Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-11-20
Hidden Treasures
ATALEG or CALIFORNIA.
Waattentf for tie Tribune By 7. Fl. TINS.
CHAPTER
AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE.

after a dusty and hot stage ride of forty
eight miles, seated in a big, comfortable
arm chair on the broad veranda of the Ell
dorado hotel, in j., one of the many
mining towns Of California. Its
pristine glory of rich placers had
departed years ago, but still in the
language Of one of the old tim
ers, "She's no SLOUGH today, you bet bar
keep" Quite a group of rich gold quartz
mines were and are still in operation not
far from the town, and gravel claims about
that vicinity were yielding the ''yellow
stuff in good, paying quantities. The
evening was deliciously mild and pleas
ant, but in this respect was no exception to
others, for in that locality, though, some
times it may be scorching in summerdays,
the nights are sweetly cool and balmy.
The tow though it was spoken of as a
mountain own is not such in reality, as re
CARDS its Typographical situation, lying
among the rolling foothills, yet not far dis
tant from lofty mountains which rear their
timber covered sides clear and majestic to
the eastward: but the character of the
place and its inhabitants was as truly
mountainous as could we'll be wished for.
Hardy, generous, wholesouled men met
and greeted you with a free and easy fam
iliarty truly and peculiarly Californian.
The miner still damp from the spray of
the hydraulic stream, in oyeralls, jumper
and long legged rubber boots, met and
conversed with the ~fashionably dressed
man from Sacramento or "the bay" as old
Californians persisted in calling San Fran
cisco, while the dusty sombrero crowned
teamster gave expressions to his opinions
on tho news of the day. And when | say
coagersed or refer to expression Of opinion,
it is in nc idle nor passive manner that
these words are used, for intellect and
ability were not always clothed in broad
cloth habiliments, nor were level headed,
educated, scholarly gentlemen an absent
quantity among these bread winners of the
gravel bank and jerkline. In the interior
VI iA1shii a1oo1h Sebl SoblSt w 1ol4lts q
perhaps small, but judiciously selected
library with the contents of which. the
owner was on terms of close intimacy.
Men passed current more for what they
were worth than for what they seemed or
pretended.
The occupants Of the poarch We're vari-
ously occupied; some quietly smoking.
n or two quietly pacing up and down, a
knot was gathered around "Peg-leg'' KEEL
ly. listening to his recital Of the men anG
''doins in 40" when a wagon drawn by |
four horses, dashed up alongside from
which five men alighted while the sixth
drove on 10 the stable, Foremost among
the new arrivals YVES a tall, broad shoulder
ed man. dark c~omplexioned, with a Jet
black, long, silken beard. No sooner had
his feet found terra 1if3na, than he com
menced divesting himself Of a long linen
coat. Upon reaching the middle OF The
veranda he looked about and then in clear.
well modulated voice asked, "Where's
Weston? where's the sheriff. Our host
OF the Eldorado came forward with extend
ed hand and "Good- evening Mac" 4
short conversation between them was III
subGued tones and then both went inside.
There was a strange resemblance in the
mans face to some II I felt sure / knew
or had known. bat who, where or when
nay memory refused to recall. Hardly a
Minute had elapsed before quite a crowd
had gathered at the hotel. -Four days be-
fora the VI stage had been stopped a
little after dark and a box Of gold coin
amounting to $4,000 had been taken.
The. money was returns to the Italian
mine, the result Of a two months clean up.
The robbery had ceased to he the topic OF
conversation by the time of my arrival,
and SO my ears had TIL this time heard but
accounts of it. Various quiet sur
were INDUCED by the crowd but
from none of them could | gather any but
The yaguest explanation of Macs instant
demand for the sheriff. Heres Weston
n said, and as the sheriff approach
ed he was met in the doorway by the tall
man with the black beard. "Mr. Weston.
be commenced, Il hear that I am charged
with a great crime, when / first heard it at
he mill | treated it as a joke, but when
Upon inquiry it was discovered to be in
every mans mouth, when on the road peo- (
pie looked askanee at me it became I'M /
oearable. | have lived in this country /
years and to my knowledge this is /
he first time tongue of man has dared say {