VOL. XII.
NEW BLOOMFIELD, 1?JL., TUESDAY, JA-NUiVIlY 2J, 1878.
NO. 5.
THE TIMES.
An Independent Family Newspaper,
IS PUBLISHED BVERY TUESDAY BT
F. MORTIMER & CO.
subsciiiptios r it 1 1: e .
(WITHIN THE COUNTY.
One Yen? tl 2
Six Months 75
(OUT OF TUB COUNTY.
Ons Year, (Postage included) Jl f1
Six Months. (Postage Included) 85
Invariably lu Advance I
Advertising rates furnished upon appll-
natlon.
elet 'Poetry.
THE WAY OF THE WORLD.
There are beautiful tongs that we never sing,
And names that are never spoken
There are treasures guarded with Jealous care.
And kept as a sacred token,
There are faded flowers, and letters dim
With the tears that have rained above them,
For the fickle words and the faithless hearts
That taught us how to love them.
There are sighs that come In our joyous hours
To chasten our dreams of gladness,
And tears that spring to our aching eyes,
In hours of thoughtful sadness.
For the blithest birds that sing in spring
Will flit in the waning summer,
And lips that we kissed In fondest love
Will smile on the first new comer.
Over the breast where lilies rcBt
In white hands stilled forever,
The roses of June will nod and blow,
Unheeding the hearts that sever,
And lips that quiver In silent grief,
All words of hope refusing,
Will lightly turn to the fleeting Joys
That perish with the using.
Summer blossoms and winter snows,
Love and Us sweet elyslan ;
Hope, like a siren dim and fair,
Quickening our fainting vision ;
Drooping spjrlt and failing pnlse,
Where nntold memories hover,
Eyelids tonched with the seal of death,
And the fitful dream is over.
THE MYSTERIOUS ROBBERY.
I HAVE generally but little sympathy
for those over-cautious mortals who
bury their portable wealth in the earth
for safe keeping, and on proceeding to
dig for it for use find that it has been
-carried away by some unknown agency.
Mother earth is a kind, and faithful and
trustworthy mother enough so long as
we burden her only with such responsi
bilities as she is able to bear with credit
to herself and satisfaction to her chil
dren ; but as a depositary of gold and
greenbacks, bullion or bonds, she is
very apt to prove a failure. Her vaults
are damp ; her bolts and bars are weak,
And her banking accommodations are
generally Inconvenient and insecure ;
insomuch that we may consider our
selves indeed fortunate if we receive
again anything outside of the agricul
tural line that we entrust to her keep
ing. Even when moisture and mould
fail to corrupt, or thieves to break
through and steal, she is so constantly
-changing the external aspect of things
that one cannot always be certain where
his coin or collaterals are hidden ; and
as she keeps no books, nor gives cer
tificates of deposit, we cannot comeback
upon the old girl for damages, even
though we were able to prove that she
had the money. I have known so many
. -cases of loss resulting from over-confidence
in her fiduciary faithfulness, that
I am convinced that no one but a born
idiot will commit his worldly treasure
to her care while there is a bank of even
' doubtful reputation, or an iron safe
whose lock is capable of baffling the in
genuity of a four-year-old boy, within a
hundred miles of bini. Still there are
idots in this world, and I know of no
law by virtue of which they can be
brought to a state of financial sanity.
I make an exception lu the case of
Dick Stapletou, there are exceptions, you
know, to all general rules. Dick wag
not ft born idiot; lie was a good, and In
the main, as sensible a fellow as I ever
saw; but be had undoubtedly become
temporarily insane through an unhappy
concatenation of circumstances. In the
first place, he was in love; and that I
say It ex cathedra and emphatically Is
enough to unsettle the best of us. Second
ly, the stupendous failure of Adams &
Co. had just taken place, involving in
financial disaster a large majority of
the depositors in and forwarders by that
great California express and banking
house, and causing general doubts con
cerning the soundness of rival institu
tions, large and small. Thirdly, Dick
had just disposed of his interest in the
Muletown Deep Gravel Diggings for
the comfortable sum of $30,000, dust in
hand ; and as It was more money than
he lmd ever before possessed, it was
calculated to shake his nerves some
what when he looked at the glittering
heap, and fondly reflected that it was
all his own.
