The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-12-16

fragments of pottery.
Just some old Indian hiding place."
thought Morgan. and, lacking anti
quarian tastes, he was about abandon
ing further exploration. when his at
tention was attracted to certain dark
bundle-like objects at the rear of the
cave. He approached them with
mingled feeling of curiosity and dis
trust. He was not impressionable, but
when his first near view assured him
that one was tumbled roll of bla nkets
and the other partially clothed skele-
ton of man. the damp chill of the
cave seemed 10 penetrate to his very
marrow. Stung by the flame of the
match which, unnoticed in his excite
ment, had burned to his finger tips. he
dropped ii and was left in darkness
1t was but second before he lighted
another, and then for the first time
he noticed that close to the blankets
lay pair of leathern saddle-bags. He
stopped to lift them, and was surprised
at their great weight. They were un-
strapped, and his curiosity now over
mastering all other feelings, he threw
back the flap of one and holding q
freshly-lighted match close to. the
opening was speechless with amaze
ment at what he saw. The bag was
half-filled with coined gold. For the
second time, in his excitement, he had
nearly allowed his match to burn out
His stock was now reduced to four:
and realizing that he must make haste
to leave the cave. he seized the leather
neck containing the two bags and
dragged them to the opening. In an.
other moment he was again standing
among the rocks outside. 1t was all
SO strange and passed so quickly that
it seemed to him almost that he had
/ been dreaming and still dreamed. But
when he opened the mouth of the sad
dle-bags and plunged his hands into
the jingling, shining yellow coin which
both contained. there was an end to
all doubts. "This beats dry-washin,
or striking ledge" he exclaimed,
aloud. "If Boly don't think I'm el'gi-
bic now I'll give up beat"
On the side of each of the heavy
calfskin bags. in sprawling, pen-print.
~ ASttSAo, was Tic IL. MeeKS
and date some 12 years back. That's
the name of the feller that robbed old
man Bascom. and it was down in this
Mud Springs country that the old man
| lost the trail. While l am out discov.
erin things, seem to be workin' up
the whole job to once" said the now
eXultant Morgan to himself. "Old
C'lumbus ainH in it with me-"
When he reached Mud Springs late
In the afternoon, he was discreetly ST.
lent about his discovery in the cave.
He cached his saddle bags a mile OF
more back on the trail, and his prep.
arations for an immediate and impress.
sive return to the Belshazzar camu
were undertaken at once. These con.
sisted in various purchases. From the
proprietor of the Magnolia saloon he
obtained black mule, with a silver.
mounted saddle and bride and pal,
of deep-roweled spurs, with little
jingling chains. These had been left
for sale by some newcomer from
Sonora with bad luck and extravagau!
tastes. He also obtained at the same
place diamond of large size, but OF
doubtful purity, which he pinned in his
blue flannel shirt front. He added to
this q guitar for Boly, secured at an ex.
orbitant price from an impecunious
Mexican, and, having bade his friends
good-by, started on his triumphal
homeward march just as the full moon
was rising over the eastern ridges.
He reduced the four days time Of
his outward trip to less than three or
his return, and an hour before sunset
was riding up the last heavy grade on
the trail into the Belshazzar camp. He
hardly expected to find Boiy so late
at the arastra; but still on the chance
he gathered himself together for an
impressive entree. His new mule
laden with the precious bags, trotted
in advance. He followed with the
guitar swung by its bright ribbon
about his neck and held in place before
him, his questionable diamond flashing
esplendently, his spurs jingling, and
his sombrero we'll back on his head.
AS he neared the camp his spirits
sank for the moment, as he recognized
the loud voice of old Bascom raised tc
even higher pitch than usual. He
hurried his animals, and in another
moment was in camp. Boly's pony,
Gyp, wasi in harness in the arastra. She
herself was sitting despondently on a
fiat rock near by, with her face buried
in her hands, and sobbng az short in.
tervals, while old Bascom was vocif.
erously upbraiding her for the infatua-
tion which had led her to deceive her
father ard clandestinely operate the
arastra in her penniless lovers alb
sencc. The situation. however, was
soon changed to one of glad excite
ment and friendly greeting and con-
graduation when Morgan appeared,
and, briefly recounting his adventures,
astonished them with the sight of the
coin in the saddle bags
"Two-thirds of that there coin nat
uraliy belongs to me-" shouted old man
Bascom, "and one-third of it" (mean-
ing Meek's parD "of course goes to
you; but I won't stand on that. This
is my day for bein' lib'ral. and I'm
goin' to allow you halt of the whole
pot, and throw in Boly as an extra, al
low'n', of course, as she's agreeable to
the arrangeme MT"
81 ain't got no objections as knows
Of" said Boly, with laugh. as she
looked down and shuffied one foot in
the dry tailings.
"And all this comes" said Morgan to
Boly, with glad impressiveness, "of