The Transformation of Job: A Tale of the High SierrasFisher, Frederick Vining
General
The Transformation of Job: A Tale of the High Sierras
Fisher, Frederick Vining
Sierra Nevada (Calif. and Nev.) -- Fiction
Job was just going over the hill to Mormon Bar, on that narrow place
where the bank pitches down to the creek two hundred feet, when he
heard a voice, emphasized by a ringing bullet, cry:
"Halt, you thief! I'm the sheriff of Grizzly county!"
Whether it was because Dick stumbled and almost fell, or because his
strength failed, or because of the bullet and the strange command, Job
halted, stunned, to look into the dark barrel of a pistol and to see
the white, masked face of a slim fellow in blue jean overalls and with
a red handkerchief about his throat.
"Hand over that boodle mighty quick! Thought I was a sheriff, did yer?
Ha! ha! None of your back talk! Give it here or swallow this!" poking
the pistol into Job's very mouth. The voice was familiar--more than
once Job had heard it.
He sprang from Dick to run as the other held his bridle, but heard the
whiz of a bullet past him and felt a stunning blow on his head. When
he came to, the treasure was gone and he could hear a horse's hoofs
pounding faintly In the distance. On his side, with the blood oozing
from his temples, Dick--poor Dick--lay dead!
It was a long walk back to the mine, and the first morning shift was
going to work when Job reached there. The superintendent heard his
tale, and without comment told him to get his breakfast and go to
work. Later he called Job in and asked some very strange questions.
Twice during the following day with aching head and troubled heart Job
tried to get another interview with the superintendent, but failed.
How it came about he never knew, but before the end of the week it was
common gossip around the mine that Job had made way with the
company's bullion to clear off the mortgage on Andrew Malden's place.
Job had never heard of the mortgage, and he tried to tell the
superintendent so; but he would not listen. All he did was to tell Job
on Saturday night that they did not know who took the money, but they
would need his services no longer.
* * * * *
It was just as Andrew Malden was locking the doors for the night,
that--with a small bundle thrown over his shoulder, shamefaced,
discouraged, and so tired he could hardly walk another step--Job
pushed in and sat down in the old rocker. The older man was surprised
enough. What did it all mean? Job had soon told his story--the night
ride, the robbery, the long walk back to the mine, the strange
suspicion that had fallen on him, the refusal to believe his story,
the coldness of his employers, his dismissal, and the sad walk home.
He told it all through, then looking up into Andrew Malden's face,
said brokenly:
"God knows, uncle, it's true, every word!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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