Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-04-04
JAkE'S TREASURE.
What the Relics Were That He Died In
ResCuIDp

What the Relics Were That He Died In
Resculng.
l had seen some rough and reckless
army teamsters on the plains before fell
in with the man everybody knew as Jake
alone, but it didn't take me half day to
decide that he was the toughest of the
rough lot. l heard soldiers who had
known him for years declare that the only
redeeming trait he had was his bulldog
courage. He'd drive his six mule team
right through n war party of Cheyennes if
ordered to, and he'd fight any white man
living with any sort of weapon. No com
pany of soldiers would use as much pro
family in Il day as Jake wculd in quar-
ter of an hour. He was cruel 10 his mules,
tyrannical to his companions, and there
was no one to even wish him good luck.
When l had charge of the wagon guard, |
used to study the man, hoping to find one
thing to prove that he was not as bad as
every body made him out to he, but my
efforts were in vain. That man appeared
to hate everything with life, and once
when somebody spoke of the hereafter in
his presence he cursed and reviled until
he had to be ordered under arrest and a
gag placed in his mouth. He had killed
or crippled dozen men, though always
escaping conviction. and but for his cour-
age, which is looked upon as rarity
among transfers under convoy, he would
not have been allowed in any train.
did more than study jake tried to
make friends with him. He met me III
such a contemptuous, belligercnt spirit
however, that turned away despairingly.
What was it to me whether he was good or
bad? Nothing, / reply, and yet some
how wanted to dig down below the crust
and discover what made him the wicked,
reckless man he was-tO touch that chord
which is to be found in every human
breast, no matter how much evil covers
it up and conceals it. When he continued
to repulse me, left him to himself, as all
others had done but | never got sight OF
him without feeling that the time would
come when his better nature would shine
out, if only for a moment.
One summers day, when our train of 80
wagons was strung out on the hot plains
and the escort was smaller than usual, the
crafty Cheyennes suddenly charged us. a
soldier is always ready for brush and is
seldom thrown off his balance, but
frankly admit that but for the courageous
conduct of Jake on that occasion the train
would have been lost. His face wore
look of fiendish delight as be rushed up
and down, now firing a shot and now
kicking and cursing n cowardly teamster.
He got the train closed up, put heart into
the drivers and gave the small escort Op-
portunity to make the best of the situa-
ton. After Il hot fight we beat the red
skins off, and as they retired grudgingly
behind a ridge we pursued our way. We
had gone about mile when Jake rode to
the head of the column on a lead horse.
He was pale faced and trembling, and it
was only after two or three efforts that he
succeeded in calling ont:
Captain, for heaven : sake stop the
train for 10 minutes
"For what rcason?H | asked
Because I lost my treasure back there
and must recover it. Please order a halt
The Injuns are licked and will not attack
again
l thought the man had lost his wallet
when he spoke of his treasure. but his
voice and demeanor had so changed that
everybody looked at him in Amusement.
The train was halted, and asked him how
much money he had lost and where he
hoped to find it.
Money" he walled Gu, as if his heart
were breaking at isn't money, but my
treasure-my relics! I've carried 'em fur
over Is years, and if they are gone l shan't
want to live another hour
"But l can't spare you an escort to go
back there. See! The Indians are still
watching u.s.
~ don't want an escort! Hold the train
10 minutes and I'll either be dead or with
you again.
He rode straight back at the Indians as
fast as his horse could so, and as he rode
he scanned the ground to the right and
va \ l. l.
puzzled and suspicious and retreated a lit
tie. but when it became apparent that he
was searching for some lost article they
moved to close in on him. We couldn't
stand that. To lose the train in trying to
save Jake meant court martial and dis
grace, but the teamStcrS were left to do the
best they could, and every trooper put spur
to his horse. We saw Jake dismount and
snatch up small parcel from the grass
his lost treasure. The act cost him his
life Before he could remount the Indians
were near enough to fire upon him, and
though they did not get his scalp they
laid him low. We drove them off and car
ried his body back to the train. In his
left hand was clutched his package, and
his fingers were so tightly clinched that it
took strong hands to open them.
Jake's treasure-his relics, What do
you suppose they were? We knew him for
a wicked, heartless man, fearing no God
and caring for no mans good opinion, ana
you can imagine our astOnishment when
that packet, carefully wrapped in Oilskin
and tied and sealed with great care, was
unfolded and we found a wee little nit
ten, a child's tin whistle. a battered old
rattle box and lock of hair as fine and
soft as silk. They were relics of habyhood
childhood he had carried in his
bosom for years and years and treasured
as more priceless than pearls or diamonds.
His baby-his child' 1t must have been
so. Somewhere in the east he had once
had happy home and wife and child.
Death had come to break up his happiness.
Perhaps it had come to both mother and
child and made him wanderer and i'm
Uttered his nature. No one will ever
know. He had a secret which was be
trayed only by his DEATH and we who so
often wondered if his heart could be
touched found out too late the spring
which would have opened it to the sight
of all the world. NJ. QUAD.
What the Insignificant Ant Can Do.
The land boa of Brazil, which ranges in
lenpt h from % to 25 feet is said by q nat.