The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-09-17
Does he know who the robbers

4 OOe5 ne Know VINO tne FOOpetS
were7''
mo; he's a stranger here. and
knows no one but Mr. Smailwee,l. the
banker. His name is Brown. AMI he
has Just returned from California He
is immensely rich. / think. but has all
his gold in Smallweed's bank at
| Bushville."
| As they were on the point of separa-
ton, Mr.. Miles inquired as to the
whereabouts of Bill Martin. and was
! informed that he had received a
slight injury in the shoulder by being
thrown from horse, and would prob
ably be confined to his bed for several
| DAYS.
Pinkey Miles was the nurse of the
wounded man. He dictated letter
which she wrote MIR. Smallweed in re-
gard to business affairs; BY it she
learned that he was expecting two
more boxes of gold coin. on the ex.
press. and he wished him to go to
Queenstown and receive it, suggesting
that he had better have strong guard
TO prevent the capture of the treasure.
'You shall be amply repaid for all
your kindness to me. Miss Pinkey,"
said the Californian.
Il have done nothing more than my
duty. sir. and l do not require any
pay"
.'But you deserve pay for your
trouble"
1t was the third day after the injury.
and Mr.. Brown was flushed with fever.
which made him talkatiye.
s.You must be quiet; you have sat
| up too much to-day" she said. Mr..
Brown was propped up in bed with
his arm strongly bandaged, lying snug
/ " under the coycrlet.
II feel better. though. Miss Pinkey,
than l hare felt for years" said the
/ man.
Il am glad to know it. and ope
| you will sooE be well AGAIN.
'-Sit here by the side of the bed as 1
wish to talk to you. said Mr.. Brown.
Pinkey did as requested.
'How long have YOU lived here?' he
| asked.
..For ten years" she answered
where did YOU come from. when
you came here?''
my father is from Pennsylvania
"You never lived in lllinois?"
| mo. sir
Il once did 1t was many years De-
| fore YOU were born. | was Young
s,lan then The man spoke in short
sentences and there was considerable
feeling in his tone. Il married cae
who was the pride Of my heart. |
| loved her and she loved me. but Re
We're poor. The gold excitement OF
/ 1S49 swept over the country: pecple
went wild over it. was swept away
| in the vortex. The parting was hard.
! but the cherished hope of return NJ
wealthy overcame every other con!id-
Grafton. She gave me up pressed
my wife and babe 10 my breast and
! Joined the wagon train waiting in the
road. As we rolled away turned to
catch a last glimpse of the little Hume
| that had been so dear to ME. saw NV
wife standing in the doorway: tears
were streaming down her cheeks, and
she held aloft the babe that crow.d
and clapped its hands. unaware of the
separation. The sight overcame me
and shed manly tears.
Months were spent in crossing the
plains. need not tell you of the hard
ships of an overland journey to Cali
fornia. A journey that took months to
complete, months of suffering and priv
atoms. l labored with zeal and deter
mination. received letters regularly
from home. Years passed. l was dis
appointed in acquiring the fabulous
wealth had been promised and | had
oil ind f., r.af.
home when l fell sick and came near
deaths door. Some rude, though kind
hearted friend nursed me to partial
health. failed to more than msk.
living A year later. in company
with party of prospectors, We struck
the richest mine ever known in CSli-
fornia. There were five of us and VIC
dug every day out of the earth
fortune. At the end of 4 week ea:h
man made cache and buried fia
treasure. This we did several times.
just as we had determined to return q
civilization, the Indians attacked u,
killing three Of my companions ard
took the remaining two of us as priso..
ers- For fourteen long years l was
prisoner among the red men. A seT
months ago | managed to escape ard
then began to inquire about my vile
and child in the East l learned that
my wife was dead and that my SIN
lived somewhere near here
My treasure in the cache l found
where had left it, and dug it up. AID
had it expressed to Queenstown In
boxes. and was on the hunt of my ssh
when the robbers attacked me-"
DO You know where he is?" asked
Pinkey.
Il do not"
1t was evident that the Californian
had been exciting himself too much,
and Pinkey insisted on as keeping
quiet
CHAPTER XIV