The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-11-25

fragment OF rock from bench to the
floor. All this Fred and me had talked
over and arranged.
AT night old man Taylor and | were
out and on watch, bnt the cabin was all
dark. Not sign of Fred could we see or
hear. We lodged about the place for
nearly an hour, and at last went round to
The door and knocked, but no answer was
received. All within was dark and silent
Cuss me, but | was frightend! | fel, sure
Fred was dead or layin' out some place
badly hurt. My k ees knocked together.
Next morning bright and early l was
at Fred's cabin. found it vacant and
nailed up. Peepin' in at a crack between
the logs l seed that the stones Of the
hearth had been torn no and Law scattered
about. | then struck out for Fred's mine.
bein' still afraid some accident had hap
pere0 him; but he wasn't there and no.
bedy on the suich had seen him. Why
Fred had failed TO act his part in our little
game L couldn't imagine. 1t made me
little hot in the collar: for when nothin'
came of our trip TO the cabin old man
Taylor accused me of lvin' to him and
tIyin' TO humbug him. This was all the
wus because il was true. Gus me- says !.
carried off by old Satan himself wouldn't
interfere in the businessp
II didn't see Fred for over week; then
l suddenly came upon him up in town,
walkin' arm-in-arm with old man TAYLOR
and dressed IN like he was a member of
the Legislator. Old man Taylor was
smilin' all over his face and some distance
up into his front hair, while Fred looked
as pleased as a boy In his first pair of
boots.
II was perfectly etrified-fetched I'D so
stiff In my tracks that YOU couldn't have
Knocked me down with a crowbar. l
stood and stared to see sich a wonder.
~ ho6
brought the old man round in SIGH good
shape I couldn't imagine. 1t made nv
head numb to think of even one side of
SIGH difficult sort of subject. | got no
chance to ask questions. for the pair was
headed for the old mans house. May be-
says ], may be that the old pagan down at
San ADdreas is dead
GAS l couldn't reach Fred without
maxim a raid or the family mansion as
the Taylors called their house, | sot bout
maxim some inquiries round town; for his
style and airs on the high level he had
struck into had stirred up a curiosity as
was eatin' out my very vitals.
about the first man l tackled on the
pint said, Why. haven't you heard the
news? For months AID months Fred
Wallace has bin diggin' out gold by the
bushel. 1t seems he got onto an awful
rich enamel in his mine nearly year ago
and kept dark about it till a few days ago
vi course L suepeCGPu III, OUT III wasn't
generally known. Why, he has bought
one of the finest ranches in all San Joaquin
Valley, with whole herds o. bosses, cattle,
hogs, sheep, and Goo knows what all be-
sides
This news completely upset me. Here
was man tellin' me as frozen truth the
very story of Fred's find OF bushels of
gold that had myself just told as reg'lar
breakin' lie. The only way | could
cipher it out was that Fred must have
played me string In proposin' TO out
I'D job Oh old man Taylor. must have
bit upon the very thing the young Teller
was doin' The tearin' up OF the hearth
and tina nailin' up OF the cabin, with Fred's
sudden disappearance, seemed to prove
this.
In day or two. while still was pokin'
round Fred's cabin, expectin' TO ketch
him thar. what do l hear but that he ana
Fannie had got married and gone to Mon
terey, San Francisco, San Jose. or some
other waterin' place, on weddin' tower
with OLD man Taylor's blessin' on their
heads.
80 thar 1 was left, the wust puzzled