The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-05-01
A Sudden
Transformation
BY r. w. KEENAN,
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

! went from America 10 SCUM
Africa. leaving my wife and children
at hene. was run down in health,
discouraged and felt that the only
way to pluck up courage and get on
my feet was to light out. leave all
cares behind me and strike new
field My wife's father--an excellent
man, by the way-agreed to take care
of my family till could send for them
or return to them restored In health
and pluck.
left America sick and disheartened
A man sick Is usually man disheart-
ened. and when be is obliged to so
away by himself to recover his health
he feels rs IL the bottom has dropped
out Of his life. | never expected 10 see
my family again, However the sea
voyage helped me. and by the time
reached Africa | felt able to do some
thing for myself.
/ went to work In the Kimberley dia-
mond mines. where learned to tell
diamond when l saw it. no matter II
1t was In the rough, One day In walk
ing across a field | saw one and recog-
nized 1t at once. 1t was as big as a
small English walnut and about the
same shape. pounced upon IT, look.
ed ii over and. sure | was right about
it being a diamond. put 1t in my
pocket Even IL Of poor grade 1t
would make me rich.
/ made up my mind to return to
America with my find. So. procuring
a little chamois skin bag. / put the
diamond in IT, first marking my name
on the bag In Ink Then took trav.
cling wagon for the coast.
There were half a dozen OF us tray-
cling together, but only two of my
fellow passengers attracted my atten-
ton. One was a big. rough looking
man, who sat beside me. noticeable
for his villainous appearance. The
other was a little man In the garb of
a curate of the English church. He
was reading his prayer book most of
the time, seeming TO be only interested
in holy matters. a typical British par
son of the inferior grade, one Of those
miserable creatures who for some dirty
work done lord gets living, though
this one, being In Africa. 1t appeared
more likely that he was missionary
clergyman.
/ hadn't been sitting long by the big,
rough man. whose accent marked him
for Yorkshire man. when | thought
of my diamond. which was In one OF
my pockets next to him. clapped my
hand on the place where 1t should be.
and. 10, 1t was gone!
/ knew it had passed into the pos.
session OF the Yorkshireman. But
what was to do? | was unarmed,
and / could see the butt of his pistol
extending from his hip pocket / look
ed over the passengers to see If there
was one l could rely on to help me IN
ease | should accuse the man and
claim my property. But two Of them
were women, and the men in the
coach. except the two have men
toned. were weakly chaps. who APP
peared to have very little stuff 10
them. There seemed nothing for me
TO do but wait till we got to the end
of the route. keep the man In sight Mt
all hazards and take my chances for |
an opportunity TO recover my diamond
This decided on and did not show By
word or act that had been robbed.
The opportunity came sooner than
looked for It. Suddenly the wagon |
was stopped by single man. who or
dered us oil out and TO line up. as
road agents do In western America.
Only the curate refused and he APP |
peared to do so from abject coward
ice. Retreating 10 a far corner, be |
begged the robber not to kin him.
The robber threatened to do so II he |
didn't get out at once. but the clergy
man only whimpered and covered his /
face with bis hands. The robber. /
transferring his revolver to bis left /
hand. entered the wagon. seized the
little man by the collar with bis right
hand and was pulling him out when
a sharp crack rang out and the robber
fell back out Of the wagon dead.
If there was any nfe left in him it
was Knocked out by the curate. who
Jumped on him with both feet /
never saw a small man grow big so
luickly in my life. The next thing he
did was to plant his fist under the
Iaw Of the Yorkshireman. who. re-
from the surprise OF the cpl
sode. was putting his hand to his hip /
for his revolver. The big man did not
haye time TO set IN before the curate