Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1892-11-23

"Our friend is worrying and wants to
talk with you."
Eyes, want to ask you about my
mother" added Lizzie.
II am sure saw father lying on the
ground, and have no doubt the rene
gades killed him as the first part of
their plan. Mother and both got away,
and she was not overtaken. What
would be her fate?"
1T is hard to say" replied Harkins
after rejecting on the matter. IF she
got through the night all right she may
have found the trail Of the wagons in
the morning and overtaken the party.
We must hope that she did. It may
also be that your father was only stun
ned by the blow, and is ere this all right
again and with his friends"
"Do you think there Is even the
fintest hopeT" she tearfully asked.
"Ido."
Thank God for thatl shall almost
cease worrying under that hope. And
now what of lnyselfT
"You are to remain with US, of
course"
But for how long9'
I'VE cannot even guess. We may
head back for civilization in week
perhaps not for>three months. It de-
pends on our luck as gold hunters. 1t
Is more than likely that some Of the
party to which you belonged will be en-
countered soon, and who knows what
good news we may receive. You are
thrice welcome to all it may be in our
power to do for you"
Meanwhile Bess had whisperingly in
uuired of Joe what chances the mother
had of escape.
"God help her-nonel" he answered
"She was wild with fear when she ran
from the wagon, and she would grow
wilder. Before morning came she was
a maniac. but doubt if she lived to see
another day."
"Indians2" gasped Bess.
"No-wolves. At that distance from
the mountains man loaded down with
firearms could hardly have kept them
off all night. Encourage the girl all
you can, but don't hope in your own
heart that there is one chance in q mil
lion that she will ever see her mother
again"
AS the pair stood together apart Har-
kins observed them with a start and
xphianarod to himself:
"Well, we'll, but | do really believe
that my Bess has taken liking to that
chapl How queerl"
He might more truthfully have said,
How natural" and he might have used
the word "love" for "liking." And when
the man looked upon the sweet face OF
the orphan he had 80 gallantly rescued
at the peril of his life, and felt his heart
beating faster, he might have discovered
another queer thing-that somebody else
had "taken a liking"
The captain had given the men to un-
derstand that he was prospecting up the
canyon for gold, but had said nothing of
the discoveries made. When dinner was
finished and the trio were ready to re-
turn he renewed his caution about keep
ing q steady lookout. for danger, and
ordered that no one was to leave camp
on any pretext till his return. Then the
three set out for the scene Of their labors
and began work Immediately upon their
arrival. They had no fear Of their fire
being seen or their blows overheard, and
men who work to solve mystery do not
tire.
After three hours of hard work the
crowbars secured such grip on the
stone that 1t moved. One united effort
would heave it out Of the opening. 1t
was then that the captain stepped back
and sat down and said:
"Let us take breathing spell now.
and let Us prepare ourselves to be disap'
pointed"
"What do you think is behind the
stone?" asked Joe.
"A cave Of some Sort"
"And what shall we find in the cave?'
asked Hsrkins.
1.-THE shriveled bodies of dead Aztecs.
That lost race always buried their dead
In caves, and when the place would hold
no more it was walled up. Ihave helped
to open three or four"
"But why go to all this trouble to
open cave of bone and dust?" petulant-
ly queried Harkins.
"As the Indian Of today places the
property of the dead warrior beside him
that he may have an outfit in the happy
land beyond, so the Aztecs placed the
wealth Of their dead beside them in
these caves. | have seen many orna-
ments of gold and silver which came
from such caves"
"Then let US to work." exclaimed Joe
as he seized bar.
I'VE shall find cave of dead If not
cave Of gold," added Harkins.
The bars were inserted on the left
hand side Of the stone, each man drew o
long breath and at the word each threw
his weight on his lever. The stone trem-
bled, moved forward, hung q moment
and then fell to the earth with heavy
thud, and an opening appeared into
which horse could almost have walked.