The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-09-01

fer my part I'd ruther take 1T out In
broad daylight, SOS We'll be shore not
to lose none O the stuff"
The others agreed to this after a lit
tie demurring, and SO the pocket with
its rich contents was left unmolested,
and the miners went up to the camp
feeling happy.
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
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 gonew
'Gone?" they repeated.
''Yes; gone. Ever blamed bit O. the
stuffs gone slicker'n grease.
The others hurried down, and for a
little while they all stood about gazing
blankly at the empty pocket.
''Wal, ding my buttons!" Badly Per-
kins exclaimed, 'if that don't naterly
UcCUOUdlly kly GstISAo'
''Its ernuff to stump anybody's ta-
ters," said Sandy But whar in the
name O. Sam Hill kin the stuff a gone
to?"
oval, fellers," old Mart began, sit
didn't walk away, did it?"
"ReclSon not"
can it didn't fly away, nuther?"
"Guess it didn't"
"Then it stan's to reason that some
body took it away, don't it?''
Course somebody took it away. But
who? Thet's what want to know"
oval, fgger the thing out in yer own
minds, boys" Mart went on, ''an' then
say who'd be likely to a took it."
Il have fggered it," said Sandy, "but
blamed if / can settle on anybody.
Don't see who could a. done it,
Don't none of yoh ketch idy?"
Mart asked.
They all shook their heads.
oval, I've fggered it, fellers," Mart
continued, IAN takin' it up one way
and down t'other, 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 a great stew fer
money last night, an arter we give i'm
notice to leave he jest about robbed
thet pocket an skipped. AS Mart says,
thar warn't no one else to take it, an
he's most doggoned triflin', shore"
"Old Alb is trifin' an no count" Jack
Bone said, ''an' don't deny it; but /
don't hardly b'lieye he robbed the mine.
He's been about yere fer six months,
an he never stole nothin' afore."
oval, who else could it be?" Mart
asked.
81 dunno, I'm Shore" Jack replied,
but can't git it into my head that it
was old Alb"
Another short silence ensued, broken
by Sandy, who suddenly looked up to
remark:
wonder if Abs gone yit?"
Dunno" said Mart. "S'pose we go
an see?''
The miners at once repaired to old
Abs cabin. They found the door shut,
the one little window blinded, while a
deathlilse stiffness reigned all about.
'IIe's skipped, boys" Sandy said.
''Yas, he's gone." Mart replied, "but
I low we'd better look through the
cabin an see what's to be seen."
"Come on, then" cried Sandy, as
he led the way to the door. Its
blamed fortnit for the old cuss that he
did leave, sartin, er he'd a-been hung
in monty short order, shore"
Sandy gave the door a rude push and
it turned back on its rough wooden
hinges. A streak of sunlight fell into
the room, dispelling the darkness, and
after moment the miners were able
to distinguish objects.
"By jixl boys" old Sandy exclaimed,
she amt gone, after all"
"He ain't?" the others cried, crowd
ing up to peer in. "Where is hep"
''Thar, on the bed"
said
81 low We'll git to stretch the old
chap yit Better git a rope, some
body"
The figure on the bed made a per-
ceptible movement, and moment later
brought his hand before his eyes, hold
ing some small object at which he gazed
intently.
That's the same thing he had last
night" said Sandy. "Wonder what
it is?''
1T looks kinder like a pictur, don't
it?"
BLAMED if it don't, fellers," Sandy
said, as he advanced toward the bed
with cautious step.
"What's up nth YEP" Sandy ex-
claimed, giving old Alb rude shake.
"rm a-comin', Liza" Alb muttered.
''It's long way, You know, an it's
powerful trim climbin' the range. A
feller has to rest leetle, but III be
thar d'reckly."
"HumphI" old Sandy murmured,