What should he do with it t that
was the question. He had already re
flected upon its future employment. He
was going to invest it in a wing-dam on
the Yuba, for the purpose of mining a
portion of the river-bed, a popular and
occasionally profitable sort of enterprise
at that date ; but first of all he meant to
bring matters to a crisis with Jessie
Fairbanks, the belie of Muletown, who
had plagued him now with a six
months' heartache; who, he believed,
was not altogether indifferent to his
peculiar style of masculine attractions,
and without whom he fancied be could
not enjoy life a great while longer. He
had determined, therefore, laying aside
all other business and excuses whatso
ever, as the lawyers phrase it, to attend
strictly to his little suit in the high
court of Cupid, until it should be ended
and a true verdict rendered, favorable or
otherwise.
I presume he was right enough in this
course. Perhaps under similar circum
stances I should not have done exactly
as he did ; but he was in many respects
a peculiar fellow; whatever be did he did
with all his might; and while he had
been devoting himself heart, brain
and muscle to the excavation of the
Muletown Deep Gravel Diggings, other
fellows were forestalling him in the re
gard of his pretty little blue-eyed
charmer. I have no doubt, now that I
reflect upon it, that the best thing he
could do was to pursue the course he did;
for, between you and me, gallant young
masculine reader, there isn't a word of
truth in the old saying " If you would
woo a maid, you must seldom be in her
sight," etc. The venerable saw, " Out
of sight, out of mind," is vastly more
applicable in a majority of cases. Yes,
undoubtedly Richard was right.
But what to do with his dust, that was
the perplexing question, Adams & Co.
had failed. Wells, Fargo & Co. might
also fail; and Styles, who had been
badly shaken by the late financial ca
tastrophe, was not foi a moment to be
thought of. It would not do to keep
the treasure in his cabin that would be
a temptation sufficient to entice passably
honest men to crime. He would bury
it.
So in the night, at the hour " when
church-yards yawn," he dug a hole be
side a very ordinary looking manzanita
bush, placed his bags of dust therein,
carefully covered them up, and returned
home satisfied that no one had witness
ed the act, and that the hiding-place of
his wealth would remain undiscovered
until be chose to exhume it himself.
Devoting himself not with his accus
tomed energy and single-heartedness of
purpose to the business of wooing, he
prospered in his suit to the utmost de
sire of his heart. What young lady,with
little beyond her proud birthright of
beauty, could resist a lover so devoted
and withal so pleasing, and with thirty
thousand dollars burled among the roots
of a manzanita bush V Jennie Fair
banks could not; so in a reasonable
length of time she consented to name
the happy day, received the congratula
tions of her family and friends with be
coming modesty, and thenceforth, as
was right, assumed a haughtier carriage
and higher style wbeu promenading the
streets of Muletown.
Pretty Jessie had insisted upon set
ting the wedding-day six months later
than the date of her engagement. I
ould never altogether understand why
young women almost invariably prefer
long engagements never, by any
means, if they can help it, falling below
six months. Courtship is a delightful
thing, I know ; but when the parties
truly love each other, matrimony, in
spite of its disenchantment and sober
realities, is more delightful still. The
majority of men, I believe, when they
have fully resolved to wed, are eager to
do it at once, and only submit to delay
to please their charmers. Dick Staple
ton was anxious to marry Immediately ;
but Jessie, who had at first stipulated
for a year's delay, would not abate a Jot
of six months, and he was compelled to
acquiesce in her decision. It would not
do, he thought, to Idle away all that
time in amorous billing and cooing ; so
he resolved to resurrect his burled nug
gets and proceed with his project of
damming the Yuba.
Upon proceeding to the place of its
sepulture, what was his consternation
and despair on finding that some one
had been there in his absence, and had
Btolen his treasure away !
Yes, it was gone, and doubtless be
yond the possibility of recovery. -The
robber had left no trace behind him.
There was nothing even to indicate the
time when it had been removed
whether it had been done immediately
after its burial, or at a later period, could
only be conjectured. It was a pretty
heavy blow for Dick. It "cleaned him
out," as the miners phrase it, " to the
bed rock," and he engaged to be mar
ried to the prettiest girl in Muletown. It
was enough to drive some men to suicide
or hard drinking. But Dick, as I have
already intimated, was no idiot. He felt
badly enough about his loss ; but he had
the courage and the sense to keep it
quiet and to send for me which latter
step he ought to have taken before he
committed his treasure to the earth, as I
flatter myself that I should have dis
suaded him from doing bo. I was ah
old friend and counselor of his, with a
pretty intimate knowledge of men and
matters in and about Muletown, and it
was quite natural that he should seek
my advice and assistance at such a time
as this.
He told me his story, which possessed
in a very high degree the merits of brev
ity and pith,and asked me what I would
advise him to do.
"Have you reason to suspect any
one V"I inquired.
