The morning call., 1892-08-05
4 FUKTY-NINER

He was an old forty-n'ne When COL
was discovered In California he took pas
sage on s. ship at Charleston, S. c., and II
10 months afterward-it often took niht
months to make the voyage in those days BY
way of Cape Horn and the Straits of Ma
Eellan-was washing dirt in the new FL Do
RADIO.
But be found more dirt than gold, and
after the civil war ended he walked across
the continent to Arkansas
When man becomes miner for the pre-
eious metals be is miner ever sfterwaTd.
He may make his living otherwise, but tbs
passion never leaves him. He hopes TO
strike rich lind" somewhere sometime,
and he keeps on hoping II lie strikes that
last II not richest Of all fndS-deRtb.
Mack found silver indications near Little
Rock There he stopped, built shanty,
worked with me means st his command and
proved t. his own satisfaction, If not 10
those whose assistance he solicited, that
reasonable outlay OF money would disclose
wealth almost beyond the capability Of man
10 compute.
A long thin man he Was His hair was
gray and sersggy, his beard COARSE and
sparse. his complexion brown, his face fur
r0Ned all over with deep lines running 10
all directions The tones of his voice had
kindly sound. He spoks little, but always
~as more laugh of the face and eyos than
noise, for il was not loud, and often not
sud bic. His eyes were deep blue, and
dip pie III each cheek made him look almost
handsome when be smiled. / often thought
ne must have favored his mother Those
dimples put tile idea into my head, and one
day told him so.
They used to tell me at home did; but
don't suppose / do now" he said.
one night Ia December. when the moon
was young, the weather warm, and soft
southwest wind blowing, | was awakened
from an early sleep By knock at the door.
Opening IL, boy handed me- a note. Il
read as follows:
Come down. must see you tonight.
l sm at my old boaTding-honse on til
street. MACK"
BE didn't write this note How is
this?" | asked,
Il guess he didn't. for Pm afesred he.
past writing. The doctor did it. He asked
him 70, the boy replied.
went.
found him In his old room, where had
sat with elm for hours, neither Of US speak
lDg word, while he Dlayed oid-time airs on
an old violin. But he was in bed and his
hddle was mute; and rs he looked at me
several moments without breaking the
silence feared that l never would hear bis
voice again.
lake a seat Charlie"
dis voice Was firm and clear After q
little pause he turned to the doctor and
said:
Doctor, feel better Could you not let
me talk with Charlie little, aud alone?
have some business with him"
es, certainly" replied the doctor.
As the doctor passed out Of the room he
WHISPERED 10 me:
1T Will soon be all up with him."
Nj dear fellow. what is it2 / hope you
are not seriously ILL.,"
I
you. am dylDg-I know Ii. | am worn
out. You remember yeu once said to NE
favored my mother l have been thinking
OF her tonight. When left home | WAS
only q years old. She didn't want me to
leave; but knew best. Yes, we all know
better than cur mothers, and ! went The
first gold found in California Was a small
nugget swoTe when | picked IL up that
would never 60 back till | carried a
fortune with 1t. l was never a gamb-
Ter or q drunkard, yet / never pros
peIea' one died 70 years ago, but 1
fer hoped to make fortune and
10 spend 1t all for a monument over her
grave. My father died when was baby.
but she made man and a fair scholar out
OF me; but thought more of gold than !
did OF her happiness. and here / am TO.
night But am not afraid to die. When
man pursues phantom until he is thor
oughly tired he feels like lying down and
sleeping forever"
Here he asked me for a drink OF water f:
but he did not falter in his speech, nor did
be seem at all worried.
"Wlll you let me give you the old fiddle ?"
be said, with his familiar smile
"Ot course; / would prize it above eyery-
thing" j answered
he rose from the bed before / could inter-
fere. and walked firmly to where an old
trunk stood in the corner. Opening il. he
secured email package to which a string
was fixed. He tied this around his NECK.
walked back to the bed, and laid himself
down.
he held up the package and spoke as
with suppressed breath:
This contains the gold nugget I ask
you, Charlie, to see that l am buried with
TINS around my neck"
He reached cut his arm, grasped mine.
closed his eyes, aud when / thought hin,
sleeping he was dead.
wrapped around the nugget was a braid
OF brown hair. IL he had ever loved any
other woman but his mother be kept his
secret well. was never able TO discover it.
executed his will. Mack, the nugget of
gold and the braid Of brown hair are ali
three sleeping together.