
hia mothorIcas daughter, Alice, to grove
over his misfortune, let us follow for
nttIc Ernest Grey, who had long loved
Alice us well we'll, as well as she loved
him.
Aiico's fnther dsapproved the young
mnns suit. lie had higher aims for his
daughter than match with one whose
position WIS yet to be won; and r rnest
Grey was too proud youth To press his
claims when pclf, not love, might
be- Thought to be his motive. He had
gone to- seek his fortune III IA distant city,
whence, after time seeing IA chance for
hcttorng his prospects IN foreign land,
with "A hcHrt us stanch rs the good ship
that bore him, he sailed away, hoping to
return some day and claim the treasure
left behind.
In mid ocean great storm arose
Nohly the stout ship fought against it,
aud for days held her own. The frame
gwycrrd and shook beneath the fury of
the clements like that of some huge, tor
turcd thing. At last leak was sprung
which increased at every motion of the
labOring vessel. Passengers and crew
took turns Mt the pumps with the energy
Of men struggling for life, but still the
water gained
"Luwcr the boats" shouted the gallant
captain, when ut last it became apparent
that the only choice lay between the son-
der hope thus afforded and going down
with the sinking vessel.
The command was obeyed, and none too
f., tI,,i In II th,, FIRE Ian .l,y
escaped being drawn in the vortex caused
by the doomed vessel as she disappeared
honcnth the surging pillows.
Erno-t Grey found himself in the
SMALLEST boat with two companions
one OF them Caleb Smugg, who, too, had
chnnccd To- bc ON the i'll fated ship, lie
alone had Thought of saving his effects.
He held n black leathern sachel in his
hand To- which he hung tenaciously through
the whole exciting turmoil.
There had been no time to secure water
or provisions. The only choice of life
lay III the boats outriding the storm and
rescue lay some passing vessel before
death came through starvation. In the
night the storm abated; but when morn
ing came Ernest and his companions
looked IN vain for the other boats. They
had either been lost or borne out of
sight
Days aud nights passed, but no help
came. Ernest Grey and Caleb Smugg
were now alone Ill the boat. Hungar had
done It's work ON the third man, and
Caleb Smugg was fast suCCumbiug to it.
lie gaXrd mt Ernest with the glHrt of "A
furnishing wolf aud seemed ready to
spring AT his throat. But Ernest was
the stronger of tho two and kept his eye
steadily on that of tho starving wretch,
who soon quailed under his look like
suhducd animal lie sank back IN the
boat, aud the pailor of death began to
settle ON his face.
Il have something To tell you before
die, he gasped.
Ernest leaned over him, for his words
were scarcely audible
The dying man continued III murmur-
ed tones, growing foehler and feebler,
the listener bending his ear closer and
closer as If fearing to lose a word. Il
was not alone the horror of being face
to face with death that made him start
up a. the poor wretch hreathed his last.
sail hove in sight at that moment
and Ernest was seen and rescued
The beauty Of Alice Gregory hal more
than once caused tluttrring in the little
hourt that Ehen Malcolm had. He ven
turod e. tell her 50 on one occasion, but
avowal was met with scorn. Maybe il was
becaus, tie felt the hutter still; maybe it
was for vcnEence sake At any rate Eben
came one day to see the afflicted daughter
or him whom he had cast into prison.
1t Is IN Your power Ia set Your father
free" he said
CLEAN of JOY for an instant lit up the
girls warm features. Then n half terrific
expression succeeded.
How how may do itg' she faltered.
ny hccomming my wife was the cold
relentless answer.
The slight dropping form became At
once proudly erect. The bright eyes of
Alice flashed forth utterable contempt.
My father would scouut to accept his
liberty at such Il price" she said, even if
| were base enough to offer it.
spectator came upon the scene unob-
served. As Alice turned her back upon
the man she loathed her eyes fell upon
Ernest Grey.
ooh, Ernest! Ernest! I'm SO glad you
have come" she exclaimed. This man
has not only thrown my father into
prison. but now adds the insult of asking
me to he his So"
NhS could not speak the word.
The young mans nerves tingled. He
longed to pitch the intruder out of the
window.
THAT, | presume, Is the price asked
for your fathers liberty" said Ernest
Il have SO put it," spoke up Eben, with
easy assurance.
Maybe there is another price you would
accept" replied Ernest with equal cool
ness.
Il have named the only one"
Not the money due your" Ernest
asked.
''Oh, if you are able to pay that" said
Eben with a sarcastic grin.
Mr.. Gregory is Ernest interrupted.
In few words he told the story of his
shipwreck, concluding thus:
with his dying breath Caleb Smugg
confessed that he had plandered his EN-
ployer for years, and that ii was the sums
thus distracted which he had artfully
concealed by false bookkeeping, and not
any real losses, which caused Mr.. Gregory's
failure The fruit of his dishonesty
Caleb, who was prudent man, carefully
boarded; and in this sachel which he gave
me will be found every cent of the stolen