Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-05-03
LCopyriglltl
TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.
James T. M'Kay. in The Galaxy.

James T MKay. in The Galaxy.
PRENT.
"Will you ever be done collecting
Prent?"
"Oh, hope so, Nell. 1 think I'll ge
through the best of it to-day. 1 expec
to bring you home $4,000 tonight"
"Hush" she said. you're foolish t.
talk so. wish you were well out of thu
business, Prent."
"Pshaw, Nell!' he answered, "there'.
no danger. I'd like to leave it in Bath
Westbury's safe in Caramore, but Batf
told me yesterday they wouldn't have
any more. There's been a safe robbery
down West, and they're afraid. l don't
blame 'em, though"
"Where are you going today"
"I'm going South, through Dixon and
Camthorp to shore, and then West by
the South country road to Seaville and
Plumley, and then home by Caramore
1t is long pull, but l haven't much
work to do, and guess Driver'll do it
by dark"
He got up from the breakfast table
and prepared to go out.
"Well, don't be rash, Prent.'
''Oh, I'll look out. Don't you fear.
Good-by, Nell"
She saw him ride brown Driver through
the gate and trot away down the South
road
At II Prent rode out to Shore, and
held on East along the wide South pike;
at 2 he was in Seaville Center. In Plum
ley he was delayed. To get home by
dark he should have been at Caramore
by half past four. The sun was low. on
Three Pine hills when he rode up to
Bath & Westbury's general country
store. He hitched Driver to a post, went
in and warmed his hands at the stove.
"-evenin', Broom" said Bath.
He beckoned and passed through to
the back store. Prent followed and shut
the door behind him.
Broom" says Bath, ''yoh've got to
take that money along with you, an all
got to say is the sooner you get shet of
it, the better for you"
"Why, what's to pay now, Bath?" ask
ed Prent.
''There was two regular sporters stop
ped at Jim Crickett's last night. They
come by different trains, didn't know
each other at all, at first, but got very
thick afore the night was out. The first
one gave his name as William Paddle
box, and when the other fellow saw it on
the book, he put his'n down James NJ
Walkingbeam. Last week, too, there
was fellow in here pretended he was
agent for Bellamy tobacco company. /
asked him some quiZzing questions that
showed he wasn't up to the tobacco trade
at all, I'd be swore. l saw him examine
the lock of the North door, and walk all
around the building when he went out
I'm mighty mistaken if somebody amt
broke into before long. Leastways, you
must take that package out of our safe
tonight. I've changed off the small
money for you and got it into as small
bulk as could. And, look here, Broom"
he added, ''the money being in our safes
been talked of over to Wimble's, and it's
no more'n right for you to drop in there
and happen to mention it's been took
out"
"Well," said Broom, ''if you say so.
don't want you to run any risk by me-"
There were one or two persons in the
store as he passed through, took the
package from Bath, and buttoned it IN
der his coat.
"You ought to be armed, Broom"
Bath whispered.
Prent opened his coat little way; the
butt of a pistol showed on his left breast.
He stepped over to Wimble's hotel, and
bought a cigar at the bar Wimble
came up.
"How do, Broom? Comm over t. the
rattle tomorrow? Lem me git you a
ticket, only a dollar!"
mo, guess not" says Prent. SCOT to
go t the city.
"Going to take them ten thousan' Ben
Baths got in his safe O. your'n?"
"Bath hasn't no ten thousand nor ten
cents of mine," said Broom.
He went out and started on. The sun
was set. He had nineteen miles to do
yet. He kept Driver going smartly,
though he began to lag little with his
long days tramp. The road lay North,
through level, waste plain lands, covered
with stunted pines, scrub oak, and small
er matted underground. The road is
single wagon track cut down through the
thin surface soil into the white, fetlock
deep sand underneath. 1t was dreary
ride enough. Broom kept his horse at a
steady pace, urging him now and then a
little faster. Nell would be looking for
him now, and eighteen miles with a tired
horse between them yet. Four miles of
the same monotonous waste; then, far
away across the level, he caught sight
of the buildings of Camarack station on
the line OF the railway. He heard the
whistle of train coming West, and
presently saw it roll in and stop. 1t
moved off, Kissing and changing, Just as
he came up. Crossing the track, he was
hailed by a man he knew.
"Hello, Broom! hold on"
He stopped and the man came out.
Look here, Broom, he said; "half an
hour ago got this telegram. What the
deuce does it mean?" 1t was dated,