The City and the World and Other Stories eBook

Francis Kelley
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 139 pages of information about The City and the World and Other Stories.

The City and the World and Other Stories eBook

Francis Kelley
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 139 pages of information about The City and the World and Other Stories.

“Then he broke down, mon ami, and I fear that I cried just a little too.  It was sad, for he was a great strong man.

“When he could, he looked up and continued:  ’Well, Father, I am here to do it.  I want your help.  May I have it?’

“I told him I would do what I could.  He wanted me to take the money and give it to the owner.  He would tell me his name.  I was glad to aid the poor man who was so repentant.

“’All I want is a pick and shovel and a reliable man to go with me to-night.  I can find the place,’ he said.

“I offered to send the sexton with him and let him have the pick and shovel from the cemetery.  I gave him food and thanked God as I watched him eat, that grace was working in his heart again.

“‘I will wait for the man at seven to-night, Father,’ he said when he was leaving.  ’Let him meet me with the horse and buggy just outside of the town.  If there is danger I will not see him, and he can return.  I will take the pick and shovel now, and bring the stuff to you in a valise by 10 o’clock.  Wait up for me.’

“He left and the sexton went to the road at seven, but did not see him.  At 10 o’clock I heard him coming.  It was very dark and he knocked sharply and quickly, as if afraid.  I opened the door and he thrust a valise into my hand.  It was heavy.

“’Here it is, Father.  Keep it till morning when I will bring the key.  The valise is locked.  Give me something that I may buy a night’s lodging and I will come back at seven.’

“I gave him the first note in my purse and he hurried away.

“Now I fear, mon ami, that I never quite overcame my childish curiosity, for I felt a burning desire to see all that treasure, especially the strange ring.  I must root out that fault before I die or my purgatory will be long.  I went to the kitchen where I had a good chisel, and I am sorry to confess that I opened the valise just a very little to see the heap of precious things.  There was an old cigar-box and something heavy rolled in cotton.  I thrust the chisel down till I opened the box.  There was no treasure in it at all, but just a lot of iron-shavings.  I felt that I had been fooled and I broke the valise open.  The heavy stuff rolled in the cotton was only a lot of old coupling-pins from the railroad.  I was disgusted with this sinner, this thief.  But it was droll—­it was droll—­and I could scarcely sleep with laughing at the whole farce.  I know that was sinful.  I should have cried.  But he was clever, that Yankee tramp.”

[Illustration:  “Mon Dieu!  It was mine.”]

“And the valise?  What did you do with it?” asked the hard-hearted Cure of Ste. Agatha, who must have felt sorry that the friend could be so easily duped.  “What did you do with the valise?”

“I let it go.  I knew that he had left it with me and I couldn’t understand why.  It was so good—­almost new.  I felt that the sight of it would make me hard to the poor who really were deserving.  I wanted to forget how foolish I was, so I gave it to the good Sisters at the Hospital, to use when they must travel to Sherbrooke.”

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
The City and the World and Other Stories from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.