Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1893-08-12

E1v1ag In California. Bus when ne
landed In Monterey he learned that she
ives about to start. perhaps already had
done 30. for Fort Ross. to pay o visit 10
lhe Rotscheffs. The news gave HIM
pleasure; IL had bssn his wish to say
what he had yet TO say IN his own forests.
And than the plan which hsd been
stirring Psstlessly In his mind for many
months took imperative shape. He de-
termined that II there was gold in CALI
forzis he would wiring the seoret ont Of
lie keeper by gentle means % violent.
and that within the next twenty-four
hours.
Estenegs drew rein the next night BE-
fore the neglected Mission Of San Rafael
The valley, surrounded by hills dark
with the silent redwoods, bore not .
trace Of the populous life Of the days b.
fore seculsrixstion- The padre hved
alone. lodgekeeper Of . valley Of shad-
owR
He opened the door Of his room on ths
corridor % he heard the approach Of the
traveller, squirting his bleared, yellow
spotted eyes. He was surly by nature,
but he bowed low 10 the man whose
power was 90 great In California and
whose generosity had sent him many .
bullock. He cooked him supper from
his frugal store, piled the logs In the
open 6replace-Novsmber was come
and after . bottle Of wine. produced
from Estenegs's saddlebag. expanded
into o hsrmit's imitation Of convivi-
ality. Late In the night they still
cat on either side Of the table In the
dusty, desolate room. Ths Forgotten
had been entertained with vivid and
shifting pictures Of the great capital In
which he had passed his boyhood BE
smiled occasionally: now and again hs
gave q quick, impatisnt sigh Suddenly
Estenegs leaned forward and axed him
with his powerful gaze.
els there gold In these mountainsS' he
asked abruptly.
The priest was thrown OF his guard
for Q moment. A look Of meaning flashed
into his eyes, then one Of cunning dis
placed IL.
at may be, Senior Don Diego: gold Ia
often In the earth. But had ] the IN
holy knowledge I would lock IL In my
breast. Gold 10 the canker in the heart
Of the world It 10 not for the church to
scatter the evil broadcast"
Estenega shut his teeth. Fsnatictm
was Q more powerful combatant shan
avarice.
True, my father. But think Of the
good that gold has wrought Gould
these missions have been built without
goldi these thousands Of Indians ChEis
tianizedT'
What you say 10 not untrue; but for
ons good ten thousand evils are wrought
with the metal which the devil mixed IN
hell and poured through the veins Of the
earth"
Estenegs spent half hour represent
ing In concrete and forcibls images the
debt which civilization owed 70 the fact
and circulstion Of gold. Tho priest 70
plied that CalifoxniA was o proof that
commerce could exiss by barter; the
money In the country was not worth
speaking Of
"And no progress 70 speak Of In .
hundred years, retorted EstenegA Then
be expstiated OF length upon the unique
future Of California did she have gold 20
develop her wonderful resources. The
priest said that TO cut California from
her ArcadiAn simplicity would be TO
start her ON her Journey to the devil
along with tho corrupt nations Of the
Old World Estenegs demonstrated that
II there was vice In the older civilixa-
lions there was also . higher state OF
mental development, and that religion
held hex own. He might - well have
addressed the walls Of the mission- He
tempted with the bait Of one OF the more
central nissiona The priest had only
the dust Of ambition In the cellar OF his
brain.
He Lost his pasiencs as Last. 'Imust
have gold" no said shortly. land you
shall show me where 70 And It. You
once betrayed to my father that you
knew Of its edstcnce In these hills. and
you shall give me the key"
The priest looked into the eyes Of steel
end contsmptuously determined fscs b.
xOT0 MN 800 90Ut k4D OWN hR0s A4W W0~
alone with desperate man; he had mot
even o servant; he could be murdered
and his murderer 60 unsupported; but
the heart Of tho fanatic was in him BE
made no reply.
"You know me" said EstenegA u
owe half my power in CalifozniA 70 the
fact that DO not make . threat today
and forgot IL tomorrow. You viii show
me where that gold Il or win kill you =
1.-THE servant OF God dies when his
hour comes. II ann TO die BY the hand
Of an assassin. % be it."
Estenega leaned forward and placed
his strong hand about the priests baggy
throat. pushing the table against his
chest. He pressed his thumb against the
throttle and his second finger hard
against tho jugulax. and the tongue
rolled over the teeth. the congested eyes
bulged. 1T may bs that you scorn
death. but may not fancy the mode Of M
have no desire to kill you Alive or
dead your life Is Of no more value than