Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-08-08
A TERRIBLE NIGHTS WORK

ALWAYS had happj faculty for get.
TING along well with those with whom
anne i'm contact, and when | became book
RaaDer of the asylum for insane at c.
us we'll prepared to begin the task of
ocoDiripp the good will of the small army
Of officers and employees attached to that
institution. With quick eye for any
thing out Of the ordinary, my attention
was very soon attracted 10y the peculIarit-
les of the colored coachman, Peter Cride.
When told by the Superintendent who
and what was, he gave me searching
look passed his hand across his eyes two
or three times, and llattered and startled
me at the same time by saying; You be
spoed man, sab, and you'll have heap
D friends Leah; but, sab, when you die
youl die in big crowd, an be killed IN.
lode bargain suan. The announcement
was not incompatible with my feelings
then. for was wild and reckless, nor with
Nh, surroundings, for il was on a wild,
dark. rainy night, late in November, and
an ASYLUM for insane is ever a grew.ome
spectacle to the uninitiated after dark,
even on the brightest night.
As started to my room to retire the
doctor smiled and said: PETER is a seer,
he thinks, but none of his visions ever
came true; don't worry over his foolish
predictions | promised that | would
not. but the words rang in my ears after
was alone and sat down to talk TO
myself awhile before trying to sleep in
ms new quarters for the first time, When
ever occasion offered | showed Peter such
consideration that in a week ] had won
his confidence and affection Lidle by
In, ooh 1vaNs AT
last told me that there was legend that
many years before two men had robbed
bank in a great city in an adjoining state
and escaped, but, being hard pressed by
officers. they had buried S24, 900 in gold
on what afterward became the asiynm
grounds, expecting to come back some
time and exhume it, The story was That
they we're soon afterward killed while re
si.tiug arrest, and that their secret as to
where the money was died with them. He
took me secretly at night and showed me
numerous places where long before, he
claimed, persons had dug great holes
searching for the hidden treasure. Peter
firmly believed n dreams and that he pos
Fesed the gitt OF second sight. Az with
aIl such persons, he was profoundly super
stitious and suspicious.
He INDUCED in man5 wild f'mcies about
hidden gold, conjured the black art for aud
in its discovery and dwtlt upon the
theme so much that 10 find the treasure
became the ruling passion OF his life. lie
serrtly ba0 q steel rcd turned into q
handle at one end and sharpened at the
other snd armed with this he would go
aUoa' the premises late atnight, searching
tor evidences Of old excavations. re
searched also -or monuments marking the
coveted spot; and on different occasions
took me out to have my opinion on clues
ne had found, in marks on stones and
trees and fragments Of rock, peculiarly
located. At last he took me into the re-
hottest 10 -ner of the basement one day.
and tod me that he had certainly located
hidden treasure in several places through
The medium of dream and other occult
power but admitted that the supernat-
ural frees were opposed to his securing
TIE wealth and said that when ne had dug
Gown almost to the vessel holding 1t the
vessel would either sink beyond his reach,
OF some strange being, the like Of
which he had never seen before, would
come and order him away, Sc that he al
ways failed.
He said further that on the night be-
Tore be made a long search, but had re-
lurued near morning without accomplish
my anything. Falling asleep, he received
communication from the spirit world,
which told him the entire S24 ,0J0 in gold
wa, buried IN one spot less than 100 yards
from my window He proposed that y
would go with him that night between IL
and ] O'Clock we would surely find the
money and would divide ii equally
consented. and agreed 20 furnish the neCes-
cary tools. This ! could easily do, for I
ls- entirely won the old store keeper, and
'aen asked him for his key TO the store
us, asking him TO say nothing, he
handed 1t over without a word
% the great kitchen two silent figures
might have been seen stealthiiy creeping
coward a little walnut tree, under the
.raagne. Of which 1t was believed there
as a fortune Signals of recognition were
gig %, and be begun work 40 once. / could
1esi.y sink Peter steel staff into the
~ INA tour feet over space more than a
Ea Ia diameter, and 1t was there, he
'ata, we should begin. ! broke the first
ground while Peter stood guard. Being
."-seQ 70 that sort Of work soon tired.
aa4 Peter relieved me His heIculeau
frame worked like a steam GredQe, and
Aau.ated by the hope Of u rich reward
ana tae excitement Of the occasion, he
'.a1 had an IMMENSE hole opened. Twice
topped and lay down az the night
ieh passed too close for us to work Ii
assty soon after the second interruu.
..aa the quick ear Of the negro caugh,
.-e sound Of a breaking weed stalk some
ards away
hi- face Immediately assumed an as
-+st awful horror, and be gasped:
Pr God sake Mr. Dalton, what All
ioid him il was nothing, and canei
=. attention to the fact that | had rotioed
aao..oW sound under him as he worked
re suggested that lie was surely comm.
~ the coveted treasure. Taking bis staff
4 His trembling hands lie sunk it about