The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-07
The Finding Of the glb!a.

Auu lIuullly LII tlu llplu'
 "Thar it isl Pve spent month searchin' for it, an more money than I could save in six. Pve toiled up and down that gulch till my eyes is blinded with the 'tarnal rocks. All kinds, jest stickin' out to ketch the sun, 'ceptin' this kind as is wanted, an is hidin' somewhere. I gives it up, an eff any other feller ken fin it, he's welcome!" says Ned Clark.
 As he spoke he threw upon the counter bit of rock, looking sullenly at it, while, one by one, the group of men around the great stove in the mid dle of the store came up and examined the small piece of beautiful red quartz, with gold fairly studding it.
 No one made comment, each lay ing it down with shrug of the shoul- ders, until it had passed through every hand in the store except young fell lows, who, the first to leave the stove, had stood silent until the men were back in their comfortable quarters near the fire and the rock on the coun- ter. Then he approached, took it up, turning it over and over in his hand, saying slowly, as if thinking aloud: "It is the first pure red quartz Pve seen in the camp"
 "Oh, is itw Ned Clark's voice mocked the quiet words, and Ned Clark's ruddy face was full of open comment.
 The young fellow did not answer, gave no evidence of having heard, and just kept on steadily looking at the quartz.
 After a few moments silence. Ned grew impatient. "Well, fwhy don't you speak?" he asked.
 "I have nothing l wish to say" an- swered the other. His fair unbearded face looked out of place among the sunburnt, heavily bearded men, who, expecting amusement Gin Ned chaffin' the youngster," stopped all converse tion to listen.
 "Ohw sneered Ned, "p'raps thar's suthin' yer wish ter dor" And spread ing out his chest, he laughed sarcas- tically at the stripling, who, with the slenderness of youth and of delicate build, appeared child in contrast with him.
 "Yes, there is something I wish to do. I wish to look for the ledge that rock came from" His voice was quiet and firm, his hat well back on his bright hair, showing how very fair and young he was. Yet there was no lack of manliness, for he looked un- flinchingly back at the brawny fellow trying to provoke his anger.
 "Yer wants ter find thet ledge? Yer wants ter fin it, does yer? Yer wants the moon, tool I spec's yer'd cry for the sum-" sneered Clark.
 "My wants are nothing to you, Ned Clark" The young fellows face was red now with anger. "You said any one could try who wanted to and I mean 10 try. You have no right to these mountains. You can't locate a ledge before you find it. Keep your bit of rock,"-he tossed it back on the counter; "I have eyes, and can remem- Der what Tve seen."
 "Oh, yer hez eyes, hez yer? Rale purity eyes, tool An face like a gals with soft white skinl It's a pity yer mother didn't keep yer at home, stead O lettin' yer run over these mountains O Nevada a-spoilin' yer beauty!"
 "We can't help our faces, but we can help our manners, and if you dare speak of my mother again l'll strike you in the mouth |" said the young fellow.
 "Ohl yer'll strike, will yerl Thar P Ned Clark threw out his fist with ( force that would have leveled George Elmair, but he was prepared. A quicl side step, and the blew fell harmless Not so the we'll directed one on Ned' great chest, which, in place of anger. ing, pleased him. "Ha, hap h, shouted; "George Elmair, yer he; knocked the devil out O me. When seed yer 6 pekin at that rock, fel that contempt fer yer as I would fee fer girl masqueradin' in pantsl But blame me, if yer ain't boy, and , fust-class one, too! Here's my han an honest one, though rough. Tax the rock, lad, an if yer fin it, darn m eff thar'll be a man in camp as'll b readier to say hooray than Mex Clarkp
 George returned Ned's grip witl one as hearty, and then, without