Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-01-12
THE MISSING GOLD.
e, MILDRED PEABODY.

When the klondike gold fever broke
nut one who caught the disease was
San Francisco boy, Ben Hathaway.
aud in his case Ii was development
of previous complaint love he
wished to marry his sweetheart. Jen-
HE Baxter. but since be had no fortune
Jennie's father wouldn't listen to his
suit. The couple We're both too sensi-
so they agreed TO separate till Ben had
accumulated enough en- which TO at
least begin housekeeping. Hearing of
the new found gold fields he decided to
try his luck in them.
Ben spent a year in the Klondike
prospecting. which for him meant
rags and starvation. Then one day
while working alone with his pick he
struck a rich vein. But how get the
benefit Of it? There was then little
capital in Alaska: besides. he dared
not trust any one there with his secret
His sole poSseSsipns~wer the rags
that covered him. 81 cents. Il pipe and
a few ounces of tobacco However. he
resolved to start on foot for San Fran
cisco
On the way to the coast Zen fell in
With. man who was going to San
Francisco with 300 pounds of gold
dust Suspecting that he was being
followed With view to robbery. in
order to throw his purSuers off the
track he transferred the boxes to Ben.
furnishing him the means for his own
and the Colds transportation. Ben
gladly accepted the charge. He and
the owner Of the dust Travelled by the
same~route. though separately. to San
Francisco.
When Ben turned over the treasure
it was weighed and instead of pulling
down 300 pounds it pulled only 299.
A pound of gold dust had disappeared.
1t had been SO packed that it was not
possible any leakage could have oc-
Cured Ben. instead of being permit
ted to hurry to his sweetheart to re-
port his find in Alaska. was arrested,
charged with theft and thrown into
Jail.
Jennie went to see him and. when he
assured her that he was innocent. be-
iievpd him. She begged her father to
furnish The means for her lovers de-
Tense. and he. to crafty his daughter,
did so, though there was not the slight
est hope of an acquittal. A young law
yer was engaged who. upon cOnsulta.
ton with his client. becoming cOnvinc-
ed of his innocence. took deep inter
est in the case. His curiosity was eX-
cited. How could a pound of gold be
extracted from box strongly nailed
together and under Ben's eve every
moment and under the eye Of its own
! err nearly all the while. 1t was the
mystery in the case that excited the
attorneys chief interest.
At the trial great deal of sympathy
was excited by Jennie Baxter, who
was present and eagerly taught at
every word spoken for or against her
lovers innocence. The prosecution
brought in evidence which. uncontra-
dicted. must surely convict the prison
er. 1t was simply certificate of the
weight of the dust in Alaska when
turned over to Ben's keeping and a
like certificate of weigher in San
| Francisco. "
The only hope for Ben seemed to be
! in his attorney proving his previous
good character and The mercy of the
court When his attorney arose to
! speak in his clients defense every eye
was directed toward lin. curious Il,
learn if there were any poSSibe de-
| Tense other than that mentioned-gOod
character. What was the surprise of
every one when, instead of introducing
any such evidence. the attorney asked
| the judge for permission TO put on the
! stand a teacher of physics as an expert
witness.
Il cannot see" said the judge. ANY
relation between physics and theft and
must refuse the
| Something in the expression of the
| attorney altered the courts intention,
and he finished the sentence by admit
ting the witness.
| with what does physics deal?" ask
ed the lawyer.
THE laws of nature?"
''In the revolution of the earth what
| two principal forces are at work."
Gravity and the centrifugal"
Il object" interrupted the prosecut-
ing attorney, Ito taking up the time OF
the court with such irrelevant matter
Proceed" said the judge to the pris.
| oner's counsel.
What is the centrifugal force?' ask.
/ ed the latter of the witness.
/ THE throwing off of any object Oh
/ the surface of a revolving body"
| Does the centrifugal force on the
earth's surface vary?''
/ st does. 1t is greatest at the equa-
tor AT the poles ii is eliminated"
The Judge. who was leaning forward,
listening intenily. smiled and leaned
back in his chair. He had seen the
drift of these questions