The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-09-16
ROLLING
GOLD PIECES
BY TERENCE ]. O'TOOLE

Mike. we poor divil. why don't We so
TO Ameriky?"
The words were spoken by country
squire in Tipperary county, Ireland, to
Mike Doolan, one of his poorest ten
| ants.
What would ! go there for?' In
CURED Mike.
"Why. man. don't ye know that in
that country the gold pieces are
rollln' around iverywhereT
Mike scratched his head. We'll"
he said presently. IF that's so I'll go.
Lind me the money for the voyage
and as soon as 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 man as you needs Is
chance. I'll pay the passage of ye and
Bridget and the kids. and We needn't
send 1t 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 man
dressed in fur coat and with soil
taire diamond stickpin In his scarf
standing looking down on him.
what can do for you, sir?" asked
the squire.
Nothing. You done IL long ago."
He pulled wallet from his pocket,
counted out number OF gold pieces
and laid them on the desk.
whats that?" asked the squire
Didn't We lind 1t ia me to take me
to Ameriky? And didu't We tell me
I'd find cord pieces roIlin around
there? Well, l did. ! KEN back to
return the loan"
"You don't mean to say that you're
Mike Doolan?"
~ do"
"And found gold pieces rolling around
In American"
II did that same"
"Tut. Mike. ys're funnin'. Sit down
and tell me how yet got rich"
Mike took chair and told his story.
Eye remember, sor. that me trade |
was a mason. Well, as soon as / got |
to Ameriky got job and went to
work. didn't see any gold pieces roll
in around, but l thought me time for
that hadn't come yet. l found a shan
ty on a road near city and used to
go in every day to work.
"Well. one evenin' I was walkin' |
home covered with mortar whin rag
ged. dirthy lookin' FLY stopped me and
says, says be:
"'Are We a masonr
"'Faith I am says I.
eff ye'll let me blindfold We I'll give
We job
"'For how much payT
"'Somethin' more valuable than
money.
"'Go on
"He blindfolded me and led me along
for awhile. counted my steps. Thin
he turned me to the right and went on,
l beginnin' to count me steps agin.
Then he led to the roight, ! still count
in till he stopped, and turned me
round and round and took me into a
house and down into the cellar. He
showed me little room about 6 by
o. with no door to it. All there was
in it was a coffin shaped box. Brick
and morthar was handy. and the seedy
man tould me to wall up the openin'.
/ done 1t and put one o. the bricks-tne
fifth from the floor on me left-a little
furder In than the rest. so I'd know
it again.
when finished the seedy man blind
folded me again and took me around
and. leaving me, says;
Stand till We hear a shot, then taxa
off the bandage and yell ind the pay
for the Job at your feet /
"Wben | hears the shot took off the
bandage. and there at me feet was me
nav shure enough. 1t was a paper
with writin' on 1t: Only a fool
works for nothin'.'
IL went home and wrote down the
figures of me steps. and of Sunda
| blindfolded meself and wint over
the ground. countin' me steps
found house standin' above with no
body in it. and In the cellar / knowed
me job by the brick out of place, Me
curiosity bein' satisfied. thought no
more about II. but long afther. when
me lease expired. remembered this
house and rented IL.
Like a fool, rould Bridget that
there was corpse in the cellar. and
she wouldn't let me rest till I'D pulled