The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-05-15

nc Is Ill Dad way. AS soon as ne 1Ounu
that there were no nuggets in sight and
was told that he had merely imagined
them he took on the color of q corpse
He reeied about, paved tho air, and
then, with howl such as l never want
to hear again, ran off to his cabin and
locked himself up in it. AS he couldn't
be induced to come out, two men wero
left to watch him, for he is evidently
upset in the upper story. No one can
get anything out of him but mutterings
about his last blast. "
The next day Mike was brought into
the town for medical examination. Tho
doctors said his mental arrangement
was Of nature so mild and harmless
that he might safely he allowed to re
main in his cabin. Indeed, at times be
seemed for a moment or two to get back
his senses One of his friends happen
ing to speak of his mother and his peo-
pie in Ireland, he at once broke out
with: Dyes, l don't care so much mo
self for the trouble and whorlin in mo
haid, but do be thinllin of the poor
Guild mother back across the wather
What will become of her and of them
all, widout the money l promised to
sind?'
1t was in vain they spoke of the big
nugget he had found, telling him he
should have it and do with it what he
pleased. He would hear of nothing of
the kind That belonged to the men who
had put up their money for him. His
gold was still under the big bowlder,
where he had fired his last blast. He
had seen it once, and he would see it
again and get it.
The men who had backed Mike-half
a dozen in numbcr-asCertained the
address of his widowed mother from
mon who had known him at home an
selling the big nugget, which proved to
be worth So, GEO, sent her check for
the amount
Mike shut himself up in his cabin
and was seldom seen outside Of it dur
ing the daylight hours. Men mining On
the canyon, however, reported that he
was in the habit of prowling about of
nights. They said they had frequently
seen a light up at his claim very late
at night just at the spot where he had
demolished the big bowlder. Upon in
vestigation by friend, it was found
that Mike had got into hi head that
the pile Of gold he had seen had been
sunk deep into the ground by an cyi
spirit. However, he voo' yet got it, Il.
one night each month at midniglt--ll
did not know what nj ,ht-all the big
nuggets came up 10 t. cir old nest under
If 1, 1
the goblin that had lived under the biz
rock was to be Oh the watch and shout
when the gold appeared, mine, i'll the
name of the Blessed Virgin.
Though he wanted nothing to do with
any one, yet he was always peering out
at the chinks Of his cabin, watching
those who passed by When any one
came along the trail, he would pop his
head out at his door and utter his new
warcry Of "Mine, i'll the name of the
Blessed Virgin. Seeing that the life
he was leading was making him worse,
his friends on the canyon tried to get
him out of his cabin, Offering him big
wages to work in their claims All was
useless, however, until one day man
happened to say he had big bowlder
in his diggings he wanted blasted out.
Instantly Mike pricked up his ears and
was all attention. He was ready to set
to work upon the bow lder at once.
Being e..rn trial, it was found that
he was able to work as we'll and intel
ligently as ever at drilling and blasting.
While engaged in that work he seemed
quite sane, Tut he could not be induced
to do anything i'll the mines except blast
powders / or that business he seemed
to have a perfect mania and could a,
complish nearly as much in day a.
two ordinary men. Battling with the
powders was seen to brighten him up
wonderfully, and he was given all the
work he could do in his favorite line
by the friendly miners up and down
Slug canyon,
One day after Mike had been for some
months waging war Of determination
against the powders of Slug canyon his
friends up in Downieville had big sur
prise. All unheralded and unexpected,
the WILDLY Maroney, with raft of
tall and buXom daughters, landed in
their midst, fresh from the Gould sod. "
They had come to make their home in
America land look afther poor Moik "
Manageable girls being at that time in
great demand, the family We're heartily
welcomed and well provided for at
once. 1t was then so contrived that
Mike was suddenly brought into the
midst Of the whole crowd without hint
being given him beforehand that his
mother and sisters We're in the country.
The surprise so shook him up mentally
that the balance wheel in his head at
once started up and moved along as
smoothly and regularly as ever.
Soon the family were comfortably set
tied at Downieville, and Mike with
them. His last blast had not been so
very disastrous after all. 1t had not
only fetched the big bowlder, but had
also fetched all his people out to Amer
lea to good home. and the raft of
bouncing girls to where they all soon
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