Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1873-06-26

had particularly desiglated, aud went to
workat its roots.
And long my labors wore reward
ed. Beneath one of the main roots I
found lump of. pure white metal as
large rs hens egg; and upon further
chopping and digging found several
more smaller pieces. 5Theyhad evident
ly been taken from molten lnnss, and.
upon rubbing of the dirt found them
all pure and bright.
That night | slept but little. I could
only awake and think of the vast wealth
tla.. lay b;rie;;!!;;:: shat shat bleak Hillside.
But what could do? The lot was not
mine, and | should run great risk ifT
rsheald trouble another mans property.
And moreover, if made further cxplor-
ations while the land was not mine, the
secret might be. divulged and the vast
wealth snatched from me. must pur-
chase the Twist lot, and had no doubt
that | could purchase it for a mere song.
On the next day ] rode over to sec my
cousin, and when | had spoken of the
Twist lot, he informed me that not only
chat lot, but q number Of others were for
sale. They had been advertised, and
would be sold at auction in two weeks.
He called me q TOOL when 1 told him /
should bid on the Twist lot; but told
him | had looked it over and made up
my mind that my sheep could find plenty
OF grazing there throughout the Summer
months Hc&skcd me If hadn't already
got all'the sheep pasture 1 needed, but
| told him he need not trouble himself.
During the next two weeks 1 kept
quiet and held my tongue, giving no op-
portunify for my:secrct TO become known.
On the appointed day went over to the
settlement where the land was to bessold.
1t was to be put up in hundred acre lots,
and sold by the original plans of the
Whitney purchase. Lot number one
was put up first, and sold for one-ouartor
OF q cent an acre.
Iiae iia,st lot was the "Twist lot, SO
called, and heard it whispered that
iron and copper had been discovered
upon it, a stranger in jockey clothes
started it at fifty cents an acre. Another
stranger, who wore blue coat frock and
top boots, bid scycnty.fvc.
There was more talk about iron ard
ore. The man with the jocky suit said
that he had positive assurance that pure
iron ore had been found in some of the
gulchcs, and lie bidonc dollar an acre.
At this point | entered the contest and
bid one dollar and twenty-five. Up-up
..up-twcnty-fve cents at time, until
at lenth ] had bid ten dollars an acre.
People called Inc crazy. Ten dollars an
acre was more than the very best land
IN the country was worth. But I held
my bid and kept my own counsel.
And the Twist lot was knocked down
to me for just one thousand dollars. The
terms were cash, [ .old them to make
out the deed while I went home after the
money. And away rode. 1 emptied
my stocking of gold aud silver, and found
niue hundred and fifty dollars. | bor-
rowed the other fifty without trouble at
the settlement, and straightway proceed
cd to the Office of Squire Simpkins, where
the deed had been made. The instru-
ment was duly signed and sealed, and
when the Squire had assured me that the
payment of the money would make all
fast and safe, | handed over the gold and
silver.
| observed that the name of John Twist
had been recently signed. and L asked
Simpkins If Mr.. Twist was present.
"He was present few minutes ago.
said Simpkins, "and will be back again
for his money. Hes feeling pretty good
| should Judge, since he has get rid of
his hundred acre lot for twice as much as
it cost him, and for thousand times
more than any sane man would think il
was worth.
Halfan hour afterwards | called at
the Squirc's again. Mr.. Twist Ind Just
gone out with his money.