The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-03-07
For THE ARKANsAw TRAVELLER.
 THE ARDENT GOLD DIGGERS.
BY ].

Going down on the train, from Little
 Rock to Pine Bluff recently, heard the
 following narrative. As it is not at all
 probable that will ever meet the parties
 again, will give it verbatim hope, how
 ever, that the editor won't give me
 away, for there is no telling what might
 happen in the sweet fempHs /xgit (that
 Latin doesn't fit exactly, know just
 my wit putting it that way; shows, too,
 that know some Latin). On the seat, just in front of me, was long, thin man,
 who had the most disgusted, tired look
 ing face, had seen since the last time
 saw my friend, Jim Blaine. In fact,
 thought he had piled it on a little too
 thick, looked little overdone, as it were
 As we were pulling out, a great big
 Jumbo of a man came in, and the sad
 man beckoned him to come and sit with
 him. They seemed mutually pleased to
 meet, and after shaking hands heartily
 and exchanging greetings, the big man
 said, as he squeezed himself in the seat
 facing his sad friend: "What's the
 matter, Joe2 Where you been2 You
 look used up. Are you sick?" "Yes,
 derned sick" answered the sad man, |" and expect to get sicker. As for where
 Eve been, that is just what want to tell you, for if don't tell somebody I'll die,
 and if you think Pm a cussed fool, don't
 be backward about telling me so ; in fact,
 I'd esteem it a great favor if you will
 curse and abuse me, right now, in the strongest language that you have about you," Lordl but he looked savage, then) "Let's hear the case, and
 then I'll deliver an opinion and
 consider about the cussing," the
 big man said. "Do you see that man
 over there2" tbe sad man groaned, as he
 pointed across the way. "Well, that's
 Lemons. don't speak to him now, and
 don't want him to catch me ever
 looking at him. despise him. He
 came to me, some time ago, and
 said that if he only had a little
 money, he knew where there was ten thousand dollars in gold, just waiting for
 somebody to go and get it, and finally proposed that if l would pay the ex-
 penses of the trip, he would take me to it, and we would make an even divide. This is what he told me. Some time ago, old man Hughes and his wife, who were living in the house with Lemons, both died, within short time of each other, and just before they died, they both told Lemons and his wife that when the war broke out, they were living near Greenville, Miss; that they had ten thousand dollars in gold in the house, and no safe place to deposit it, so they concluded to bury it. They had the negroes to dig holes in the front yard, for the purpose of setting out some water oaks, had the holes dug four feet deep, and when the negroes had gone after the trees. they put the money in pot, and buried it in one of the holes, before the negroes returned the trees were set out, and in the vicissitudes of the war, they had to abandon their home in such hurried manner, that they didn't have time to dig up the money, they had never been able to get back, though trying all these years to do so. They described it so that Lemons knew he could find it without trouble. We'll, accepted the proposition. When we reached Green vile, we found that we would have to walk several miles through a dismal swamp of cane-brake, cypress knees and ice, and every other cussed thing that's mean. Armed with spades, picks, a sack of grub and few necessary articles for short camping out, we set out. How we ever got through that swamp, never can understand. for it didn't look possible for rabbit to get through it, but the prospect of ten thousand dollars will make man do A great many things that a rabbit can't. We finally reached the dilapidated old ruin, which had long been given up to varmints and malaria. The water-oaks were there, just as described, and we vent to digging. There was eight of them-and you can imagine what size they had attained, growing twenty-four years in that rich Mississippi swamp. We dug the last one of them up, and after going four feet under each, we commenced again, and if we didn't dig down seS tses under where each of those eight trees had been, then my name is not Joe Dodd, and I'm the biggest liar in the state. Nov Mex Jones, you're law yer, and understand human nature about as well as anybody l know, and if you think I'm confounded fool. aud need . guardian set over me, say so, and put