The Placer herald., 1873-06-21
AUBURN, PLACER COUNTY. CALIFORNIA JUNE 2l. 1873

to give, you fortune and power. Here are
the directions by which you are to obtain
it." She then placed small slip of paper
in his hand.
"On these conditions" she said in a
coarse whisper, "that you solve the mys-
terry of this paper alone. You are to re-
ceive no assistance in reading it: if you 10
all is lost. Begone; you ire answered.
Paul placed his money in her outstretched
hand and went stumbling down the stairs
under the lamp.
The next morning by daybreak he was
knocking at the door Of his uncle's chamber.
"W hat is this p showing him paper
full Of figures, lines and diagrams.
'.'Don't read it to me. Only tell me what
sort Of a puzzle it is."
The Lieutenant, raised himself on his ell
bow, smothering a yawp. cit seems TO be
o mathematical puzzle, Paul-the descrip-
ton Of some locality, think. ! won't in
terpret it tor you. 1t would need a good
typographical engineer to do that. " here
DID you pick it up?' .t z
Paul muttered out something and dsap-
peared. ng
A week after the Lieutenant returned to
his regiment. He noticed Paul busy every
nsht with his mathematics and his slat
and pencil. The dream book was laid on
the shelf
Several months after Mrs. Forbes, wri-
ting to her brother said:
l have something to tell you of Paul
which l know will please YOU Much to
my surprise he took the first prize in matle-
matics; at school last term. Finding prize
taking agreeable, presume, he has de-
voted himself to all his studies with renewed
assiduity. But mathematics appear to be
a pass on with the boy. He tod me that
he. designed studying typographical en-
gneering, the very profession would have
chosen for him. cannot tell you how
thankful am for his sudden change.
The Lieutenant laughed but made nc
other sign.
lie heard from his sister but at long in
tervals, as lie was atatoned on the frontier
but every letter brought accounts of Paul's
incessant steady labor in the one direction
Whether the hope of the treasure still
urged him on, or whether he found that
mathematics were bis 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
10 enter the highest class in Practical Sur
veying of the Polytechnic College.
A year later, Lieutenant Calderwood was
seated in the door Of his tent, when two OF
three, strangers dashed ul', and a stout,
bearded, brighl-eyed young fellow jumped
off his horse, caught him by the shoulders,
shook him, laughed, and ended by kissing
him like ii girl.
"Paul Forbes Bless you, boy! How did
you come here p
Paul jumped to his feet, turned red and
then burst into shout of laughter.
"You were the seeress | know you
were!'
The Liutenant nodded. "Do you be-
grudge the dollar for his prophesy ?" he
said. "As look back now, ! don't quite
approve Of my manner of teaching you youl
less,n, but you have shown yourself a bet
ter S, holar than feared"
"Been appointed Assistant Surveyor Of
this Territory, sir. Attached to the explo-
ration party under General Hay. can't
tell you all now, onl y that | have the po-
sltion 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 10
achieve so much, Paul"
"Yes, yes, it took hard work !" nodding.
cts queer, too, what lrlfes will drive IA
fellow on a road, eh ?"
Several months after, the Lieutenant
came npon Paul one day, who was looking
at a bit of yellow paper, covered with fig
ures and lines.
"Do you know said he looking up,
"there's a puzzle that took Inc years to
make out did it just before left home,
and found the answer to it-noihing.
The Lieutenant smiled. "Hard health
ful study. good profession, and Il good in
come will not serve for a pot of gold, then,
Paul?" he said, with shrewd twinkle in
his eye. Paul is faithfully serving his pro-
fesson, winning his way to still higher po-
slilon of honor and profit which lie before
him.