South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-05-23


palgn In tho West.
The second evening in the society of the
reverend genilemin We enjoyed mare than
we enJ 'yed the first. Ills fund Of anee-
dote aud adventure was literally exhaust
less, and yet an odor of saucti,y and deli
cacy spervaded all his speech We urged
that he should spend few days with US,
but he could NOT. tie said il would give
bin great pleasure TO do 81, but hi. call to
the new field of labor in the Yves. was
pressing and imperative.
Oo the next morning, at the breakfast
table, our guest was even more sedare and
thoughtful than on the previous occasion,
and when Questioned on ia, matter he told
Us that he had been visited by the same
dream again.
4 'This Iime, he said 'the vision came
with wonderful disiinetness. | not ONLY
oeheli tue vast chambers of virgin silver,
Out saw an exact profile of the everything
territory 1t was a wild, desolate spot, by
a crack ravinc, through which the SHOWS
nj Winter seem 10 fad release 10 Spring.
Rushing down cragIy hillside to dark,
Wtde-s,retchlng swamp below. This would
not impress me so seriously were il not
that ouce before dream of the same i'm
port proved startling reality.
We oonversed further on the subject and after
breakfast Mr.. MeetImore took n pencil and upon
the blank leaf OF an old atlas he drew n pictnre
OF the spot he had seen in his dream and he
pointed out where, beneath the roots of An old
stumPy pine tree he had seen outcropping of the
precious metal
lie had drawn the picture, he told u.s. to show
tvs now vivid his dream had been but he adj
vised US to think no more of IL Even if it were
possible that the dream had substance the body
oil The mine was far below the surface and more
ever, the Lord only knew where the spot was
located, even allowing that such a spot existed
For once In my life had allowed cupidity to
get tie better of my outspoken honesty 1 al
Io"eu tne reverend gentleman TO depart, and did
not tell him that knew where there was spot
exactly the original Of that which he had pic
Jared, even TO every rock, shrub, tree and ravine
And ihat spot was upon the wild lot which
had been purchased by John Twist and which
John Twist owned still
nat very afternoon, armed with an old ax
ana pick, sailed forth to the rough outside of
the Twist lot. knew exactly where the pictu,-
eu LOT was 10 be found, and when had reached
IL was more than ever struck by the faithful
ness of Mr. Meekmores draft. The accuracy in
uetall was wonderful. And when reflected
that Tins draft had been made by who was
an utter and absolute stranger to the place
made from the simple impression OF a dream
Is II marvel that | was strangely Influenced
] found the old tree which the reverend dreamer
mad particularly designated, and went to work
at its roots.
And ere long my labors we're rewarded Be-
meath one OF the main roots found a lump Of
pure white metal as large as hens egg ard
upon further choppiDg and digging found sew
eral more smaller pieces. They had evidently
been taken from molten mass, and upon rub
bling oil the dirt found them all pure & bright.
That night slept hut little / could only lie
awake and think of the vast wealth that lay bu-
ried in that bleak hillside. Bat what could |
do ? The lot was not mine, and should run a
great risk II ! troubled another mans property
And moreover, il ! made furthe. explorations
while the land WAS not mine the secret might
be divulge1 and the vast wealth snatched from
ne. must purchase the Twist lot and had
no doubt that | could purchase it for n mere
song.
On the next day ! rode over 10 see nv cousin
and when had spoken Of the Twist lot he in
formed me that not only that lot, but II number
OF others were for sale. They had been adver-
tiset, and would be sold AZ auction in two weeks
lie called me a fool when told him should bid
on the Twist lot but told him I had locke;
1t over and made mp my mind that my sheen
could lind plenty Of grazing there r,roupbout
the summer months. lie asked me if I hadn't
already got all the sheep pasture needed but
J told him he need not trouble himself
During the next two weeks | kept ouiet and
held my tongue, giving no opportunity for nv
secret to become k3own. On the appointed day
went over to inc settlement where the land was
TO be sold. u was to be put mp in hundred acre
!o's' and sold by the original plane of the Whit
pey purchase. Lot number one was nut nm frs,
and sold for oue-quarter of a cent an acre
The next lot was the "Twist lot" 80 called
aud heard IL whispered that Iron and copper
had been discovered upon it, A stranger in
jockey clothes started IL at fifty cents an acre
Another stranger, who wore a blue frock ana
top boots. bid ssventy-hye.
There was more talk about iron aud ore. The
man In the jockey suit said that be had positive
assurance That pure iron ore hsd been found in
some ~ the gulcbes and be bid one dollar an
acre ~ This point ] entered the contest ana
bid one dollar and twenty eve. Up-up-up-
Twenty-Five cents ut time, until az length I
had bid ten dollars au acre People called me
crnzv. Ten dollars an acre vas more than the
t0ry best land 10 the whole country was worth
But held my bid. and kept my own counsel
And the Twist lot wac Knocked down to me /
foT just one thousand dollars The terms wers
cHah told them 10 make out the deed while /
went home after the money. ABd away I rode
! eInptcd my stocking 0f gold and silver. and I
'Du1i nine hundred aud hftY dollars I borro,g- !
,7 ihe other dfty without trouble at the settle 1
Dent and sfraightway proceeded TO the Office of
squire Nimpkins, where The deed had been made
The instrument was duly signed and sealed and \
when the Squire had assured me that the pay /
neut OF the money would make al safe aud fast \
banded over the gold and silver.
} oasef we'd ibat thc name Of John Twist bad .
lceu recently signed, and / asked Simpkins III .
Nr. Twist WAS present
"Ue was present a few minutes ago" said
5impsins, 'and wiil he back again for his mo-
ley. Hes feeling pretty good, ! should Judge.
ince be has got rid Of bis hundred acre lot Tor
vice as mach as IL cost him, aad Tor thousand
imes more Than any sane man woui'
vas w"r'| .~.~ tnInk u /
ualCss herr af,srWsrGs ( called a, Use squire
.cain Mr. Twist hal just gone out WITH MS