The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-03-04

would secure it, and henceforth live at my
f case. I enclosed the dollar required as q
} fee, and feverishly awaited an answer.
1t was not long in coming. Madame
, X. informed me that so weighty matter
as treasure-finding required more time and
: chemicals than one dollar would pay for,
but that, on the receipt of fourteen dollars
more, she would exert her art and give me
the information desired The fact that
she spelt chemicals thus, "kimikals," did
not daunt me. Those who read the stars
and explore the mysteries of the future
cannot be expected to be particularly nice
in such trivial matters as the spelling of
a word. sent her fourteen dollars more
of course.
The answer came: "From the edge NV
yoor front door step one hundred rods
thence doc east one hundred and ten rods !;
thence doc south seventy-too and a half
rods; thence west sixty feet, six inches.
Dig. Within serkumfrance NV thirty feet
you'll find that NV witch you are in search"
Carefully measured the ground, but,
to my ineffable chagrin, the spot in
dictated was just beyond the boundary of
my land, and ON the edge of the farm of a
neighbor of mine who was the most insult
ferable, prying, talking, loose tonged man
in the country. Still determined to dig,
trespassing though it was. There was a
piece of woodland between the spot and
Thompson's house, and there was nothing
under heaven that could take him to that
spot twice year. That night, by the dim
light Of a lantern, l dug hoping to strike
the treasure before morning. Three
o'clock came, but l found nothing. En-
hausted, gave over and went to my house
in fever of excitement.
The next night l dug again, and the
next with the same result. The fourth
night, while l was toiling and moilng in
the tough clay
"Thomas, what in thunder are you dom
down thcrc?"
1t was my neighbor Thompson.
81 happened to notice that somebody
had been diggin' this MORN and thought
I'd find out what was up
My policy was determined upon Instant
"Thompson,' | said, II have in my pos
session knowledge that will make us both
rich. Promise to assist me, and | will
share it with you
"Share with me what you find on my
land " he said, with an emphasis on the
word my
ut is your land it is true, but without
my knowledge, nothing can be attained.
Promise and we go on"
He promised, whereupon | told him of
the gold and diamonds buried in that
ground, concealing, however, the source of
my information, as Thompson, knew, had
not the faith in astrology that had He
manifested anxiety, however, and procu-
ring pick axe and spade, commenced
that night
-Four nights we toiled, digging an i'm
mense pit thirty feet in diameter. The
fourth night, Thompson's faith gave out.
He would work one more night and then
if nothing came of it, he would quit. We
dug one more night, and as we got moth
ing, Thompson swore that it was delu-
sion, and that it should not go on any
longer begged him to give me one
more night, to which, after much grumb-
ling, he acceeded. Now, | determined to
fasten him to the enterprise, for had faith
in it. would willingly have let him out
and go on alone, but even if he permitted
me to dig in his ground he would, if not
restrained by interest, spread it all over
the township in twenty-fourhours Unjust
keep him steady to it at all hazards.
That day borrowed three hundred dol.
lars, spending much time in exchanging
new pieces for old. got it finally in toll
erably ancient Mexican gold and silver
coin. | took my wife's silver spoons and
cut them into inch pieces. l took dia
mond ring which was an heirloom in the
family, and selecting an old earthen pot
placed them all in it, and toward night
went down to the pit and buried it, feeling
that the sight of it would give him fresh
courage.
ten minutes before Thompson's spade
struck something hard.
cat last !" shrieked l. "Raise it care
fully, Thompson; we've got to it."
Thompson did raise it carefully, and
did not go into ecstasies over it.
otis the first of the treasure. The main
deposit is lower down. will take care
of this-let us to work. exclaimed I, sim
ulating joy.
"Thomas," returned Thomson deliberate
ly, "no will take care of this. 1t was
found on my ground - I'm really
entitled to it-but l will be fair.
Selfshness, thank heaven! was never
prominent trait in my character. l may
sometimes lie; don't deny that might
steal if sufficiently provoked, and once
did run for township office; but have
never gone back on a friend-where there
was nothing to be made by it. Desiring
to settle amicably and equitably, l make
two propositions, giving you the advan-
tage of choosing which you will. 1 will
keep this pot, giving you an equal amount
out of what we find next or | will keep
it anyhow. Which will you take9
Ofcourse | was compelled to give him
the pot and contents, though it was like
severing soul from body He examined
them rather too critically, remarking, as he
looked at the dates of the pieces that the
land pirates were more recent than he had
supposed; and as he noticed my wife's
maiden name on a piece of a silver spoon,
he expressed surprise that her ancestors
had been engaged in such nefarious pur
suits. 81 wouldn't have thought it," said
he, looking wickedly; "but you can't most
always tell"
Thompson didn't dig with very much
vigor during the remainder of that night,
nor did he the next. In fact, the third
night thereafter we had digged pit thir-
ty feet across, down to water, and as further
progress was impossible we were compelled
to give over.
"Let us try another spot" exclaimed in
anguish
"None for me!n remarked he. "'rhe