Evening journal., 1892-10-13

of the dead. But for the. clothing on
them it would have been hard to identify
them as human beings.
"There are only four, and neither Of
them is Taylor" said Joe as he rode
around the bodies. There are no ar
rows here, no empty shells, no signs of
a fight with the Indians. Let US ride
through the grove and see if we can
find the key to this mystery"
They scattered and hunted for further
evidence, but they found none. Taylor,
living or dead, could not be traced.
'Here's his rife" said Harkins as he
dismounted and picked up gun lying
by itself ON the ground.
"And it has not been discharged"
added Joe as he inspected it. "These
dead men are his work, and the fact
that he did not drive away with the
team proves that something happened
him. Let us relieve the horses and then
get these horrible objects out Of sight"
When the remainder of the party came
up not an evidence Of the tragedy ex-
isted, but the story told them by those
who had drawn the corpses to the river
and hoated them off was shocking
enough without the presence of the
dead. The horses had been reduced to
skeletons, and it was full hour before
their thirst was sufficiently satisfied to
permit them to enjoy the fresh green
grass at the other side of the grove.
The next surprise came when one Of
the men investigated the contents Of
the outlaws wagon and found the treas
ure which had been responsible for so
many crimes. While it was known
that the men were hunting for the cave
Of gold, the idea that they had found it
had not been entertained. Whom did
it belong to? The wreckage Of the sea
belongs to the finder. So with the
wreckage Of the plains.
The wagons were moved to the other
side Of the grove and the gold hunters
went into camp. If the newly added
treasure was to be taken away it must
be drawn by the horses which had
hauled it thus far and were now hardly
able to keep their feet. 1t would take
week to recruit them for the long pull
to the fort. The camp was therefore
made as comfortable as possible, the
treasure examined piece by piece and its
value estimated, and when this task
had been accomplished even the sweet,
sad face of the orphaned Lizzie carried
a smile.
have written much Of adventure and
very little Of love. Some Of my readers
may have been disappointed on that
score. There is love among the cast
aways floating on a raft in midocean
There is love beneath the white topped
wagon Of the immigrant slowly trailing
across plain and prairie--in the gold
hunters camp, surrounded by perils and
alarms. But it is a silent love, born OF
heroism, self sacrifice and true merit
and it Is not demonstrative. It waits fol
safety and civilization to betray itself
A month after Joe and his compan.
ions rode into that death camp l met
most Of them in Denver. They had
come safely through all perils, theil
treasure had reached the mint to be val
ued and paid for in coin gold, and there
had been one marriage-Joe and Bess
A month later there was to be another
equally satisfactory to all parties
Harkins and Lizzie. From their OWL
lips learned the story and have given il
to you. If there was not enough love il
it to satisfy the sentimentalists, blame
them for concealing the fact from youl
most obedient servant.
TEE END.