Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1909-01-22

HE NADB FIERCE BLOW Ar rom.
tachlng the treasure. The only re.
source left, then, was To wheedle
Frank into selling the valuable piece
Of land.
The realization OF this project was
made easy by the appearance that
evening of Frank Murtagh. bent on
asking Tom to give him Kitty. When
they were wrapped IN the secrecy Of
the parlor Tom craftily introduced his
scheme. He was aware OF Frank 6
circumstances. tie went on to say, aud
how small was the amount of ready
money old John Rooney had left him
to carry on the work Of the farm
Knowing this. he felt certain he would
not be able To sleep o nights II
Franks position was not made easier
He had thought the matter over and
evolved very good idea. II WAS t.
buy the far field Of Frank-yes, even
at the prohibtive price old Rooney
had put upon II.
Frank, sorely in need Of money, met
the offer with mingled wonder and de,
light
When the matter was arranged
Frank took occasion To venture his
proposal for Kitty Toms good hu.
NOR at once evaporated. He shook
his head severely.
Don't let that idea into your head
my boy" said he. "ie're no match
for her. 'Tis one Of them big grazicrs
Kitty will he getting. No, no: thry
somewhere else" Then. anxious Ia
avoid offending Frank. he added IN =
softer tone: "Ye see. kitty's only q
Young girl yet She won't be on for
marrying these years. An, SURE. haven,
you time enough yourself too? Musha
what hurry's on We to get yerself
spanchelled: Mebbe In a year or tive
ye'll be betther off than We are now
Then come to me an We'll talk about
Kitty"
The day be entered into possession
Of the field was great day for Tom
When all were abed that night he took
a spade from the stable and cautiously
made his way to the hillock where he
had seen old John Rooney burying the
Iron pot. Feeling round the brow OF
the hill, he found the loose scraws OF
earth and knew that the treasure
could not be more than two feet away
from him. Selling his spade. he com.
menced excayating with feverish en-.
gerness. In very short time-two
minutes perhaps-the spade struck
metal. Bending. he CROPPED for the
handle Of the pot and. seizing 1t. drag
ged TIE vessel out Of the hole. The
mouth Of the pot was merely covered
with rough sacking. but with admira.
BILE self restraint Tom determined to
refrain from making acquaintance
with the contents till he had cached
the friendly haven Of his own kitchen.
With cool deliheration, remarkable
when the occasion IS considered. Tom
tit lamp when he had placed the poi
on the floor. Then lie bent down and
with just slight trembling Of the I'm
gers proceeded to unite the rope that
bound the sacking. The knot was pres
emily loosened: it fell away. or cam,
the sacking. and Toms eyes glaret
vacantly at-stones
1T must be underneath" he NUT
tered hoarsely.
But when the contents were strewr
on the floor nothing was shown bu
stones mingled with sand and ashes.
| THE villain--the Old &c ha ming rogue
Full Of tricks he always was!' NUT
tered Tom, and that was all lie sal,
during the half hour he sat star
Ing wildly at the heap, OCCASIONAL,
turning, with start, to hear in tn
chirrup Of cricket the jeering cackl
Of old John Rooney.
| Presently lie rose. cleared the rub
bish into the yard and went to bed.
Next morning the first poignancy O
his disappointment was, passed. In
deed. the matter that stood most prom
inently In his mind was the loss Of tn
1000 he had paid for the Geld. But o.
further thought he was able to reliev
his depression by the conclusion tina
he would have small difficulty In coax
Ing the amount from easy going Fran
and SO restore affairs to their Origina
condition.
With this purpose in view he set on
to call on Frank. quite forgetting til
warning In the will and the bambo
! stick.
/ Frank. too, appeared to have permit
ted his testamentary duties to slip hi
memory. for he baGr the old man we
come and hailed him to the parlor wit
every demonstration Of respect. I'll
object Of Toms visit filed him wit
deiIghted speculation. Was 1t som,
thing about Kitty? Had Tom repente
IT his harsh opposition?