The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1877-08-08


not explain. be says, for he is bound
by an oath; but the amount is, that
he knows where the ore lies, and he
has this day began to dig"
"And where is the desirable spot ?
asked the Judge, with an air halfcom-
ical, half serious.
"Close by; and when we have Wis
tied that, l will show You one of the
places that we have found within a
week, where our gentlemen hunters
have been amusing themselves for six
months past"
They soon arrived at the end OF
their journey, where, in truth, they
found lothian already buried to his
neck in a hole that he had been dig
ging.
Marmaduke questioned the miner
very closely, as to his reasons for be-
lieving i'm the existence of the precious
metals near that particular spot; but
the fellow maintained an obstinate
mystery in his answers. After spend
| ing an hour near the place, examining
the stones, and searching for the usu-
al indications af the proximity Of ore,
the Judge remounted, and suffered his
cousin to lead the way to the place
where the mysterious trio had been
making their excavation.
The spot chosen by lothian was on
the back of the mountain that overhung
the hut of Misunderstanding, and the
place selected by Natty and compan-
ions was on the other side of the same
hill.
"Mum," said Richard, laying his
finger on his lip, and leading the way
down a very difficult descent to a sort
CT natural cavern, when was formed
in the face of the rock, and not unlike
fireplace in shape. in front Of this
place lay pile Of earth, which had
evidently been taken from the recess,
and part of which was yet fresh.
When the Sheriff thought that his
cousin had examined the spot sufficient
ly, he cried
"Well, Judge Temple, are you sat
isGed?"
Perfectly that there is something
mysterious, and to me perpleXing in
this business. 1t is a secret spot, and
cunningly devised, Richard; yet | see
no symptoms of ore"
"Do You expect, sir, to find gold
and silver lying like pebbles ON the
surface of the earth? - dollars and
dimes ready coined to your hands No,
no-the treasure must be sought after
and won. But let them mine shall
countermine."
The Judge took an accurate survey
Of the place, and noted in his memoir
andum-book such marks as were neces-
sary to find it again, in the event Of
Richards absence; when the cousins
returned to their horses.
On reaching the highway, they sep
arated, the Sheriff to summon twenty
four "good men and true" to attend
as the inquest Of the county, on the
succeeding Monday, when Marmaduke
held his stated court Of common
pleas and general sessions Of the
peace" and the Judge to return, mus
ing deeply on what he had seen and
heard in the course of the morning.
In the evening Hiram Doolittle
called at the mansion. After saluting
the Judge and his daughter, he took
the chair to which Marmaduke point
ed, and sat for a minute, composing
his straight black hair, with a gravity
in his demeanor that was intended to do
honor to his official station. At length
he said
"There's some folks talk of deer
or two being killed out of season, over
on the west side of the patent, by
some Of the squatters on the "Frac-
tons.
'Let complaint be made, by all
means" cried the Judge; 81 am de-
termined to see the law executed to
the letter, on all such depredations."
"Why, yes, | thought the Judge
was of that mind; | come partly on
such business myself"
lo'"Youl" exclaimed Marmaduke,
comprehending in an instant, how
completely he had been caught by the
others cunning; "and what have you
to say, sir!'
81 some think that Natty Bumppo
has the carcass Of a deer in his hut
at this moment, and q considerable
part of my business was to get a
search-warrant to examine"
''You think, sir do you know that
the law eXacts an oath, before / can
issue such precept. The habitation
of citizen is not to be idly invaded
on light suspicion"
IL rather think l can swear to it
myself" returned the immoyable Hi
ram; sand lothian is in the street,
and as good as ready to come in and
make oath to the same thing"
"Then issue the warrant myself
thou art magistrate, Mr.. Doolittle
why trouble me with the matter?"
"Why, seeingits the first complaint
under the law, and knowing the Judge
set his heart on the thing, | thought it
best that the authority to sarch should
come from himself. Besides, as I'm
much in the woods, among the timber,
| don't altogether like making an enc
my Of the Misunderstanding. Now the
Judge has a weight in the county that
puts him above all fear"
Miss Temple turned her beautiful
face to the callous architect, with a
scornful smile, as she said
"And what has any honest person