" Not a soul," he replied. " Of course,
my suspicions would naturally turn first
to my nearest neighbors. There's on
one side of me Mason and Sloper,sleady
going old fellows, who have been work
ing for a long time in a moderately pay
ing claim, and who would have cleared
out to the States if they had lifted such
a plant as that ; and on the other side
there's Charley Heath and Jim Brlerly,
pretty fast specimens of the honest
miner, given to running late and occa
sionally tussling with tho tiger they ,or
one of them, would have been more
likely to see me hiding the stuff than
any one else ; but I have never heard
dishonesty laid to their charge, and I
have neither noticed nor heard of any
thing in their conduct of late which
would indicate that they were unusual
ly flush. So far as my observation goes,
they work and spent about as much as
usual, and you know their claim is a
very steady paying one. I am con
vinced that none of my neighbors have
got the dust, and I can think of no one
else who would be likely to have discov
ered it."
" Nor I, just now ; but by keeping our
eyes and ears open we may get a clue.
Have you any means of identifying the
dustV"
"None whatever, unless the thieves
should keep It In the same bags In which
they found It. It is ordinary dust, such
as is dug in this vicinity, and I did not
notice among it any specimens which I,
or any one else who saw them, would be
able to Identify. Bdt three of the bags
which contained it were marked with
my initials, and I would know them if
I should ever happen to see them again.'
" Well, I don't know as there is any
thing to be gained by making your loss
public Just at present. You and I will
keep a sharp lookout for developments,
taking a trusty friend or two, but - no
more, into our confidence, should we
deem It necessary. We will follow the
quest singly, each in the method that
seeruB best to him, and we can meet
every day or two to compare notes and
agree upon such measures as may seem
advisable. It is a rather hopeless look
ing case at present, but we may strike
the right trail, after all."
" Yes, it's worth trying for, and I
think your plan Is a good one. I'll get
Steve Hopkins and Jack Henderson to
assist us, and day after to-morrow we'll
meet here and compare notes, unless
something sooner should turn up; In
which case we can notify each other."
So we separated. For days we lounged
carelessly about town, watching and
listening ; but we got no information
whatever. The thief, whoever he was,
evidently possessed an unusual share of
discretion. We then changed our tac
tics, and cautiously pushed inquiries in
every conceivable direction, but without
result. At the end of a month we had
made no progress whatever. It may be
wondered that we did not secure the
services of a sharp detective ; but the
truth is there was not one of that class
in the State whom we would have been
willing to trust; nor is It likely that
the most consummate skill would have
availed in this case. Again we changed
our tactics, advertising the robbery ex
tensively, and offering a large reward
for the recovery of the missing dust.
The reword was not claimed ; and Dick
Stapletou, who had now well nigh ex
hausted his means in the fruitless search,
accepted his loss as absolute, and pre
pared to retrieve it by diligent effort. Of
course he was compelled to forego his
project of damming the Yuba; but he
soon possessed himself of a good min
ing claim, and went earnestly to work
with fair success.
When Jessie Fairbanks was informed
of Dick's loss she was undeniably cha
grined and disappointed. Her affianced
husband, instead of possessing a com
fortable share of worldly wealth, was a
poor man .dependent upon his own mus
cle and energy for a livelihood. But
she loved him none the less, and declar
ed that Bhe would marry him if she had
to support him by the labor of her own
hands. Her parents, however, did not
look upon the matter in that disinter
ested light. They were desirous that
their daughter should marry well ; and
while they made no objection to Dick
so long as they supposed him to be mod
erately rich, they would have much pre
ferred that Jessie should have selected,
as she might indeed have done, a
wealthier suitor.
Now that Dick was poor, they re
solved to break off the match ; and Mrs.
Fairbanks, who was a bold as well as a
shrewd woman, took the first opportu
nity that presented Itself to hint that, in
his altered circumstances, the family
would not consider an alliance with him
desirable, and to suggest to him that as
an honorable man it was duty to release
Jessie from an engagement which could
no longer be considered suitable to her.
Dick, to whom this assault was not al
together unexpected, replied that he was
perfectly willing to leave the whole ques
tion to the young lady herself, and to
abide by her decision. Jessie remained
steadfast to her plighted troth.
A rather exciting family scene here
upon ensued ; and the end of it was that
Dick was forbidden the house, while
Jessie was subjected to severe treatment,
and compelled to receive the attentions
of a wealthy suitor, whom her parents
encouraged to resume his wooing. The
persecuted lovers, however, found means
to meet and communicate pretty often,
and while they deemed it best to post
pone their marriage for a time, in the
hope that by another turn of the wheel
of fortune the course of their, true love
might be diverted into a smoother chan
nel, they resolved at all hazards to defy
the parental tyranny, and, if necessary,
to openly and decidedly rebel against
it.
