The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-12-27

prove the soil bit"
"Improve itp" echoed the lad in
amazement.
Without answering Ben hurried off in
the direction of the shelter, returning q
moment after With large bottle which,
Arthur soon perceived, contained quick
silver. After working out a piece OF
ground about rod square, he proceed
ed to sprinkle 1t pientifulIy with quick
silver.
"What is that for ?" inquired Arthur
who had been watching in wonder.
"Take your spade aud dig down lit
tie, my lad, and you'll see,' was the an
swer.
Seizing his spade the boy threw out
few shovelsful of dirt, then stopped in
surprise; for what had appeared to be
the solid earth a few moments before
was now full of minute tunnels, running
in every direction. But what surprised
him most was the appearance of the
gold before it had been invisible to the
naked eve, hut now he could see the
glittering particles on all sides.
Seeing his puzzled look, Ben fastened
To explain:
"It's an ALFRED queer stuff lad, this
quicksilver L reckon it must have an
uneasy conscience, it's so restless and
wandering. If you drop a bi, on the
ground it goes off like streak O. light
ming on tour Of discovery every little
particle taking different direction AMI
travelling On its own hook Its vetv
likely there's SOME kind of affinity be-
tween it and gold, Tor everv time il comes
in the nei9hhUrho ID OF a sparkler it grabs
it and goes of in search of another.
Quicksilver is mighty useful stuff when
ieler's digging in fine sand like this, for
it gathers up the little sinners in heap,
so't feller can pick them mp without
using microscope.
"That's curious" said. Arthur, who
had listened attenlively 10 Ben's expla-
nation.
"Thar's lots O curious things in this
world o ours, returned Ben, ,sententious-
". "But talking won't bring out the
gold lad: so let's to work"
They found the digging more profita-
ble atler this; the dirt was much easier
washed and paid better; so that when
they left off work, long after sunset, they
found they had quite respectable heap
of dust as q reward for their days toll.
Next morning they were up and hard
at work when the sun made its appear.
ance As they went deeper they found
the soil grew richer, and that night, as
they concealed another little pile of dust,
they allowed their thoughts to wander
forth in the bright hopes of the future.
One day succeeded another in rapid
succession, each night bringing an addi-
ton to the treasure concealed in their
"shelter." Two months had passed bv
in this msnner when one day Ben, who
had gone out in search of game, came
hurrFing into camp with ha-troubledfaee.a
"We must be more careful lad," he
said in answer to Arthur's anxious in
quiries; "there are several scoundrels
watching us. I suspected it yesterday,
hut was not certain until | saw Iim's
ugly face disappear behind rock just
now. If thev find we've gold concealed
our lives wort he worth cent We've
got all The dust we'll ever need, g..
think we'd better take advantage Of the
first dark night to leave. Another thing,
lad, ,Oue Of US must be on The watch night
and day after this; 'twon't DO for US to
he caught mapping If Jim and his cut
throat gang are on the lookout we shall
have tussel before we are through with
them.
That Ben's words were true was soon
made apparent, for several times during
the afternoon Arthur himself caught
sight of shadowy forms stealing among
the rocks.
That night they concealed the gold
dust in different and more secure place.
Ben announced his intention to watch
through the night; but as Arthur was
about to en- er the shelter he called him
back
Lad" said he in low voice, do you
remember that day was going to give
yon a ,hrashing ?"
|
what was coming.
"And do you know what restrained
me"
No"
We'll, I will tell you I thought /
recognized you, hut was not certain until
vou told me your name on the mountain
side that night Your father is nv broth
er Arthur. Fifteen years ago did him
terrible wrong. No matter what it
was; be it sufficient 10 say that, though
he freely forgave me, he could not bear
to look upon nv face; 50 ] came out
here / have not known a moments
peace since then, Arthur. Every species
OF disappointment has failed to bring
forgetfnlness. though it has earned me
the name OF Qnarrelsome-Hark wasn't
that rootstep2 Go to the shelter and
prepare your weapons. / should not
have told YOU this, hut feel that some
thing will happen before morning. II
YOU escape and don't, remember my
share of the dust is vours Good-by."
Without waiting for an answer Ben
turned abruptly away and was once more
the watchfal sentinel.
Arthur hurried to the ''shelter" and
quickly had his weapons in readiness ::
hour after hour be waited, revolver in
hand expecting every moment to bear the
sounds OF attack, and feeling that his
forced inactivity was more terrible than
the conflict itself would have been.
At last ne must have fallen asleep
throsgh very weariness for he was
aroused about midnight by the wild
shouts and curses of men, and the quick,
sharp cracks Of revolvers.
For q moment he stood in indecision,
but he was Immediately reused by-"ro
the rocks, Arthur! To the rocks! J" in
the ringing tones Of his newly, y,found un-
cle
He hurried off at full speed toward
the cliffs, expecting at every moment to
hear his uncle, who he supposed was fol.
lowing him. Concealing himself in q
dark fissure between two overhanging
cliffs, be waited breathlessly for further
developments. His ewes soon hegsn O
} feel heavy, end ere long he was again in
J sound sleep
1t must have heen nearly noon when