Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-13

of twenty-four hours. I would also get in
trouble, because 1t is out of all reason for
a soldier to have much money. Now, what
1 want to do Is to find a safe place to de-
post 1t, then take enough to buy my dis
charge from the army and send for the
rest OF the treasure when I'm safe in New
YORK city. AS 1t Is now, I'm afraid to take
II, and I'm afraid to leave it,
You are talking sense now" said the
trader But let's talk business. How
would 1t do to have a partner who could
handle money without arousing suspicion!
Just give me a decent share for my trouble,
ana III manage the thing for you. I've
often thought these Indians might have
some sort of rich find cached away some
place. What's in your treasure house. as
you call it-goldr'
Clancy opened his mouth to answer. but
smashed his glass on the wooden table
NO." he Kissed, mot gold, but good,
solid, United States bank notes, all stolen
IN III, the . ola days-whoie stacks Of them
the traders eyes sparkIed. Perhaps there
was something in it after all. At any rate.
his Investigation cost him nothing more
than few drinks Of whisky.
Three days later small party rode out
from Fort Rarrenail-the trader one of
his clerks. Clancy. and another soldier Sc
t rec by the trader at Clancey's request
sturdy Indian ponies, Clancey riding ahead.
OUT past the scattering Indian villages
now on one road. now on another the dis
soEeref u the treasure setting them a rapid
pace1 All carried their rifles and proyi-
sfons to last two days. as Clancy said it
would take one day to reach the treasure
mouse and one day to get back. AS they
saAoped away from the post, all signs of
life and civilization vanished. even the soil
tary indian tepee was seen no more. Over
the barren wastes of a sandy desert Clan
cey leo them; over country the like of
which the trader, In his limited experience,
mad never before seen; past the bleached
bones of Indian ponies that had been turn
ea out to die: past the grinning skeletons
night hideous with their human-iike cries.
once they trotted by a village of prairie
dogs. the only living things they had seen
Ior hours, but the little creatures gave a
in their underground homes. The ponies
had started out at a gallop; after while
they had taken brisk trot; then they
walked. treading gingerly across the wash
outs made by the last rain storms
once.
Yes" answered the trader. "if you don't
Toward shutdown they reached the edge
OF what. in former ages, had been a rock
bound lake. The basin was a mile in d.
ameter, ana its sides were perpendicular. ex-
cept where tutttng fragments stood out and
hung over the depths below. In the cen
ter OF the basin stood a great mass of rock,
upheaved and twisted and contorted until
1t looked like a rude sacriffcial altar rear
ed by prehistoric giants. The setting sun
threw most Of the basin In deep shadow,
but played rough and tumble over the
jagged points of the great center piece.
picket your horses" said Clancy. I'VE
go down into this thing. And Wen need
those ropes, too"
He led them to fissure In the rocky
sides. threw a slip moose over the nearest
bowlder and spat on his hands,
When get down to the first platform
drop me the rest of the rope" he said, and
then hand over hand lowered himself down
between the rocks.
The wild desolation of the scene was
working on the traders mind. OF the white
men in the country. doubtless few had ever
seen this spot; probably none had ever
explored it. For a hiding place, none bet
| ter could be found. Imagination and mys-
terry painted fancy pictures before which
Wagner Toasted his eyes. He was not
poor, decidedly not. but with this new
had been quite clear to the trader that he.
and not the soldier. should have the lions
share, II the treasure really existed. His
word would go far against that of two
private soldiers, and besides, his own clerk
could be depended upon to swear to any
thing that his employer might say. Then
His dreams were interrupted as Clancy
sang out from the darkness below:
Come along, and look out for the sides
of the rock"
When they were all on the first platform
Clancy put his hands on the traders
shoulders.
"Once for all. Mr.. Wagner" said he.
''once for all. do you mean to play me fair
and square in this business?"
Clancey's manner was serious. and the
trader mechanically reached for his re-
volver.
mo. no.".said Clancy. Answer me-"
why, of course"
'Then raise your right hand and swear
u-swear It."
Standing in the darkness on the narrow
platform. with the evening sky peering
dimly through the slit above, the trader
mi "a n fr
and square between him and Clancy.
Now" said the latter. well go down
the rest of the way"
Once at the bottom. the great centerpiece
of an altar was soon reached. When the
prehistoric volcano was making this land
mark 1t must have been very angry, for
it had belched forth its molten mass and
then pulled 1t and twisted it and gouged
it this way and that way until its fury was
spent. The resulting monument looks
stronger than the pyramids and more DESC
of a tree, nc blade of grass. not even the
ever-preseut sage bush to relieve its harsh
ness.
Clancy led the way around toward the
east side and then suddenly stopped, bent
over and pushed aside an innocent-looking
slab that partly leaned against the greater
rock. Without speaking, he pointed to
small opening. just big enough to allow a
man to squeeze through. and then, drop
ping down on the ground, he wriggled him
self out Of sight. into the heart of the
rock. A moment later the expectant
watchers heard him strike a match, and. as
a glimmer of light came through the mar
row opening, he told them to crawl in.
The Indian trader was the last to enter
He wanted time to collect his thoughts
to plan just how he should deal with the
soldier, for he was convinced that the story
OF the treasure amounted to something
after all.
Once inside the rock he saw a cave as
| large as an ordinary room. Cut in the
stone walls were narrow hunks with pieces
of old buffalo hides on some of them. In
one corner was a roughly. hewn fireplace,
just under cleft in the rocky ceiling, that
would allow the smoke to escape-some-
where. An iron pot. smoked and moldy,
lay in the ashes. Branching antlers, bones
and skins, sticks of wood, all old and COW
cred with dirt, were strewn over the floor
Clancy button-holed the trader and led
him to one of the corners. Shading his
candle with one hand, so as to throw the
rest Of the cave in darkness, he kicked
away a pile of rubbish and disclosed two
| MISUNDERSTANDING hand satchels.
"Open Them" he said to the trader
Wagner stopped down, and, in his excite
ment, tore the first satchel open.
Out fell big, fat roll of paper money
dusty and time-worn, but neatly held to-
getber with strip of paper just as though
I