Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-11-02

He was a builder in the neighborhood,
he explained, and had a vacancy in the
works. Bill gratefully accepted the offer
and began his new career on the follow
ing Monday.
"Months passed. Bill had changed
wonderfully. He had forgotten his old
habits and learned new ones. The deacon
was delighted. Not only was Bill the
best of his workmen, but he was the
most regular attendant at the chapel.
"Bill longed for the jewels, and he
worked hard because he knew that
money would help him to get them. He
attended the chapel because while there
he was "a the jewels, the seat he had
taken being just 20 steps due north from
the tree. At first he had meditated dig
ging down through the floor one night,
but the chances Of detection were great
and he had given up the idea.
Years passed. The deacon had be-
come an invalid, and Bill practically
managed his business. He was an i'm
portant nan at the chapel, too, and was
often intrusted with a collection box.
One day the deacon died. Soon after
ward it was known that having NO near
relatives he had left his property to his
friend William Jones'"
II see," 1 exclaimed. "Bill'-
Blanco Watson shook his head.
Chill was Bill no longer" he said.
she had become a man of wealth. At
the next election of deacons he was one
of the successful candidates. In future
we must refer to him as Mr.. Jones and
not as Bill.
"Mr. Jones was a most energetic
deacon. He introduced new members,
and he persuaded old ones to attend
more regularly. He started a young
mems literary society and a series Of
Saturday entertainments. He made the
chapel the most popular in the district,
and then, at a New Years business
meeting, he struck boldly for the jewels.
"The chapel was too small, he said
in the course Of an eloquent speech.
They must erect another on a larger
site. There was but one such site in the
neighborhood. They must secure it be-
fore others did. He himself would un-
dertake the building operations, charg-
ing only what they cost him. He would
also purchase the old chapel. The net
expenditure need not be very great.
"The proposal was well received, and
a committee, with Mr.. Jones as chair
man, was appointed to consider the de-
tails. Their report was very favorable,
and at another business meeting it was
decided to carry out the proposal.
"The necessary funds were subscribed
or guaranteed. Contracts were made
with Mr.. Jones. In the spring of that
year the building operations were com
menced, and by the autumn they were
finished. The congregation removed to
the new chapel. Mr.. Jones purchased
the old n at a high price and entered
into possession.
"And then,"I said, 81 suppose he
got the jewels?"
Blanco Watson laughed.
"No," he said, she did not. He broke
up the floor himself, counted the steps
due north from the tree again and dug.
He did not find the jewels. He counted
the steps again and dug deeper. He did
not find them. Then he tried other
places; but, although he kept on until
he had tried everywhere beneath the
floor, he never found the Jewels"
"Why, what had become of them?'
IT cannot say. 1t is possible that
when the foundation was being laid a
workman had discovered and appropri-
ated them. Again it is possible that
there were two trees of similarly curious
growth, and that the one outside the
chapel was not the one Mr.. Jones first
saw. Again.
"And what has the story to do with
the public house? But I can guess"
"Of course you can. Mr.. Jones was
very angry with the chapel members.
He considered that by false pretenses
they had led him into buying the old
chapel dearly and building the new one
cheaply. He resigned his ~deaconship
and then sought a way to be revenged
on them. He found one. On the site of
the old chapel he built a public house
this public house in which we have sat
SO long. Edgar Turner in Sketch.