The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1872-09-27

''Tho pot of gold waits for you,
enough to give you fortune and power.
Here are the directions by which you
are to obtain it, She then placed a
} small slip of paper in his hand.
"On these conditions," she said, in a
hollow whisper, 'that you solve the
mystery to this paper alone. You are
to receive no assistance in reading it;
if you do all is lost. Begone; you are
answered."
Paul placed his money in her out
stretched hand and went stumbling
down the stairs under the red
lamp.
The next morning by daybreak he
was knocking at the door of his uncle S
chamber.
"What is this?" showing him paper
full of figures, lines and diagrams
I '.Dont read it to me; only tell INC what
sort of a puzzle it is.''
The Lieutenant raised himself on his
elbow, smothering yawn. "It seems
to be a mathematical puzzle, Paul-the
description of some locality, 1 think. 1
, won't interprete it to you. It would
need a good Typographical engineer
to do that. Where did you pick it
up?" v
Paul muttered out something and disap-
peared.
A weak after tho Lieutenant return
ed to his regiment. He noticed Paul
busy every night with his mathematics
and his slate and pencil. the dream
book was laid on the shelf.
, Several months after, Mrs. Forbes,
. writing to her brother said:
Il have something to tell you of
Paul which [ know will please you.
Much to my surprise, he took the first
, prize in mathematics at school last
term. Finding prize taking agreeable,
presume, he has devoted himself to
all his studies with renewed assiduity.
} But mathematics appear to be a passion
with the boy. He told me that he
designed studying Typographical engi-
: neering, the very profession would
have chosen for him. I cannot tell you
) how thankful l am for his sudden
change"
The Lieutenant laughed, but made
no other sign.
He heard from his sister, but at long
7 intervals, as he was stationed on the
, frontier; but every letter brought ac-
; counts of Pauls fncessant, steady labor
: in the one direction.
Whether the hope of the treasure
5 still urged him on, or whether he found
l that mathematics were his proper work
and that for which his talents and real
| tastes best fitted him, we cannot say.
But it is certain that at the end of
three years he was ready to enter the
: highest class in practical surveying Of
: the Polytechnic College.
A year after, Lieutenant Callerwood
was seated in the door of his tent, when
: two or three strangers dashed up, and
a stout, bearded, bright-eyed young
fellow jumped off his horse, caught him
by the shoulders, shook him, laughed,
and ended by kissing him like a
girl.
| "Paul Forbes! Bless you, boy! How
did you come here?"
, Paul jumped to his feet, turned red,
! and then burst into a shout of
J laughter.
"You were the seeress? 1 know you
were!"
The Lieutenant nodded. "Do you
begrudge the dollar for his prophecy"
he said. ''As | look back now, [ don't
quite approve Of my manner ofteaching
you your lesson, but you have shown
yourself better scholar than l
feared"
"Been appointed Assistant surveyor
of this Territory, sir. Attached to the
exploration party under General Hay.
1 can't tell you all now, only that I
have the position for ten years. at fine
salary, and mother and Clara are snug
and happy as they were before.
! What do you think of that, Uncle
Jem!'
Uncle Jem wrung his hand.
Think? Why, that you must have
worked hard to achieve SO much
Paul"
Eyes, yes, it took hard work." nod
ding. "It's queer, too, what trihe'
will drive fellow on a road, eh!"
Several months after, the Lieutenan,
came upon Paul, one day, who wa
looking at bit Of yellow paper, cover
ed with figures and lines.
"Do you know" said he, looking up
"there's puzzle that took me years t.
. make out? l did it just before l lef
= home, and found the answer to it
nothing"
!. The Lieutenant smiled. "Hard
= healthful study, a good profession and