The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-04

apologize for his insulting language and to
make overtures OF peace.
I've tunneled as far as my old cabin. >
said Caldwell, and it's directly under that
cabin of yours.
That's where expected you would find
it," said Smith.
Caldwell, that. having found my property.
I'm gong to bring ii to the surface by a
blast. There's the contents of pretty near
a keg of powder lying in my cabin at this
minute. and I'm now going to light slow
match that VIII burn just twenty minutes
and no more.
'Ail right said Caldwell In twenty
minutes from the time / light that match
your cabin viii lo go up and II you're IN It
tracks off of that property of yours, Tor
mine is coming up on the top Of it again.
ard you'll likely gel hurt in the scrim-
I'm not to be talked off my own land,
nor yet driven off IT.. by no man and by no
ing to stay said Smith. stoutly.
You won't stay long after the powder
catches, retorted Caldwell. I've warned
you, which is more than most men would
do. and if you choose to stay and be blown
up It's your own responsibility
Smith made no reply, but turning away,
went into his cabin and shut the door
Caldwell waited no longer. He lit his fuse.
ana, retreating to a safe distance, sat down
TO smoke While he was still bitterly angry
with Smith, it is only justice to say that
ne did not imagine that Smith would be
harmed by the explosion. He said TO him
and dlgnifed he could be, but that long be-
fore the twenty minutes had expired he
would fat ieaye the cabin dIa and place himself in
He scorned to yield to Caldwells threats,
and in his depression of spirits consequent
upon the breach between himself and his
old friend. he felt that he cared little
whether Caldwell carried out his purpose
of blowing up the cabin or not So he sat
quietly on the edge of his bunk. gloomily
earthquake had buried him instead of bury
ing his friends property.
When CaldWelPs watch showed that the
explosion was close at hand, he became for
the first time alarmed at Smiths danger
He sprang up, and, running to the edge Of
Smiths garden, called loudly to him to save
himself. Smith made no reply; but as Cald-
Wen ran towards the mouth of the tunnel
tingUishing, If possible, the slow match be-
fore 1t should reach the powder. the ground
shook under him. There was a mighty
roar, and ne saw Smiths cabin ascending
in fragments in the midst of a dense cloud
or black smoke.
When Caldwell reached the scene of the
explosion Smith was lying on the ground,
blackened with the smoke of the powder.
put apparently unhurt. Close by his side
lay shining nugget of gold of nearly the
size of nutmeg, and half a dozen smaller
nuggets We're scattered on the surface of
the upheaved earth Caldwell did not stop
knees beside his former friend. and. taking
his limp hand, said: 'Old man, l didn t
really mean to hurt YOU
That's all right said Smith; I'm not
nurt anything to speak of. Do you take
pack what you said about my reciting
IT take everything back!' cried Caldwell.
Sit up, you blamed old fool, and look t
them nuggets! We've struck a pocket, and
were both rich men,"
Whose property is the pocket on?" asked
Smith. 1T seems to me as if you'd mixed
the TWO properties up considerable more
than the earthquake did"
property be hanged" said Caldwell
WHAT'S mine is yours. and what's yours
Is mine. Get up now and dig for all YOU re
worth. There'll be a thousand people here
the day after this news gets out and we've
got to make our pile before they get here -
Smith arose, brushed the dirt from his
clothes, and then, turning to Caldwell said ::
Il reckon We're about square now and con-
sequentiy | don't mind saying that | don't
care nothing about the gold, nor yet about
Delng blown. up-a proceeding which some
folks might consider a liberty I've got
my old 2ardner back again, and that s
enough for me. My flask went up with the
cabin, and it hasn't come down yet. so |
can do the polite thing by you; but when
1t does arrive, provided 1t amt smashed"
Dry up, you everlasting old idioti" shout
ed Caldwell. You might have picked up a
rubbish
But as Smith relapsed into silence he saw
that CaldWelIs face was wet with tears
W. l.. Alden. in Pail Mall Magazine.