Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1897-09-03

sense enough left to tur ole into my
bunk before falling into a heavy sleep.
They no doubt sea 4ched me to the
skin that night, for slept as the dead;
but though l woke next morning with
a bad headache, I felt well pleased, for
no result had awarded their toll. OF
course l made a fuss as to the conduct
of some mysterious thieves, who had
not even spared the lining OF my boots,
and certain inquiries were Instituted
which came to nothing. innocently
complained to Gibson as to the bad
quality OF his whisky, and there APP
Darently the matter ended, for I was
molested no more.
| | felt that had won, as saw by my
enemies manner that they had decided
they were mistaken in imagining had
| the map; but great cautiousness was
still necessary till the journeys end.
Never crow before you are out OF the
wood is an excellent piece of advice.
Still, feeling that the worst was over, a
sense of calm possessed me as lounged
| in my Medeira chair, under the shade
of the awning, for the tropical sun was
|
necessity instead of luxury.
Gibson continued good friends with
me, and often came and chatted as
languidly studied ''Lock on Gold" in my
deck chair. AS a practical mineralos
gis1, he pointed out the best parts to
study. and imbued much information
valuable enough had designed to turn
miner. He was an amusing man, and
his creed simple enough-"Get money,
honestly if you can; but get money"
4 more efficient auctioneer for selling
the numbers of the ships run in the
daily sweeps it would be impossible to
find, and enjoyed the privilege of act
! ing auctioneer's clerk with Lock" for
desk on my knee.
| It was four o'clock on Tuesday after
noon when we reached Capetown, and
Gibson managed to get away by that
| evenings train, leaving two of his fol-
| lowers to bring his luggage on the next
day.
The third morning after landing
found me in Fox street, Johannesburg:
seeking Towards office. I had just
seen the name on the window, and had
assembled the steps to the door of the
building when a passer-by pulled up
on recognizing me. 1t was Gibson.
"Hullo!" he said; where are you
off to now?"
The time for caution was passed, vic
tory was mine, and l could safely en-
joy my triumph. 1 surveyed the baf-
fled financier with a smile of infinite
satisfaction, and REPLIED:
Il am the bearer of a certain docu-
ment from Mr.. Tring to Mr.. Howard"
From the expression on my face and
the accent on my words, he read the
truth, and knew that 1 had baffled him.
and his face changed. Words failed
him. for he was taken quite by surprise.
and bewilderment rendered him speech
less.
Enjoying his discontinue few Sec
onds, turned and went in, leaving him
on the pavement below, the most un.
happy man in Johannesburg. y
Having entered the outer Office and
given my name to the clerk, I was
speedily shown into Mr.. Towards
private room. He greeted me warmly.
and in the same breath inquired if hao
| been successful.
I said I had.
THAT'S good news. I've just got my
mail and heard of your coming. Look
you see the envelope has been tam
pered with! You are sure Gibson hasn't
set eyes on the map?''
"Absolutely," replied, then gave him
a short account Of the efforts made te
secure it.
"Ay. ay, they wouldn't stick at much;
you're fortunate to get here with {
whole skin. But where is it after alp
In answer produced Lock on Gold
and, taking my penknife, cut off the
gray calico cover. which I had put or
again after it had been pulled off. Their
inserting the point into the cover it.
self I cut it open. There, snugly con.
cealed, lay the precious map. l had,
before leaving London, cut the cover
open with a sharp knife, and, placing
the map in between, glued up the edges
with great care. Being unable to alb
solutely conceal the fact that the cover
had been cut, l had put the calico cover
over, and when it had been torn off by
the eager searcher he had never no
ticed that the binding itself had been
cut.
Thus, safely and securely, the map
had travelled, unseen by any eye, I'M
touched by any hand, and now, having
placed it in the possession of Mr.. How
ard, my mission as special envoy was
over.
With the knowledge gained by the
map, Howard took steps which very
shortly made the land where Pepworth
Tring found diamonds the property of
that worthy, and l know no more, as
nothing further has been heard of the
discovery-no company has been pub
licly formed to work it. But | have a
strong idea that the find turned IN
trumps, and that the reason of the ST.
lence is that it is too good thing for
the public to be admitted.-Paterson's
Magazine.
Couldn't Dodge Counting.