The Cook County herald., 1895-08-03

cared for by them, told them of great
heaps Of gold over on the slope to the
east, Bob resolved that for Jonas sake,
more than his own, they would find
that gold. ~ - =:
But now they had made the search,
and had made It thoroughly, and no
gold had rewarded their efforts
It was long time before either spoke,
but at last Bob said:
Jonas, what do you think we had
better do next?'
Il hardly know" Jonas replied.
'Shan we go on searching?"
'tWhat's~ the use? We've gone over
the ground time an ag'in. an if thar
was anything to be found, we'd shorely
a-run across it before this
Eyes, that's true. Still, I hate to give
the thing up"
so do I, Bob. I hate it tarnation bad.
You don't know how much I counted on
f1ndin' that stuff, an how I've planned
and f1ggered on how I'd do after / got
it. Bob" he said softly, 1--WE hoped
ever since Old Washita died to be able
soon to go back home, an thinkin'
bout my wife an children has set me
TO yearnin' to see 'em, an now this dis
appointment is almost KILN. 1t jest
Id be glad if streak O. lightnin' would
come down an kill me-
= Jonas" Bob cried, don't talk like
that We will find something yet. Other
things will come up for us, and before
long our fortune will turn
Mine will never turn, Bob. I've give
IT fair shown, an it never turns. I'll
die poor, an I'll never see my wife an
oci r rr;xx oil
But you mustn't do it, JONAS" Bob
demonstrated, laying his hand on the
old mans shoulder "You must keep
up courage and hope for the BEST"
Bob did not feel very sanguine him
self, but he was not ready to give up
the fight.
Having given up the search for
Washita's wealth, Jonas and Bob
packed up their traps and started
Slowly back up the slope on their way
TO the camp over the range. They
walked along in silence, too sad to talk.
When they had gone a short distance
BOD noticed a small opening in the
ground at the root of large upturned
tree. He stepped up close to it to ex-
anime it, though for what reason he did
not know, when suddenly the earth
gave way under his teet, and he shot
downward and disappeared from view.
Jonas saw him go and hurried for
ward, and called after him, but re-
ceived no reply. Then he peered down
in the hole, but could see nothing.
After minute or so there came to
Jonas ears the noise Of a terrible
scuft1ling down below. He called again,
but got no answer. The scufHling con-
tlnued for little longer, then there was
the report Of a pistol. Then all was
silent.
- Give m1nures elapsed and Jonas was
beginning to grow frantic. Had Bob
been killed, or"why did he not answer?
What was the meaning of that scuff1ing,
and that shot, and the deathlike silence
that followed?
Jonas cast about for some means of
descending into the hole, but could find
none. He thought of the rope they had
brought with them and decided to tie
one end Of it to a tree and let himself
down, but then he remembered that
Bob carried the rope, and that when he
fell he took it down with him.
What can I do?" he cried aloud, al
most wild with anxiety.
Several minutes passed, and Jonas
had just resolved to leap down after
Bob, when the latter suddenly ap-
peared, not more than ten feet below,
and called out:
Catch the rope, Jonas, and fasten
one end to tree, and come down and
see what I've found.''
Are you safe an sound, Bob?" Jonas
asked.
Safe and sound as a dollar, Jonas"
Bob replied, land rich as Old What's
his-name."
"Rich?"
eyes. I'VE killed a bear and found
Old Washita's gold. There's a wagon
load Of it. Come down and see for
yourself"
1t did not take old Jonas many min
utes to tie the rope and descend into
the hole, which led back into a little
cave, where the gold lay in shining
heaps just as Old Washita had said.
One look at the precious metal and
then Jonas threw his arms around Bob
and cried like a child.
''It was the luckiest day of my life"
he said, when I went to nurse YOU
through that Sickness
"And the luckiest day Of both our
lives" Bob added, when we took the
old Indian in and cared for him.
he said earnestly:
@tBob, this looks like a reward for
doing right toward our fellow-men,
don't it?"
cit does.''
There was another long silence, then
Jonas said:
bob, I'll never again find fault with
fortune. If a man does his duty and
does it we'll fortune will smile on hin,
in time.''
f II believe that Bob acquiesced.
+ can now, at last" Jonas went on.
.I'll git, to see my wife an children.
We're both rich, an We'll go back east
together, an we'll enjoy life.'' 49, ~
Eyes, was all Bob said. r.
But that was enough. He was too
happy to see Jonas joy to say more.
s, Unrivaled Carving.
In ivory and wood carving Japan il
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