The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-05-17

lcAS, sdlu tne young artist
Tried a wich- hazel rod"
''No"-rather surprised.
''P'raps you've got a magnet7"
'No. did not suspect the presence
OF iron in this sandy SOIL" answered
jeff
The grilzle-headed old man drew q
long breath.
''Thar amt no tellin' what folks will
find" said he, plunging his spade once
more into the earth. "Dig away, lads
dig for you livesl Moon sets at eleven,
and thar amt no use workin' srter moon
set"
1--WE might get lanterns. =" suggested
jeff.
Lanterns amt no good" was the
brusque reply.
When the moon disappeared behind
the hills, every man left off work, and
departed without much ceremony of
adieu
jeff made haste to pick up his tools.
"Well, said he, we've made pretty
considerable Roadway; but of all people
l ever saw these shore-men are the most
eccentric. One would think well had
never been dug before"
During the day the neighbors hung
around the spot, staring, peeping and
prylng, as if they were all eyes and
tongues.
$50 ye've commenced to dig, ehln
said woman. in a saffron yellow sun
bonnet ard dyed cashmere cape, who
was going to the postothce to borrow a
yeast-cake from the postmaster's daugh-
ter-in-law, and who stopped to watch
Nanny in her occupation of sowing asteI
and portulacca seeds under the window.
Yes, said Nanny.
"'Twon't be no good, said the wo-
man. Ever so many folks has tried it
afore. I wish I knowed how many
spade edges has been worn away on this
plaguey coast p
And she went her way, drarg ing one
foot after the other with spiritless perse-
verence.
"Haow ye gettin' ont" said a brisk,
fat, little female, who had been down to
the edge of the water, digging a basket
of clans, which she was now tri-
umphanily conveying home
"Oh, nicelyln said Nanny.
'Pitty the moons so fur off the fullT'
said the fat woman.
"Willthat make any differencel" asked
Nanny
"All the difference in the worldis an
nounced the obese female. 'Ain't no
use diggin' without ye dig by the light
o. the moon
And she walked of. sort of noVa5ls
waterfall dripping from the CLANS in the
basket IS she went.
AZ noon gaunt old man stopped as
be drove his wagon Of juggling tinware
pat the gate.
GIVE heern tell as we've took to dig
GIN" said he. GLOW came We ever to
settle on that there Nasty piece O. ground
to dig ln,n
my husband thought that there were
favorable indications there, " said Nanny.
''No one ever tried that there spot
atore," said the gaunt old man. ''But
p'raps your man knows the kentry7"
mo" said Nanny. mot at all. :"
''Ef twas me, said the man, pointing
with dipper handle, I'D a-dug furder
down the hill Poor cid Jim Bean it
would a-dOne his heart good to see the
s'le turned up 0g'in. Ye dunno Jiml
He put up this bouse. It was him sold
it to Nathan Slorey-ss bargaiued it off
to you folks. He's in the : tate Asylum,
Jim Bean is. Got to diggin', We see, an
couldn't stop; went to his brain. ANY
tinware to dly, or crockeryl MOI Wal,
l go by every Thursday mornin', and so
good-day to yel"
At The dinner-table Nanny amused her
hus and by an account of the number OF
odd inquiries which had been leyeled at
her during the morning.
Il think the people here must be the
most curious and meddlesome Ia the
world, said She.
But after ell. said Jack, carving the
nice little chicken, which, as Aunt Pyue
Their own premises at is rather
pleasant 10 find oneself the object Of SC
nuch genuine interest
At that moment the door few open
and in hurried a red faced, perspiring
man, "Sharesin as he flung his hat on
one chair and himself into another.
''Sir," said Jack, rising in some con-
fusion, 81 have not the pleasure OF your
acquaintance
'I'm the man that owns the Big East
Medderm gasped the newcomer
''t'otherside o the stun wall where ye're |
diggn'. And l say shares Yeive onder- /
mined my stun wall, and l amt a-goin' /
TO be left out in the cold! No, by lingo,
l ain't-not if know myself"
but" reasoned Jack, your house is
half mile up the hill it wouldn't be I
possible 10 get sufficient Roadway to- /
''Oh, hang your head wayl p said the /
red faced man. IF any man digs under
my. stun wall, he's got to go shares
that's The long aud the short of it Amt
that the rule, Parson Glenn9"-to a
small, gentlemanly looking person, who
stood knocking at the door.
"What is all this about2" imploringly
asked Mr. elf. "Gentlemen, pray SIT
down. Let US getat the bottom of this
Il have heard of your undertaking
Mr.. jeff, said the mild voiced village
clergyman, bowling to the ladies'
Almost every one has, l should think"
groaned jeff, cycling his carving knife
with moody determination.
"With the deepest chagrin, " said tbs
reverend gentleman.
''Eh 2" said Mr.. jeff, opening wide
his eyes.
"And have come hither." added the
ito warn you of the sad fate
of Others, who have yielded to this most
delusion, and to entreat you ere
it be too late to desist One poor wretch,
who lived in this very spot, is in luna
tic asylum; another has sold the place at
q sacrifice, in order to tear himself from
the hideous temptation. The whole
thing is like a blight along the coast.
The neighbors, as you have seen, are
eager TO abandon everything, for the
chance Of finding what does not exist
But" cried jeff, ait does exist.
saw it myself"
Ell - interjected the clergyman.
a. The finest aud most delicious water
[ ever tasted. " said Jeff.
Water !" echoed the parson. "YoU
are digging for-water 2 :"
What else =" cried Nh. Jelf. "You
didn't suppose was digging for gold l''
''Of course we did" bawled the red.
faced man.
Certainly uttered the clergyman.
''Were you not aware that this jagged
piece of coast-land is supposed TO be the
place where the nefariOus pirate Kidd