Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-06-03
THE GOLD CAVES.
10 be oontinued.J

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IL WINS good many years ago, but II
should i've to be as old as Adam the incl
donts am about to nArrate VIII BIO as clear
ahe iresh In my memory US II they happened
yesterday
ihere were three oil u.s. Ned Copley' an Old
ROCKY mountain hunter, VINO when game
got scarce or iurs Improbable took up the
equally hazardous calling oil gold seeking;
frank Edgerton, handsome young KEN
tuckian, who had come ont to win a sudden
fortune, and myself. who had made one for
tune IN the gold helds, lost II, anu was now
out TO get another and with tho frm deter
m'naton 10 hi1hB on 10 ~ struck luck
again
ACROSS the sierra hAdro Mountains IN the
san Juan region was mighty dreary lonely
country In those days, with tho water flowing
down out oil sight in tho bottoms OF the
canyons, and the nearest white settlement
three hundred miles away In Eastern
Colorado
Nod Uopley had hunted all through this
country with hlt Carson, aud ha believed it
was rich ingold, and that II we kept our pur-
l pose TO ourselves we would make our over
lastin fortunes to use his own words.
We had enough money to buy IN Quilt OF
food Tor three months and a mule to carry
as Tor the tools for prospecting and the
rules ana pistols necessary for game, or to
protect ourselves from prowling Indians and
sneakng whites, We were well provided.
we Lett Taos In the carly spring and while
all the encircllng mountains were covered
low down with snow, looking like glistening
marble walls supporting sky so clear and
blue and cloudless, that II looked as II 1t
was hewn out OF globe OF turquoise.
but anxiety to soc the yellow gold flashing
At the bottom OF the clear streams in the san
juan blinded us TO tho glories OF the land
seapo and the unsurpassed natural splendor
scattered so lavishly ON every hand.
think should say In all honesty to the
brave fellow, that Frank Edgerton was an ex-
coption to this, 10 be sure he wanted gold.
1t was to get this that he left his old Kon.
lucky home and drove an OK team across tho
sterile, blistering plains, No child's work In
tho days when the Indians and buffalo were
plentiful and tho snorting OF the iron horse
had not yet stirred to new life the echoes OF
tho giant Rockies.
Frank Edgorton had nober motive than
his two partners. We were out to find gold
for the sake Of the power and the comforts it
would give, and it may be with thoughts Of
the dotcrence that would DO paid us by the
less fortunate when We were rich men; but
our handsome young companion was moved
to face tho hardships and brave the dangers
OF the expedition by no such mercenary pur-
pose,
He was not more than fvo and twenty,
with curly brown hair and eyes, and a silky
mustache ana beard of the same hue, and
mouth tull OF even white tooth, and his line
iaoo seemed ever the home of good nature
and laughter. No matter how long the march
or steep the trail, no matter the long miles
betwoon the springs, or the indications Of
Indians in the neighborhood, Frank was al
ways CHEEKY and happy, and his laughter and
ma songs, for he had an excellent voice.
lightonod manga long march. anI dispeled
the gloom from many a lonely camp in the
heart OF the canyons.
We had not been many days out before
Frank Edgorion opened his heart and gave us
the secret OF his constant happiness. Ho was
IN love, not dead in love, butliytng in love.
the glorious passion possessed him. 1t bub-
'luu rom ms Ups In laughter and song, and
BMred from his eyes in oxultation.
who 10 she, boysT he said one day in
answer to my question, for l, an old, loveless
and perhaps unloyahlc bachelor, half euviod
MN MS possession. "she ain't no ordinary
sri' Susie Burns amt. Heaven cut herout for
hrst'class angel and never changed tho origl-
nal plan. Here's hcr picture. and let me say,
you two arc tho only Strangers that ever
looked inside tho lids sine, she fastened It
round my neck. and told mo, as she kissed
me, that so long as wore 1t next my heart
ia remain true to her-lust IS If could ever
dream Of being fclse to Susie"
by tho camp lire no opened his coat and
hunting shirt and brought to light slender