New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-11-29

not be far off: and the bright light would
certainly attract them to the epOt. pulled
the burning leaves away with the limb OF
tree that had fallen close by. and traEpled
out the fire. Then l removed the leaves
from the hole, and in the dark put all the
coin could lay my hands on into my hat;
and clamb ered up the precipice. There l
covered INV hat with leaves by the side OF
a big stone and. hiding under bush near
by waited to see the result of my folly N
building such fire. l thought that day
light would never come, but was appre'
bensive the robbers would. While l lay
under the bush I had opportunity. how
ever. Of collecting my thoughts. rea'
soned thus: 1t would be a poor place to
conceal money for any length OF time.
Highway men are not euch fools. Some
money has been concealed in the hole
with the intention OF removing 1t soon.
While l was turning the matter over IN
nv mind time slipped away. day broke
at last. and the bright sun peeped over
the river bottom lands to the east. and still
no one came.
81 clambered down the ledge once more.
and carefully removing the leaves from the
depressons in the rock. examined them. l
found no bank notes. but only thirty haii'
eagles more in the hole where l found the
other gold. Feeling quite feeble. picked
up what l supposed was the splinter OF a
broken leg. intending 70 use it as a cane.
and to make shapely stick Of it and keep
it as 2 memento Of my good luck. ! walked
this time around the ledge. got my hat.
counted my gold and placed it carefully in
my old money belt. which still retained.
The treasure | found amounted to $l5lS.
federal money. tied my belt around my
body under my shirt. and started to lind
the road.
IL retraced my steps to the place
where the robbers had covered me with
leaves. and walked around the bushy top
Of tree which had fallen during the
summer and still retained its withered
foliage. Judge of my establishment to find
| was Just on the side of the road. and OPP.
posite the spring where had the fight with
the highwaymen. | thought would survey
the battlefield before took the road west
ward. As l crossed. | heard the sound of
horses feet coming rapidly up the road. In
a few moments ShackelfOrd appeared in
sight, rifle in hand. Then followed dozen
Of my old neighbors. On they came. and
such shouting and yelling. when they cav
me- You never heard. They had given me
up for murdered, and Polly Slaughter had
made up her mind that she was widow.
'.The rascals had driven my team into a
timber road little distance ahead. cut the
traces. and Immediately left for parts un.
known. ShackelfOrd hunted them up with
sharp stick, but to no purpose. The wagon
and horses were found the day after l was
missing. had come to and had wandered
away to the brook, while they were sc0ur-
ing the woods at some distance in the
hollow on the other side of the road. l
wondered that Driver, my old deer hound,
who was with me then. had not scented me.
but l suppose the tresher trail OF the men
and horses put him at fault. Some of the
men fOrded the river III search of the black
smith, for he had bad name in the neigh
borhood, and threatened to burn his
house; and they would have done SO but
for his wife and her little cotton headed
children.
"When we got to Kentucky and Shackel-
ford found had money to pay tor the land.
notwithstanding had been robbed, had
to tell him the whole story about finding
the gold, but bound him to secrecy, DIS |
had \ fear that might he traced and way
laid by the robbers to recover their gold.
1t was at my own cabin l made the con-
picked up by my money hole and used as
a cane. He scanned it carefully for some
time. and then laid it down, saying it was
part of the stave Of barrel, and looked as
if it had been gnawed by bears.
'.After paying Shackelford for my
farm ! bought government LANDS on
speculation, and was very successful. sell.
ing them in two OK three years at four or
five times as much as gave. l was good
woodsman and good Judge OF land, and l
explored and afterwards located. and then
got warrants for fine lands known in those
days as the Barrens IN the Green river
country. which was not then appreciated.
People thought that because of its growth
pine, oak, and so forth--it was poor land:
but l soon found out the contrary. and
protited by their mistake.
"As was saying. was exceedingly for.
tunate in my land speculations. and the
money l found in the hole doubled and
doubled itself every few years. When let
out the secret Of being such a gamer by
being robbed, few or none believed my
up by Shacksltord in his mischief-tor he
was deuce of a fellow at practical jokes
and that | Endorsed it for the fun of the
thing. I even advertised the money when |
got well ahead in the world. for l was
anxious to return it to the yight:ul own.
er. But l was only laughed at for pub.
fishing such an improbable story. Prentice
often ridiculed it in the Louisville Jour.
nal after he started that paper. To this
day the story-although I was the chief
actor in the drama..goes by the name Of
'Shackelford's warm
IL have kept regular account. principal
and compound interest at ten per cent, that
may pay it some day to the rightful owner
or his heirs, if they should ever turn up:
for it was the foundation Of my fortune.
If they never appear. the amount at my
death is to go to certain institutions men.
toned in my will for the benefit Of my
fellow men. For have ever considered it
a loan from the Giyer Of all good, aud in
tend to return it,.
When my uncle had finished his story
looked at my wife The bloom on her
cheek had faded. There was singuiarly
wild though serious expression in her
face. She arose from her chair. and,
approachinging the old man. lifted her
hands. and laying one on each shoulder
looked with her large gray eyes full into
his. "Uncle Ben." che raid. II think you
are sincere. and that you are honest. that
you are noble by nature. and that you will
keep any promise you make to yonr fellow.
man or your Maker. God help Us. my dear
uncle" When she said this she kissed his
wrinkled cheek. and bidding him good
night went upstairs.
After talking with Uncle Ben \ short
time and lighting him to bed. found Sue
in her chamber. She was sitting ON the
lounge by the side Of the baby's crib.
wrapped in serious thought. Mo:icning to
me to take seat by her side. she said
''Ajax. this is a strange story that Uncle
Ben has been telling us. If there was any
reason for doubling it think could pro
duce corroborative evidence to prove it,
"Why. how you talk. Sue: and if you
could, what Of it,
"Well-no matter about it now" Then.
suddenly changing the subject. 'What
amount did you tell me this house was
fort"
Eight thousand dollars. my Sue. The
bond is now overdue. aud the holder is
to maintain himself. and says he
,nust 90 to protest if % is not paid within