It Is rather uphill work in matters of
this kind to combat an experienced
matron, and so our lovers found It.
Having set out to do Dick Stapletou a
serious wrong.for.look at it in what way
you will, It amounted to Just that she
began to hate him quite cordially, and
she invented and practised 'no end of
devices to embitter his existence. I
suppose there is no torture equal to that
which a spiteful woman caa wreck upou
a sensitive man, who is restrained from
retaliating by the natural respect he has
for the sex of his mother, and so Die It
was fain to acknowledge after a limited
experience.
But Jessie's faithfulness compensated
him for all the mental agony he was
made to endure, and his dally toll was
cheered by the assurance that she was
wholly his, and ready at his bidding to
leave father and mother to share his
fortune, good or bad. And so he quick
ened his endeavors to prepare a home lii
which he could receive her when do
mestic tyranny should render her
father's roof a no longer tolerable shel
ter for her.
About this time an event occurred of
which neither Dick nor I thoughtmuch
at the moment, but which pioved, to
him, at least, of the utmost Importance,
A new gambling saloon was opened In
Muletown, ostensibly by a stranger from
another town, who selected as his as
sistant a good-natured good-for-nothing
sort of fellow who had vegetated in the
town for about two years,galning a live
lihood by dealing faro and other short
card games, in which he was an adept.
This fellow, whose name was Joe Budd,
at first took a rather subordinate posi
tion, but it soon became evident to close
observers that he exercised paramount
authority in the establishment, and that
the nominal proprietor deferred to him
in all things. The business, though con
sldeiably fallen off from former years,
was still pretty lively. The new house
opened with large banks and other lib
eral attractions, acquired a reputation
for " square games," and prospered ;
and in a few weeks Joe Budd arrayed
himself In fine attire and expensive
jewelry, and purchased a fancy saddle
horse, upon which he rode out every
fine afternoon, while, his supposed prin.
cipal confined himself strictly to busi
ness, rarely allowing himself any re
laxation. There was some mystery in
their relationship which passed the
comprehension of everybody; but they
both were very reticent and baffled all
attempts to fathom it. As I had after
wards to reflect, it was strange that
neither Dick nor myself, being aware of
these circumstances, had had our suspi
cions aroused that Joe Budd was the rob
ber who had possessed himself of Dick's
gold dust.
One afternoon, while Budd was tak
ing his usual ride, his horse,frlghtenedat
some object which he saw in the road,
started violently, and threw his rider,
whose foot being caught in the stirrup,
was dragged over the ground by the
horse, which immediately started off at
full speed. The accident occurred near
Dick's cabin, and Dick, who had re
mained at home that afternoon because
of a severe headache, occasioned by the
heat of theun, was sitting at his door,
enjoying the cool refreshing not th west
breeze. As the horse approached him
he sprang forward and seized him, with
some difficulty checked his career, and
extricated Budd from his perilous situa
tion. The gambler was insensible from
the Jfijurles he hod received ; and when
Dick, having called assistance and
caused him to be carried into his cabin,
examined him, he found that he had an
arm and leg broken, and was otherwise
badly Injured. As speedily as possible a
surgeon was called, who pronounced the
injuries probably fatal, but proceeded,
nevertheless, to do all in his power for
the sufferer. The broken limbs were
set, the bruises dressed, and restoratives
administered which at length recalled
the sufferer to his senses. On opening
his eyes and looking around him, he
asked :
" Where am I V Whose house is
this ?"
" You are in my cabin," replied Dick.
" Be quiet, now, and don't excite your
self." " O, I can't stay here!" shouted Budd.
" Take me away take me home take
me anywhere away from here !"
" You can't be removed now," Dick
answered. " You are very badly hurt.
In the morning, if you wish it, and
the doctor will permit it, you may be
removed."
" Who brought me here V"
" I did," said Dick. " I stopped your
horse in front of my door, and you were
too much injured to be carried any
further." 1
" Then I owe my life to you V
" If you live, I shall have the satis
faction of knowing that your life was
saved through my means."
, " I will live I I deserve to die, but I
can't afford to do it now. Carry me
home I cannot, will not, dare not stay
here any longer!" . -j ,t
He would listen to no persuasion, but
swore a fearful oath that if his wish was
not complied with he would crawl home
through the streets. On consultation
with the doctor, it was thought best to
gratify the wounded man's whim. It