The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-09-06

/ to Billy, who watched the sleeper for
an instant, and then proceeded to put
his cowardly scheme into effect. 1t was
! but the work of few minutes to gather
together the things necessary for the
short journey down the river and to
secure the treasure for safe transporta-
| ton. There was a look of cunning
triumph on his face as he completed his
preparations He was thinking of the
surprise awaiting Tom, who had been
fool enough to believe in human
friendship
He made cautious step toward the
door of the shack, when a slight noise,
real or fancied caused him to glance
back over his shoulder. The next in
slant the bag of gold crashed to the
floor, while Billy sank on his knees, as
though felled by blow. Tom was sit
/ ting bolt upright in bed, his revolver
leveled at Billy's heart.
The two gazed at each other mo-
ment in utter silence. Billy's eyes, fix
ed with the penetration born of despair,
scanned the old man s face and read
there reproach and pity rather than a
thirst for swift revenge. This some
what treasured him, and he rose to his
feet.
well" he said bluntly, "what do
you intend to dof'
"So,'' said Tom with long breath,
81 wuz mistook in you after all. To
think that gave you my friendship an
you want worth it. What be I going
to do? What do men usu' lily do when a
pardner turns thief?''
"You wouldn't shoot me, Tom?''
"Why not? Mems been killed fer
less an this, an the world wuz well
rid of 'em. -
Then it did mean death.
As Billy realized this his face turned
ashen pale, while palsying terror
struck through him, rending his bra
vado mask and revealing him as the
pitiable bastard he was. He covered
before the old man, pleading hysteric
ally.
"Oh, spare me- spare me, Tom. You
said you cared nothin for gold, while
IL was mad with love of it. 1t is my
god-my heaven-my everything But
take it, take it all-only give me my
e-Tom-I-I-can t-die.
"Git up" commanded the other
coldly. Don't make me despise you
worse'n 1 do What would you do if
you wuz in my place? Shoot, wouldn' t
you? You'd kill me now if you had the
chance
"But think, Tom, what life means to
me. I'm young and''-
tThink what friendship meant to
me, Billy. I'm old. y
In the momentary silence that follow
ed the pines and the river could be
heard singing their old, old song, I'M
needing of the strife of mortals for a
scrap of the treasure they guarded.
Tom heard the song, and his bitterness
seemed to go out with the weird melo
dy The hand that held the weapon
dropped listlessly to his side.
cpl spar yer life, F" he said hoarse-
ly. "You kin go.
Billy stood moment as though he
had not heard.
eyer free. Cor said Tom.
The boy glanced from the old man to
the bag of gold and then turned slowly
toward the doorway.
''You better take yer pile now" said
Tom quietly, 'as reckon you won t
be comm back.
''Do you mean it?' gasped Billy.
Certainly. Half's yourn, amt it?
There's only one thief in this camp, an
it amt me. P"
Tom proceeded to open the bag and
| roughly divided the contents.
| "You can take the boat; that goes
with your half. AS fer me, !" he added
in voice that wavered in spite of him
self, "I'll do what I'd "a done if you d
"a robbed me- I'll stay awhile longer
with the mountains an the river.
They're uncertain sometimes, an some
times they're dangerous, but mostwise
they're better n men,
Billy vaguely appreciated the nature
of the man with whom he was dealing,
yet he felt that such nobleness required
some acknowledgement. He sprang for
ward and tried to grasp the old mans
hand.
mo, no--not that!' cried Tom
fiercely. "Don't touch me. The gold is
yourn. Take it an go. But go quickly,
Billy-fer God knows-I'm only hu-
man. '-Leavenworth Macnab in Argo-
naut.