Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-03-29
. Az he pulled out tho last large stone,

Az he pulled out tho last large stone.
y Ten upon his lamp, extinguishing and
crushing 1t. a
AThis seemed dreadful calamity to
Penito, as he could not hope to explore
the passage without n light, and as It
would even be very difficult for him,
with the help Of the yarn, to trace his
way back 10 daylight.
B1 when he was about to burst in
TO hrs, bright light appeared in the
PA age, and the path before him was
Catching up the ball of yarn, and un-
winding 1t as he went, he followed the
light rs it led him along the passage,
farther into the heart Of the mountain,
until it rested against the rock in just
| such a cavern as he had seen in his
sleep.
BEFORE him was Il stream of water
that came from some hidden spring in
the mountain, and found its way
through the caves and crevices of the
rock, no one knew whittier. Beyond
the stream was the rocky wall of the
cavern flashing and cleaning with crys-
with big vein running through 1t, in
which the silver lay in masses like lead.
This, then was the bonanza. The
lost vein was found, and untold wealth
lay almost within the boys reach. The
Murieto family might bid farewell to
poverty, and would thenceforth be hap
py If riches could make them SO.
Pepito stood still for a few seconds
trembling all over WITH excitement. A
strange heat filled his body. breaking
out in intermittent fHshcs. and fire
seemed to flow in his arteries, instead
Of blood. His head swan, and there
was mist before his eyes, but through
the mist he saw the silver shining in
the crevices of the rock. He had found
the lost vein. and he wished only to Sc
cure a nugget of the silver and hasten
with the story of his treasure.
He started to cross the stream, al
though his knees shook beneath him,
and he was growing more dizzy. and
the fever flusles came hottie: and fast
er than ever.
T The shining water into which he
stepped was deathly cold. His fever
fed i'll I'm instant and was succeeded
by mortal Clilliness. The fire in his
veins was at once eXtinguish I'll, and
they were filled with ice. lie gasped
yainly for breath, and his head weighed
him down as if it had been lump of
lead.
1t needed but two steps to cross the
little brook, and he took only one Of
them. Then he sank down, rather than
fell, and lay there like crushed flower
his feet in the water, and his body on
the sand, with his out-stratched hand
grasping great lump of silver.
Manuel and Zaponata Murieto wait
ed a long time for Pepito's return.
They We're so anxious and eager, that
the hours seemed to be longer than
they really were,. The wife was par
ticularly uneasy and restless She
could not keep still. She tried to at
tend to some small duties about the
hut, but found hersef unable to do
anything. The husband sat near the
door looking and listening. They glanc
er at each other now and then, and
understood each others thoughts,
though they seldom spoke.
cit is not possible" said Zaponeta,
that anything can harm him while the
good angels have him in their charge
'They might be angry if we should
find him and interfere with Them" re-
piled Manuel.
But we must seek Pepito, for can
endure this no longer said the mother,
after while, and they went. out to-
gether.
With the aid Of the yarn they traced
his course into the old mine, until they
came to the hole in the rock which he
had opened. They called him, but re-
ceived no answer The lamp which
they carried showed them the way into
a narrow and dark passage, at the end
of which was a chamber Of silver.
There lay Pepito, partly in and partly
out of the water--dead.
When their grief had subsidized, they
came away. and replaced the stones
which the boy had pulled down. The
silver chamber was Pepito's splendid
tomb. His parents were never heard
of in those parts again. The lost vein
was untouched.