The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1893-09-23

The next morning they were astir AT
an early hour, and before the sun had
peeped over the line of mountains that
lay away off to the east they bolted a
hurried breakfast and started for the
mine. never once thinking of old Alb
and the events of the previous evening.
Old Sandy was the first to enter the
mine, and he had no sooner reached
the bottom than he cried:
"Boys, it's gone!'
''Gone?" they repeated.
'Yes; gone Ever blamed bit O. the
stuff's gone slicker'n grease.
The Others hurried down, and for
little while they all stood about gazing
blankly at the empty pocket
oval, ding my buttons!" Badly Per-
kins exclaimed, IF that don't naterly
teetotally stump my taters."
'Jt's ernuff to stump anybody's Ia
tiers" said Sandy. But whar in the
name o. Sam Hill kin the stuff a gone
top
"Wal, fellers," old Mart began, ''it
didn't walk away. did it?"
Reckon not"
"An' it didn't fly away. nuther?
''Guess it didn't"
sThen it STAINS to reason that some
body took it away. don't it?"
Course somebody took it away. But
who? Thet's what want to know"
'Wal, figger the thing out in yer own
minds, boys" Mart went on, IAN then
say who'd be likely to a. took it."
Il have fggered it," said Sandy. "but
blamed if l can settle on anybody
! Don't see who could a. done it."
Don't none of you ketch idy?"
Mart asked.
They all shook their heads.
''Wal, I've fggered it, fellers." Mart
continued, IAN takin' it up one way
and down tother, don't make out that
it can be anybody but old Alb Jones.
Thar amt nobody else up yere to a.
took it, and so low, putin it all to-
gether, thar amt much room left for
doubtin' of him."
There was momentary silence, then
Sandy said:
Boys, putin this an that together,
an it does look purity blamed much
like old Alb might a. got that thar stuff.
You know he was in great stew fer
money last night, an arter we give i'm
notice to leave he jest about robbed
tibet pocket an skipped. As Mart says,
thar warn't no one else to take it, an
he's most doggoned trifiin', Shore"
"Old Abb triflin' an no count" Jacl
Bone said, IAN don't deny it; but
don't hardly b'lieve he robbed the mine
He's been about yere fer six months
an he never stole nothin' afore."
"Wal, who else could it be?'' Mar
asked.
II dunno, I'm Shore" Jack replied
but can't git it into my head that il
was old Alb"
Another short silence ensued, broker
by Sandy. who suddenly looked up t.
remark:
wonder if Abs gone yit?'
Dunno" said Mart. ''S'pose we q
an see?'
The miners at once repaired to OLE
Abs cabin. They found the door shut
the one little window blinded, while
deathlike stiffness reigned all about.
Hes skipped, boys" Sandy said.
"Yas, he's gone" Mart replied, ''bu
/ low we'd better look through tn
cabin an see what's to be seem"
''Come on, them" cried Sandy, a
he led the way to the door. 1T
blamed fortnit for the old cuss that h
did leave, sartin, err he'd a-been hum
in monty short order, Shore"
Sandy gave the door a rude push an
it turned back on its rough woode
hinges. A streak of sunlight fell int
the room, dispelling the darkness, an
; after moment the miners were abl
to distinguish objects.
by jix! boys" old Sandy exclaimed
} ''he amt gone, after all"
HE ain't?' the others cried, Grove
, ing up to peer in. Where is hep"
Thar, on the bed"
..He is. as shore as shoutin'," JAG
said.
~ low we'll 81 90 stretch the oil
chap yit Better git a rope, som'
; body"
The figure on the bed made a pc
ceptible movement, and moment late
brought his hand before his eyes, holt
Ing some small object ct which he gaze
intently.
"That's the same thing he had la
night" said Sandy. "Wonder VIII,
III is?"
ut looks kinder like a pictur, don
, it?"
blamed If Il don't, felisrs." aeud
said, as he advanced toward tbs b<