Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1912-09-26
ROLLING
GOLD PIECES
BY TERENCE J. oTooLE

Mike. We poor divil. why don't ye go
to AmerikyT'
The words were spoken by a country
squire in Tipperary county, Ireland, to
Mike Doolan, one of his poorest ten
ants.
What would l go there forT in
quired Mike.
why. man. don't ye know that in
that country the gold pieces are
rollin' around iverywhereY
Mike scratched his head. well"
he said presently. IF that's so I'll go.
Lind me the money for the voyage
and as soon as l get to Ameriky I'll
pick up enough gold pieces rollin'
around to sind back the loan"
The squire laughed.
mike" he said more seriously. "all
as smart a man as you needs is
chance. I'll pay the passage of ye and
Bridget and the kids, and ye needn't
send it back at ALL"
Mike accepted the offer and went to
America. The squire heard nothing
from him and had forgotten him when
one morning while sitting at his desk
writing he looked up and saw a man
dressed in a fur coat and with a soli-
taire diamond stickpin in his scarf
standing looking down on him.
what can do for you, sir?" asked
the squire.
Nothing. You done it long ago"
He pulled a wallet from his pocket,
counted out a number of gold pieces
and laid them on the desk.
whats that?" asked the squire.
Didn't We lind it to me to take me
to Ameriky? And didn't ye tell me
I'd find gold pieces rollin' around
there? Well, did. KEN back to
return the loan"
"You don't mean to say that you're
Mike Doolan?
81 do"
"And found gold pieces rolling around
In American
81 did that same"
"Tut, Mike. yere funnin'. Sit dowI
and tell me how yet got rich"
MIKE lOOh Il CldlI anu lOIl SUI
"Ye remember. sOr. that me trade
was a mason. Well. as soon as l go
to Ameriky I got a job and went tC
work. / didn't see any gold pieces roll
in around, but thought me time TO
that hadn't come yet. | found shan
ty on a road near city and used t.
go in every day to work.
"Well. one evenin' | was walkin
home covered with mortar whin rag
ged. dirthy lookin' filly stopped me an,
says, says he:
care ye masonT
"'Faith am says I.
"If yen let me blindfold ye III Civ
ye a job
/. "For how much payT
"'Somethin' more valuable tha
2 money
eco on
= "He blindfolded me and led me alon
for awhile counted my steps. Thi
z he turned me to the right and went OF
beginnin' to count me steps ag'il
70 Then he led to the roight, still coun
in till he stopped, and turned n
y round and round and took me into
house and down into the cellar. q
showed me a little room about 6 b
8, with no door to it All there We
in 1t was coffin shaped box. Brio
and morthar was handy, and the seed
man tould me to wall up the openiI
= l done it and put one O. the bricks-tf
II fifth from the floor on me left-a litt
II furder in than the rest, so I'd kno
II it again.
Il when finished the seedy man blin
III folded me again and took me arour
II and, leaving me, says:
Il "Stand till ye hear shot, then tai
II off the bandage and ye'll find the pa
II for the job at your feet
Il when hears the shot took off II
II bandage, and there at me feet was n
H pay shure enough. 1t was a pap
/ with writin' on it: Only TO
Il works for nothin.'
Il 81 went home and wrote down Il
Il figures Of me steps, and of Sund
Il blindfolded meself and wint ov
Il the ground, countin' me steps.
found house standin' above with n
Il body in it, and in the cellar | know'
me job by the brick out of place.
curiosity bein' satisfied, | thought
more about it, but long afther, VIII,
u me lease expired, l remembered th
. house and rented it.
y Like a fool. tould Bridget tn
I; there was corpse in the cellar, al
I: she wouldn't let me rest till I'd pull
Z down the brick wall I'd put up al
4 taken the coffin out. While we W
I: carryin' it somethin' dropped on t
!: cellar floor.
Il Mike says Bridget, look at t
Il yellow boys rollin' on the floor.'
Z "'Shure, me tonnes come / sa!
Il The squire was right. The coffin W
Il full of 'em.
Il II hunted for the man that h
Il beaten me out Of the pay for me j
Il and found that he was miser. l &C
Il cluded to take me pay out Of the b
;, and give him the rent when he col
Il home. l bought all the property rour
" ahout and they huilt n railroad thrOu