News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1894-07-26

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made for the balance of the deal.
When the end of the deal had been
reached the parson asked their at
tention for a few minutes, and,
mounting the platform which held
the lookout chair, he thanked them
kindly for their generous donation,
and said if they would come to the
little school house on Sunday eve
ming for a half-hour he would endeav-
or to entertain them without preach
ing a sermon. He declared he could
not accept their money without earn
ing it.
The invitation was accepted, and
theparson was asked to have cigar,
which he lighted, while the crowd
drank "to the health of Parson
Tom" He bowed his acknowledge
ments without further interruption
of the game.
Upon entering his cabin, Parson
Tom stirred the fire, thinking of his
visit, and, after sitting by its warmth
till he had thawed himself, he went to
his trunk, which held his treasure, to
look at the little hoard of gold and
silver which these rough men of the
mountains had so kindly donated.
1t was not there Perhaps in his
excitement at his good fortune he
had hidden it from himself and for
gotten the hiding place. But, no, it
was not in the cabin
The parson was troubled. Hecould
not believe that any of the men who
had been so kind to him would be
guilty of robbery. And yet the mon
ey was gone. The long buckskin bag
in which be kept his money and which
bore his name worked in silk thread
he found behind the trunk.
When he met Paymaster Bill on
the following morning he mentioned
his loss. Bill was astonished. He
did not believe that any man in the
camp was mean enough to steal, "at
any rate not a parsons money"
The story of the loss of Parson
Toms money was told about the
camp, and, while it was a mystery
to some, the more irreverent smiled
and said they guessed the parson
was excited, and that it would turn
up all right in time.
On Sunday the sun shone out clear
and bright, and old King Solomon
was as glorious a sight as one might
wish to see. His biblical namesake
in all his reputed glory could not
have furnished grander inspiration.
But Parson Tom had promised not
to preach besides, he was not quite
sure that the incredulity concerning
the loss of his money had entirely
disappeared. So he must be careful
what he should say to them that
night.
Every male person was promptly
on hand that night at the little
3 school house, and there was a sprin-
kle of the other seX-women who had
not listened to preachers voice
since they we're little girls.
The half-hour was devoted to read
ing stories, which we're responded to
by hearty laughter and few pa
thetic EXPLANATIONS.
, When Parson Tom had finished
, and was about to say good night,
! Paymaster Bill arose and reminded
! his companions that on the night the
parson had called on them it had
been proposed that fund be started
, toward building a new church. Then
!, he added
, 81 don't reckon none of We has got
a notion O backin' down on tibet
ther' proposition. Eff ye has, let's
hear it."
There was not a dissenting voice,
, though the amount of gold and sill
yer dropped in the parsons pretty
buckskin bag was not so large as it
! might have been had the parson not
"lost his first winnin'."
The moon had dropped down be-
,, hind the peak of King Solomon, leav-
ing the camp in darkness, while soft
snow fell with that steady monotony
! which indicates a heavier fall to come.
, Parson Tom had just opened the
! door of his cabin to step in, when a
, heavy hand was laid upon his throat
and hoarse voice demanded
, "Give me that money Quick I"
. The parson was by no means a
coward. He struggled with his as
sailant, and together they fell into
the cabin and rolled out into the
light cover of fresh snow which had
: fallen on the frozen crust. Muttered
curses and tighter grip upon his
, throat met his resistance.
, damn this snow; if this job could
/ have been done an hour earlier I'd a.
} bin all right" muttered the voice as
i the form moved away in the dark
ness.
That was the last 1.-THE parson heard.
J The light snow fell straight from the
sky. There was no wind to disturb
f its course, and the soft, fine flakes
were hardly plentiful enough to fur
| nish bed for footprints.
! Parson Tom knew not how long he
had been there, and, despite the warm
er temperature, he was numb with
cold when he crawled into his cabin.
, He was so completely overcome by
J the struggle with his assailant and
the cold, that he lay upon his bed in
a stupor far into the night.
When he aroused, the snow was
! falling in great sheets like drifts,
from the gulch above. He opened
the door and looked out, He could