The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-12-23
HR PxRRRD CAUTIOUSLY ABOUT HIM

HE PKRRRD CAUTIOUSLY ABOUT HIM.
surprise discovered stone cist or coffin
constructed OF rude blocks He crept in
and was still further surprised when he
found within a pot containing charred
bones and ashes, and near it a cup of vel.
low metal and some rings and hoops, some
weighing 8, others 10 and Is ounces apiece.
He hastily scrambled forth, and as the
setting sun CLEANED out he examined his
find by its light He rubbed the cup and
the rings on his sleeve and "By gingerl''
said he. "I'm darned If it amt all solid
gold Come, I'm in luck's way This
shall stand over against rainy day"
Such was his first thoughts; the second
was this: IF 1t be known that / have
found a treasure then l shall have the
duchy putting its fist down on 1t, the
lord of the manor demanding 1t, the
crown exacting it, the parson holding out
his hand for a tenth and every householder
in the parish, as this is common land,
clamoring for his share, and there be l43
have rights There'll be naught left for
me but the disappointment of having
found and lost treasure.
Josiah stood turning over the gold cup
and rings Then he peered cautiously
about him to make sure that he was unob-
served
Then the young man replaced the cover
ing block, then heaped the small stones
and earth over it and disguised the fact
that the place had been disturbed.
. He returned home very satisfied with
himself and with his prospects. Now he
could look forward without blinking to
the inevitable rainy day At present he
had health, strength and youth, and with
these he could earn his livelihood But 4"
as Jos put It, II can I reckon on these last
ing knows several young chaps as has
had colds settled on their chestesses and
have died of a decline. And Tom Endi-
sott, he dislocated his hip and now can't
hobble up on to the moor after granite no
more, and as to old age and decrepitude-
there's no denying It, every day and hour
and minute brings me higher to it"
Accordingly Jos went on breaking up
stone and inclosing, and instinctively he
extended his new take wall in the direc-
tion Of the cairn and stone chest that con-
tained his treasure
1t must not be supposed that Jos was
not tempted to realize, but fear of discov-
cry and the consequent confscation of the
gold, above oil, his prevailing dominant
passion Of caution against future unpro-
On the verge of the moor lived girl
named Mary Aggett with her bedridden
mother She made livelihood out of
some poultry she kept, out Of flint arrow.
heads, which by searching she found on
the moor and which she disposed of to an
archeologist. She also did some needle
work
Jos passed the cottage twice daily on his
way out and on his way home, and very
frequently he saw Mary at her door, and
they never met without exchange of salu-
tations On one occasion when overtaken
by hailstorm he had been invited into
the cottage and had been given a cup of
tea that warmed his heart as If it had been
peppermint and got into his head as If 1t
had been whisky,
On leaving the cottage he said TO him
self IL might go farther and fare worse.
The old mother is well cared for, the house
neat, the maid Is pretty and bright and
pleasant But"-he shook his head--"it
don't do to marry early; that means a
family coming fast and nothing drags a
mans head under water like lot Of ba-
bies clawing hold of it, If Polly Aggett
had money, that would be another matter
altogether Then 1t might be worth con-
sideration.
One day when they met on the moor the
northeast blast was so cutting that they
retired together under shelter of a rock to
eat their lunch Considering how cold the
weather was Jos put his arm round Polly,
and, having an overcoat, he threw one
arm of 1t over her shoulder
The ensuing night was one of sore temp
tation to Jos. He tossed on his bed He
could not sleep He sailed very early
from his house and went TO the moor, re-
solved to raise his treasure, dispose of it,
dare fortune and marry
AS he passed the cottage of Mary Aggett
he did not see her He was glad of this,
lest she should have asked him why he
went to his work two hours earlier than
usual
He proceeded 10 the cairn, removed the
stones, heaved the covering slab aside, got
into the chest and brought out the gold
rings and cup He furbished them up
and they sparkled in the morning sun.
When all were ranged before him. he
shook his head. sit would be madness to
risk 1t, T" said he "If l married Polly,
women be them corkscrews. she'd havs
the whole story out OF me, and they be
that chatterboxes they can't help talking,
and she'd blab about 1t TO every one in the
place. Then I'd have the crown, and the
duchy, and the lord of the manor, and the
parson, and the l43 commoners down ON
me demanding their shares Be hanged If
IN risk itl Women is terrible dangerous
animals with their tongues, never 70 be
trusted" Then In went all the treasure
again into the coffin that had contained
and preserved IL for 1000 years
II know what III do, said Jos I'm
build my new take wall right over this
old grave and then no one can get at the
treasure without pulling down the wall
Idttle did Jos suspect that he was being
watched. and that his syefy. word was