Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-29
$1,000 IN GOLD.

1arky came hobbling along the road. He
was bleeding from severe cut in the side
of the face.
who's been knitting you, uncle.n in
quired the sergeant in command of the
party. The old darby had taken his hat
off as he approached the foIagers and was
making awkward attempts at bowling as
he scraped the ground with his left foot
'sPut your hat on. old man. said the
sergeant. whats been the troubles''
s.Moas' got killed. Massa Sojah." was
the reply.
The sergeant had supply of adhesive
plaster, and after a tolerable job of patch
ing up on the face was done and after it
was decided to let the wool and the clotted
blood do the work for the cut on the head,
the old man was given something to eat
and pull at the sergeant's canteen of
whisky. for he was pretty weak from the
loss of bleed, good supply of which was
in his old shoes.
After the old man refreshed himself he
looked at the sergeant and abruptly said,
"Massa Sojah, Massa Richardson, he's
gwine ter come back aftah dat gole.'
whats that, uncle?p said the sergeant,
and the men of the foraging party looked
eagerly at the darby and gathered closely
around. she says somebody is coming
after some gold" said one of the men.
"What gold?" asked the sergeant of the
old man.
sole mars an ole missus' COLE" said the
darby "When dey heah dat de Yankees
gwine come. dey gwine away in de kedge.
Ole mars tells Mars Richardson"--
"Who is Richardson" asked the ser
geant
''Mars Richardson, he's de obaseah.
Ole mars tole him take keer dat COLE.
Mars Richardson he's gone roun sly, ain
done ketch him one night diggin up dat
COLE neah de magnolia ain putin it in de
brush He's suspicioned dish yeah niggah,
ain he gwine come to me dish yeah morn
in ain say, You dam ole scondrel, yo's lived
long nutf.' Sho huff he had dat sword,
ain he knocked me down SOS could pray.
Foah could pray de Lawd didn't know
muffin, ain when woke up de Yankees
burned de house. Mars Richardson, he's
gwine come back aftah dat COLE"
Fright you are, old man, said the ser
geant. ''Why don't you dig it up and take
it to your master?"
To this singular question on the part of
the sergeant there was a distinct murmur
of disapprobation from the foragers, and
as the sergeant looked around in some sur
prise the darby replied:
Dunno whah dey's gwine, Mars Sojah. J"
'Too bad" said the sergeant. ''That
scoundrel, who must have thought he left
you for dead, will come back and steal
that money"
"Where is the gold?" inquired one of
the men. To this the old darby made no
reply, but looked at the sergeant as though
he relied upon him for some way out of
the dilemma.
"If you show us where the gold is
buried, we will dig it up''--
ayes, yes" interrupted the eager for
ayers.
And when we get it." continued the
sergeant leisurely, "Ill turn it over to the
quartermaster.
"It's the regular way" said the ser
geant as he looked around at the disap
pointed faces. ''All captures, according to
the army regulations, must be turned over
to the quartermaster." The sergeant pro
duced well thumbed little black bound
book and read a paragraph aloud, then
put the book into an inside breast pocket,
and arising said. ''Show us where that
gold is, uncle, if you don't want that
scoundrel to get it."
The old man gathered himself up and
led the way. After a tramp of half II mile
the old darby came to spot in grove
short distance from the house, and after
some little search and with the aid of n
bayonet and some fiat chips the gold was
unearthed There were 5000 in broad
pieces.
True to his word, the sergeant turned
over the money to his colonel after the
party reached camp, and that was the last
he heard of it until about six months ago
1t never left the hands of the colonel, al
though at the time it reached them he
commended the sergeant for his honesty
and said he would see that it WAS regular
ly turned over to the quartermaster.
Both the sergeant and the colonel live
in great city east of the Mississippi The
colonel is wealthy, respected and highly
honored in the community. where he takes
leading part in building up the great
city where he lives. His name is on the
lists of every noble charity that prompts
the generous heart to subscribe. His word
is as good as his bond and would be taken
in moment, when the sergeant's wouldn't
be accepted in u lifetime. The sergeant is
regarded as kind of crank, who may
be all right in a certain sense, but he
hasn't got anything but what his days
work fetches How he gained knowledge
of the fact that the colonel stole the money
it was no more nor less than stealing,
call it embezzlement if you will--was very
simple 1t came through the colonel's or
derby, who overheard the delivery of the
gold and who carried the heavy package
to the express office, directed to GER
tain northern bank when the army reached
Charleston. An accidental meeting in
lager beer saloon and chance remark led
to the revelation.
The colonel must now be aware that the
sergeant knows of the theft. Some time
ago at a great revival, which was rendered
the more interesting BY the presence OF
very prominent men, inclusive OF the
colonel. the sergeant was a visitor, seated,
- it CHANGED. in the same pew with the
Dolonel and with that splendid matron, his
wife. When the cards were passed, the
sweet face of Mrs. = was turned to
the old sergeant, whom she knew, and she
reached a card toward him. Unfortunately,
as it may be said, in view of the fact that
even larceny may possibly be condoned by
time with anybody but some cranky SER
geant who has abnormally developed views
on the subject of common honesty-unfor-
the colonel took the card in pass
ing and penciled the line, 81 would like to