The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-12-15

the IHlluTe 10 reach bne tnlueS III ROOu
working shape. Think of it. GOLDl
GOLDl in great abundance to be had
just for the digging"
By remarks such as these and strong
gestures Mr.. Smith held his audience
spellbound. These simple minded,
honest hearted men and women listen
ed and drank in every word. If any
felt doubt they were too excited and en-.
Unused by the speakers eloquence and
inflammable words to give them utter
ance. The evening wore away, nine
o'clock came and went; at ten o'clock
the speaker swung aloft paper and
called for signers. This paper contain
ed a written contract which must be
signed by those who wished to join the
syndicate. Although dozen men
were ready that minute to sign, not one
moved. All looked towards aud waited
for the opinion and action of their re-
cognized leader, Frank Everedge, in
the matter.
Frank Everedge hesitated. He real
lied his responsibility as leader, and
! his wife's words also had not been
without their impression. But his
great desire to go, and his belief that
this was really the one chance of life
time, overbaanced at last his naturally
good judgment. With rapid steps he
assembled the platform and took the pen
in his hand. One, two, three, nineteen
men followed him, all men who could
i'll afford to raise the $500, and who, if
they went, must leave their families,
some of them without necessary prov-
sion for the long cold winter. A CLEAN
of triumph shot across Allan Smiths
face. Ten thousand dollars was a
larger amount than he had expected.
His partner, Mr. Cole, looked on with
serene satisfaction.
Meanwhile on the same day that all
this transpired in Centreville, Maud
Everedge started homeward for her
Thanksgiving vacation. Maud Ever
edge was bright winsome girl of six
teen and her face reflected the happy
thoughts that filled her mind. Thoughts
that went backward to the successful
examinations just passed and the many
friendships formed among scholars and
teachers, and forward to the Joy of the
homecoming, a Joy that was to be de-
ferred for little, however, as she had
promised to stop for day or two with
a widowed aunt of her fathers, who
| llNtu dJ lbOChNiilC RtuuiOhS thO Aoop Oh
the line of the railroad.
So much had she to think of that she
paid no heed to the low .toned CONVEX
sation of two gentlemen, far ahead OF
her, and the only other occupants of
the car until the word Centrevile at
tracted her attention. Her interest
and curiosity thus aroused and her
hearing naturally acute, she easily over
heard the following remarks: "Centre-
ville," repeated the second speaker,
"What could have taken Smith and
Cole there, the dullest place this side
of New York and about fifty years be-
hind the time" Exactly" said the
first speaker, "just the place for their
business" Business" replied the
other, "I'm sure don't understand
you in the least" cts not likely"
said the first speaker, with short, dry
laugh, "neither is it probable that the
people of Centreville will understand
them or their business until they have
scooped five or ten thousand dollars of
their hard. earned money dug out of the
rocks. Here is proof of my statement"
and the speaker drew from his pocket
handful, such as previously described,
and gave it to his companion. 81 hap
pened to walk down street behind
Smith the other night, just in time to
pick up this which he dropped from a
large roll of papers, and that is how
came to be on the inside track of their
little scheme" Rascal" said the
second speaker, after an intent perusal
of the paper, and then in different
tone, "Some one ought to warn the
people of Centreville. If Smith and
Cole once get possession of their money,
the men may 90 TO Klondike and starve
or freeze for all they'll care" SIT is
really none of our business" said the
first speaker, "besides it is probably
too late. l believe the date given on
the handful was to-day and evening at
the town house. But for our own in
terest it is we'll for us to know, what l
long ago suspected, that Smith is a
fraud, a sharper and gambler. AS
for Cole, he is completely under his
thumb, 80 to speak, helps out his pre-
jects and l dare say shares in the re-
wards"
At this point the conductor called
out Birmingham Station and the two
gentleman departed leaving behind
them a thoroughly astonished, wide
awake and agitated girl. From the pre-
ceding conversation she readily grasp
ed the fact that danger, perhaps death,
as we'll as the loss of their hard learned
money threatened the people of her
beloved town. Perhaps even her father
or neighbors would be among the num-
Der thus deceived, and every nerve
thrilled with a desperate longing TO
reach and warn them, longing that
rapidly settled itself into an intense de-
termination, If one could judge from
the look of purpose in the keen gray
blue eyes and the lines around the set
mouth.
To determine is one thing, to fulfill
is another, and Maud Everedge spent
hour after hour of that November af
ternoon trying to plan some way of COW
ering the fifty miles between Rockville
Station and the town house before the
evening meeting would be dissolved,
and the last chance, in all probability
over. At last when she had nearly
given up the problem, the idea came to
her mind of taking q bicycle ride.
Providence seemed to favor her for as