The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1898-10-22

he had taken being just twenty steps
due north from the tree. At first he
had medltated digging 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 man at the chapel. toe. and
was often lntrusted with a collection
box. One day the deacon died. Soon
afterward 1t was known that, having
Pc near relatives, he had left his prop
erty to his friend William Jones"
81 see.'' | exclaimed; Bill"
Blaneo Watson shook his head.
"Blll was Bill no longer" he said.
"He had become "A man of wealth. At
the next election of deacons he was one
of the successful candidates. In future
we must refer 10 him as Mr.. Jones, and
not as Bill.
Mr.. Jones was a most energetic dea-
col. He introduced new members and
he persuaded old ones to attend more
regularly. He started a young mems
literary society and a series of Satur-
day entertainments. He made the chap
el the most popular in the district; and
then, Mt a New Years business meet
ing, he struck boldly for the jewels.
''The chapel was too small, he said
In the course of an eloquent speech.
They must erect another en- a larger
efta Thar. ma Int m ...ah gff. In
the neiehborhood. They must secure
1t before others did. He himself would
undertake the building operations,
charging only what they cost him. He
would also purchase the old chapel.
The net expenditure need not be very
great.
''The proposal was we'll received,
and a committee, with Mr.. Jones as
chairman. was appointed to consider
the details. Their report was very
favorable. and at another business
meeting 1t was decided 10 carry cut
the proposal.
1.-THE necessary funds were sub
scribed OF guaranteed. Contracts were
made with MIR. Jones. In the spring Of
hat year tlN building operations were
commenced, and by the autumn they
were finished. The congregation re-
moved TO the new chapel. Mr., Jones
purchased the old one at a high price
and entered into possession.
And them | said. Il suppose he got
the jewelsY'
Blaneo Watson laughed.
NO" he said, "he 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. lie
counted the steps again and dug deep
er. He did not find them. Then he
tried other places, but, although he kept
on until he had tried everywhere be-
meath the floor, he never found the
jewels
why, what had become of themf"
Il cannot say. 1t is possible that
when the foundation was being laid n
workman had discovered and appropri-
ated them. Again. il is possible that
there were two trees of similarly Gu
rious 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 | 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
The Sketch.