The Louisiana populist., 1895-07-26
was anything to be found, we'd shorel,

a-run across II before this"
Yes, that's true. Still, hate to give
the thing up"
$50 do I, Bob. hate IL tarnation bad
You don't know how much 1 counted on
findin' that stuff, an how I've planned
and flggered on how I'd do after 1 got
1t. Bob" he said softly, 'Tve 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
knocks me all to pieces, an right now
I'd be glad if a 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
II fair shown, an it never turns. Ill
die poor, an I'll never see my wife an
children ag'in. 1 give it all up"
Put 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 wss 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
Bob noticed a small opening in the
ground at the root of large upturned
tree. He stepped up close 10 1t to ex-
anime 1t, though for what reason he dad
not know, when suddenly the earth
gave way under his feet, 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
scuffiling down below. He called again,
but got no answer. The scuffiling con-
tinued for little longer. then there was
the report of a pistol. Then all was
silent.
Five minutes elapsed and Jonas was
beginning to grow frantic. Had Bob
bSOh hiiicu, UT WHY liOS dhoWSA
What was the meaning of that scuffiing.
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 1t to tree and let himself
down, but then he remembered that
Bob carried the rope. and that when he
fell he took 1t down with him.
What can 1 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 APP
peared, not more than ten feet below,
and called out:
Catch the rope, Jonas, and fasten
one end to a 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?"
"Yes. I've killed bear and found
Old Washitas gold. There's a wagon
load of 1t. 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.
1T was the luckiest day of my life."
he said. when I went to nurse you
through that sickness"
"And the 1uckiest day Of both our
lives" Bob added, when we took the
old Indian in and cared for him."
Jonas was silent a moment, and then
he said earnestly:
bob, this looks like a reward for
doing right toward our fellow-men,
don't it?"
'It does.''
There was another long silence, then
Jonas said:
Bob, I'll never again find fault with
fortune. If man does his duty and
does ii well fortune will smile on him
in time"
II believe that" Bob acquiesced.
"An' now. at last" Jonas went on.
'Tll git to see my wife an children.
We're both rich, an we'll go back east
together. an we'll enjoy life."
"Yes," was all Eab said.
But that was enough. He was too
happy to see Jonas Joy to say more.