Year: 1876

stated his business to me in the
front office in rarther loud tone
of voice, and when he went out |
noticed several of the clerks near
the door"


"Well, will do the best I can,
/ answered.


After some further conversation
he dismissed me, saying, as he did
So:


"You have been faithful watch
man ever since you have been in
the store, and feel confident that
you will exercise the necessary
vigilance tonight"


l was much Pleased by the evi-
dent faith in my ability and integ-
rity, and it was with lighter
heart than usual that / made my
first round that night, Immediately
after closing the store.


AS far as / could see, all was we'll
The six small boxes in the cellar
labeled Hardware" sent strong
thrill through my whole being as
my eyes fell upon them and | re-
fected long upon the series of
events which had collected the prec-
ious dust and placed it under my
chsroA that night. In my mind
conjured q picture OF mere boys,
young husbands, fond fathers, gray
headed men, leaving all the hallow-
ed associations of home and family
to engage in the search for the
precious ore in the newly discover
ed Eldorado. / saw them in that
distant land, coming out OF their
rough habitations in the morning,
equipped with pick and shovel ;
and | saw them returning at night
some weary and disheartened, 9th
ers tired but jubi!ant over q small
lump or few grains of the shin
ing metal. / saw them in the bar
rooms and at the gambling table,
and gradually through the honest
means Of trade, or by foul play, ]
saw this gold flowing into the hands
of few men, and by-and-by be-
coming the property of single in
dividual, who, when his avarice or
ambition is satisfied, will follow it
to the East, and there squander it
In riotous living, or hoard it up
for their thankless relations TO
quarrel over after his demise.


l was aroused from my reverie
Ivy slight noise apparently com
ing from behind pile of tea chests.
In a second | was on the alert and
listening intently but although ]
strained my ears, and held my
breath until it seemed as though ]
could hear the rush Of the water
in the sewer, twenty feet beneath
me, yet l caught no other sound.


| again made, as l supposed, n
thorough examination of the cellar.
but without any discovery and ]
finally became convipced that the
noise was made Ivy a rat or mouse
in the wall, or else the product OF
an excited imagination.


/ then went up stairs and laid
down on n couch which had been
my bed for several years, and soon
fell asleep.


At eleven o'clock, l once more
went my rounds, and found every
thing 80. X" After setting the
alarm so as to I've sure aud awaken
me at one o'clock, | again resumed
my rest.


Shortly after I was aroused by n
foot step. Sp,inging up ! grasped
my revolver and lit my lantern,
but no person was in sight.


l looked in the Offices, behind
the piles of boxes and bales, and
even into the closets, but my search
was fruitless, and finally conclud.
ed that it was only dream.


I looked at the clock and saw il
was quarter past eleven. ! made
up my mind that I would not sleep
any more that night, but would
leave work at noon next day, and
make up for my loss of rest by
sleeping all the next afternoon
During the whole Of my life l had
never. felt so nervous as at present
and even the beating Of the clock
startled me.


Once more / laid down on my
couch, and stroye to conquer my


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