The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1899-03-01

though Tom never disclosed them pub.
licly. They must have been very hard,
for he required time to think of them,
and he was not man to stick at tri1es
where money was in view. When they
had reached the edge OF the swamp the
stranger paused.
"What proof have 1 that you have
been telling me the TRUTH" said Tom.
"There is my signature" said the black
man, pressing his iuger on Toms fore
head. So saying he turned off among
the thicke of the swamp, and seemed,
as Tom said, to go down, down, down,
into the earth, until nothing but his
head and shoulders could be seen, and 80
on until he totally disappeared.
When Tom reached home he found
the black print of finger burnt, as it
were, into his forehead, which nothing
could oblterate
The first news his wife had to tell him
was the sudden death of Absalom Crow
ninsheild, the rich buccaneer. 1t was
announced in the papers with the usual
flourish, that "a great man hEd fallen in
Israel"
"Tom reCcollected the tree which his
black friend had just hewn down, and
which was ready for the burning. "Let
the freebooter roast" said Tom, "who
cares" He now felt that all he had seen
and heard was no illusion.
He was not prone to let his wife into
his confidence but as this was an uneasy
secret, he willingly shared it with her.
All her avarice was awakened at the
mention of hidden gold, and she urged
her husband to comply with the black
mans terms and secure what would
make them wealthy for life. However
lom might have felt disposed to sell
himself to the devil, he was determined
not to do 80 to oblige his wife 80 he fiat.
ly refused out Of the mere spirit OF con-
tradiction. Many and bitter were the
quarrels they had on the subject, but the
more she talked the more resolute was
Tom not to be damned to please her. At
length she determined to drive the bar
gain on her own account, and II she sue
ceeded, to keep all tie gam to herself
Being of the same fearless temper as
her husbadd, she sat of for the old In
dian fort towards the close OF Summers
day. She was many hours absent.
When she came back she was reserved
and sullen in her replies. She spoke
something OF black man when she had
met about twilight, hewing at the root
of tall tree. He was sulky, however,
and would not come to terms she was
10 90 again with a propitiatory Offering,
but what 1t was she iorbore to say.
The next evening she again sat of for
the swamp, with her apron heavily la.
den. Tom waited and waited for her,
but in vain midnight came, but she did
not make her appearance morning,
noon, night returned, but still she did
not come. Tom now grew uneasy Tor
her safety especially a. he found she had
carried OF In her apron the silver teapot
and spoons and every portable article OF
value. Another night elapsed, another
morning came but no wife. In a word,
she was never heard OF more.
Tom consoled himself for the loss Of
his property by the loss Of his wife; Tor
he was little Of philosopher He
even felt something like gratitude 10.
ward the black woodsmAn, who he con-
sldered had done him q kindness. He
sought, therefore. 10 cultivate a farther
acquaintance with him, but for some
time without success the old black legs
played shy, for whatever people may