The record-union., 1891-06-20

He dropped the words slowly and dis
! tinctly; there was no fervor nor excite
ment in them, but as l thought of his
long, wearisome search, they were to
me very impressive. Somewhat excit-
edly / said:
But, l understood you to say that you
had tailed in your search-and now that
you have a fortune?"
All" said he, mot fortune-I did
not say fortune. The deposit was not
two thousand dollars was all the gold
/ there wasv
The quartzose-the feldspar-did it
not continue? Why not follow the
seam?"
"Yes," he replied slowly. sit contin-
ues-perhaps through the mountain,
through the earth-no matter if it doesr'
But there may be other rich deposits
IN lt-perhaps quantities Of gold?"
There may be; it is just as likely to be
in other formations also. Quartzose,
porphyry, feldspar are not necessarily
indications of gold, and are not often
found with it where it is originated. It
merely happened to contain it here. My
theory that the deposit was in porphyry
and feldspar was deduced from little
that adhered to nugget; but it was
simply sediment of the stream"
But may it not follow and prove true
after ALP"
NO. he said decidedly.
And why?" questioned.
Because" he said, Solemnly, 81 know
it to be immaterial as regards such-and-
such formations. / know all about gold
I can maize it! 1t is easier and cheaper to
make than steel or brass. In short, [
hold the secret of the philosophers stone
1t is as unnecessary to dig and delve for
the precious metal in the bowels Of the
| earth as 1t is for air or water. ! have dis
covered the cause of the efIect-goldr'
Surely, the man was sane! He was
not surprised at my CONSERVATION, and
did not seem gratified at having looked
it. He merely paused as if anticipating
| query.
''That," I said, decidedly, if not se-
verely, sis a myth. Men have ceased to
dream Of that among other absurdities!"
Il am aware that it seems incredible"
| he said, quietly, land anticipate all sort 5
| of quiZZing; but" he continued, 81 cam
silence skeptics most easily and effectu-
ally. By the way, do you not think
sskepticism very precarious thing to fol-
| low here below?"
To this query I did not reply.
"Ah, hat" he seemed to chuckle, but
not joyously. ''Yhe philosophers stone
is no myth! I can easily demonstrate nv
sanity which you doubt. oh, saw it n
your expression! 1t is only natural, and
| affords no cause for OtiGnse-no cause
! With three words l can render gold
! glittering, yellow, heavy, 2gOythJeSS gold,
as ordinary as air or water! The world b as
! been bought and sold time and again for
| less than | can produce III a fortnight
| MammonlStS must seek some other idol
their yellow god is shattered.''
Old Maynard arose and stirred the
! smoldering fire. He then took from an
interstice in the caves of the hut what re-
| sembled wad of paper. He reached to
me with slgniticantmotiOn and dropped
! itinto my hand. Deceived by its appe ar
ance | let it fall to the floor, where, it
struck with thud.
sit is heavy" said he. at is gold
| That is one of four pieces similar in size
and shape. One came from the canyon,
the other three made. You can DETECT
no difference"
[ removed the paper, and held Gaz-
! zling specimen to the light OF the fire. 1t
| weighed, as near as [ could guess, five
! ounces, and resembled minute particles
OF gold that had been amalgarnated and
| retorted by other means than fire 1t was
| intact, however, and of piece, although
! perforated with countless small holes,
! presenting al coraliaceous or porous sur
| face
| l handed the specimen to Maynard
| who had been arranging the limited ac
! commodations of two narrow hunks for
the night, remarking that L had never
! seen so handsome a specimen.
1t is unwashed, and not retOrted or
melted" he replied, .'and has not been
knocked about in streams nor exposed
! for ages to the elements. Indeed, il has
not been gold for very long time"
At this 1uncture there was a whine and
! scratching at the door, and when the old
man opened it a small dog wagged him
! self into the cabin. He ran at once un-
! der a small table, and, as | noticed, eyed
me so long as l remained by the fire. The
old man had nothing more to say on the
| subject which now fiIled my mind, and
we shortly retired.
When l awoke late in the morning my
| host had been long astir. He had been
| to the canyon and returned with the
deer, and the odor of the broiled yenison
/ filled the room. The small dog sat under
the table, but now eyed the venison in
| tently. In the chink of the logs in the
! corner l could see the paper package
containing the nuggets of gold, but as old
! Maynard did not refer to the subject of
the night did not broach it.
/ Half an hour later we stood together in
! the trail. He pointed off to the river, di-
| recting my attention to the course of the
| Blackrock and the boundaries OF placer
! diggings long since exhausted and aban-
| doned. 1t seemed evident enough that
the gold must have washed from the can
| yon.
40 more mining of that character will
! be done," he said, as l parted from him.
| He then casually asked me not to men
| ton the facts he had given me, as much
remained untold, and his plan for reveal
! ing his discovery was not decided upon.
! Assuring me that he would call upon me
/ within few days in town, walked won
| deringly away.
| Old Maynard turned back to the cabin
at Windy Camp. L never saw him again.
he didsnot appear in town during the
! week, and | was called away the next.
! On my return the report was about that
| old Maynard had disappeared. Some
miner had found his cabin door open, with
! evidence of its having been so for days, but
! careful search afforded no trace of the old
man of Windy Camp. His cooking uten-
sis and mining implements were dis
/ posed about the house, as II carefully laid
/ away, and his rifle rested on the wall.
As his dog was not found, and some of
! his effects had been removed, ii was con-
! jectured that he had left the mines Some
/ thought he might be dead. unless he re-
appears his secret is a mystery. If he
| made the great discovery, and is dead
! perhaps it is a providential diSpensation
| Ii it was not gold, what would it be?
LEROY
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, June, 1891.
! ''WEAK and weary" describes the con-
| dition of many people debilitated by the
warm weather, by disease or overwork.
| Hoods Sarsaparilla is just the medicine
| needed TO build up and strengthen the
| body, purify and quicken the sluggish
! blood, and restore the lost appetite.
TDEAVN 7 RCC