The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-08-17

peepeu over the line OF mountains ina
lay away off to the east they bolted a
hurried breakfast and started for the
mine, never once thinking of old All
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 goner'
Gomez they repeated.
Eyes; gone Ever blamed bit O the
stuff's gone slicker'n grease"
The others hurried down, and for a
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."
ITS ernuff to stump anybodys Ia
ters," said Sandy. But whar in the
name O Sam Hill kin the stuff a gone
TOP"
oval, fellers,' old Mart began, sit
didn't walk away, did it?"
Reckon not"
''An' it didn't fly away, nuther?"
Guess it didn't"
''Then 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"
oval, figger the thing out in yer own
minds, boys" Mart went on, IAN then
say who'd be likely to a took it."
II have iggered 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 a idy?'
Mart asked.
They all shook their heads.
"Wal, I've figgered 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.
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 doSgoned tritlin', shore
"Old Abs trifiin' an no count" Jack
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."
oval, who else could it be?" Mart
asked.
II 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. "Spose we GO
an see?"
The miners at once repaired to old
Abs cabin. They found the door shut,
the one little window blinded, while d
deathlike stiffness reigned all about.
Hes skipped, boys" Sandy said
"Yas, he's gone" Mart replied, but
l 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 rude push anC
it turned back on its rough wooder
hinges A streak of sunlight fell into
the room, dispelling the darkness, ant
after moment the miners were abb.
to distinguish objects.
by jix! boys" old Sandy exclaimed
'he amt gone, after all"
He ain't?" the others cried. crowd
ing up to peer in. Where is he?"
Thar, on the bed"
He is, as shore as shoutin'." Jack
said
Il low well git to stretch the old
chap yit. Better git rope, some
body"
The figure on the bed made per
ceptible movement, aud 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 pic tur, don't
ito"
Blamed if it don't, fellers,' Sandy
said, as he advanced toward the bed
with cautious step