Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1897-11-05
The farm during this time had been
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whatever crop IL saw Hts consequently
the fertile acres were covered with a
dense growth of weeds and briars. The
stock had been sold off, a few at a time,
until only small number of broken
spirited horses remained with which to
cultivate the patches necessity forced
them to till.
AS the years continued to slip away,
Mrs. Furgis died. Soon Albert followed
her, and the two remaining children
were left alone in the large, decaying
house. Harold and his sister continued
to work the patches about the house,
and year after year mortgage few
acres of land for money to pay taxes,
not daring to sell or rent, for fear their
treasure would fall in other hands than
their own. Through the long years OF
foolish and profitless search it never &C.
Cured to them, or, if it did, was not
acted on, that in the farm they had a
cnue.
One day in early June, as Harold sat
on the moss-grown stoop, gazing dream
lily out on the luxuriant and tangled un-
dergrowth. a peddler crossed the stile
and labored slowly beneath a pack along
the paved walk.
would you like to purchase divin-
ing rode" he asked, placing his pack on
the ground. He held out polished
metal rod that flashed brightly in the
sun.
"What is it for ?" asked Harold, taking
the rod in his hand and examining it
closely.
ITO find minerals; hidden treasure
gold and silver
Harold opened his eyes, and an eS-
preston of interest flushed his listless
face.
"How is it used?' he asked, striving
to restrain his curiosity.
The peddler carefully explained the
manner of operating it, and again en-
phasized it's occult power of divination.
"Have you sold many?" asked Harold.
'Not near here" returned the trader:
shave just reached this section"
"Name your lowest figure for the en-
tire lot," said Harold impatiently, "and
promise not to sell any more in this
county, and I'll buy them"
A bargain was struck. The peddler
walked off, laughing in his sleeve over
the fine sale, and Harold hurried with
his purchase to his sister. Their flag
cling hope and energies became again
buoyant.
At all hours they could be seen, rods
in hand, walking with careful step and
bowed head around the plantation.
It was a strange, weird picture to see
the 1.-the, slender woman and the tall,
gaunt form of her brother as they
pushed their way through the tangled
ground at their feet. Specter-like they
traversed the summit of mound and
hill, stalked through field and pasture.
and crept in the silence and shadows of
the woodland. 1t was sad sight to see
the twain at nightfall, exhausted with
their ceaseless tramp, sit down sullen,
detected and disappointed to their mig
gardly meal in the gloom of the old
house.
Intercourse with their neighbors had
almost ceased, and they were startled
one evening when they found them
selves face to face with one of their ia
theirs old friends. The presence of any
person in the house seemed almost an
apparition. The visit was prompted~by
n kindly feeling Of interest, and their
visitor protested mildly but earnestly
against their course. He urged them to
stop their folly, refill the houses with
tenants and again cultivate their farms.
Harold listened respectfully, thanked
HI CO 1r f0r 7, ch1 ~ 1r<
asserted positively his intention of keep
ing up the search.
Not many days after the visit just re-
corded Harold, while prospecting on the
top of a hill, was sure his rod gave indi-
cations of a mineral deposit. All a
tremble he tried the spot second time.
Yes, he was sure, the rod dipped to the
earth. He marked the place and crept
stealthily away. Seeking his sister he
told her that the treasure was found.
At nightfall they would go forth and
bring it home.
Armed with pick and shovel. they
stole warily out through the darkness,
casting furtive glances about them to
make sure they were not watched. At
last they stood above the precious spot.
Harold pushed aside the dead leaves and
grass and began to dig away the mellow
earth. Deeper and wider grew the ex-
cavation; fainter and fainter throbbed
their hopes; lower and lower waned the
moon, until the delivers stood pale and
faint in the gray of morn.
III.
That evening Harold and his sister
sat moodily in the room in which their
father had died. They had always
avoided the room. and now they won
dered at their presence in it. Some
strange fascination was upon them.
They were growing morbid,y supersti-
tious of late. A candle sputtered on a
table between them, Illuminating feebly
the darkness. The white covering of