The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1898-01-27

guide for us as far as the Colorado
River.
He proved himself to be a famous
hunter, and he ventured off alone with
a perfect contempt for what would
have been positive danger to any other
man.
He was voted "crazy" by all the
party, but in me the man excited the
liveliest interest, and by many conf
dences tried to draw from him the
story of his life, which / felt sure was
made up of incidents of no Ordinary
kind.
The night before he left us he drew
me to one side, and, sitting down with
his back to a tree and the flames OF a
n~eighborlng fire lightning up his pic
turesque face, he said: And so you'd
like to know something about Madre
d'Oro?"
told him that I should, If he
thought me worthy of his confidence.
1T is a secret" he said, in a half
whisper, "but then what does 1t mat.
ter If the world knew, so long as only
one man can find the placer"
What placer"
The place where all the gold in
these rocks and streams comes from
La Madre d'Oro-the Mother of Gold.
An, thousands have died trying to find
the place, and it may be that now that
Know where 1t is l may not be per-
mltted to enter in, for you know the
Aztecs believe hat the wonderful val
ley is enchanted"
"Indeed?"
Yes, and l am inclined to that be-
lief myself, but then l have spent so
many long, weary years searching that
it would not do to lose heart. now
that untold wealth is within my
reach"
agreed with him, and by careful
questioning l drew out Of him his story
OF the valley of gold, which l subse-
quently found to be an established be-
lief among the miners Of the Northern
Mexican states. and to them it came,
without doubt, from the Aztecs, who
were once the masters of all this land.
Within a hundred miles of the place
where we were then encamped was
the wonderful valley of gold, and Levi
Bronson was confident that he knew
the exact location.
The valley was in the heart Of the
Sierra Madre Mountains, walled in by
covering rocks, and accessible only by
a secret passage through which flowed
a stream that, excepting on ona day
in every year, filled up the passage and
made ingress impossible.
This valley is small in extent and
perfectly circular. Through it the
river flows cool and clear and filled
with fish whose scales are golden. The
banks are masses of variegated flow
ers, and trees ever in blossom made
delightful shades and fairy-like ar
bors. Birds Of the sweetest song and
most exquisite plumage, of varieties
unknown to the outer world, make
vocal this wonderful valley and flash
through its dark green foliage like
animated blossoms.
Running across this wonderful val
ley there is a belt forty feet in width
Of which NJ vegetation grows, for the
belt is the top of a wall of gold that
flashes with indescribable brilliancy
when the sun balances in midheaven
and looks lovingly down on Madre
d'Oro.
The old Aztec priests know well this
valley, and as they still cherish the
belief that Montezuma will again ap-
pear in the flesh, to lead them against
the Spanish conquerors whom they
have never ceased to hate, they think
the wealth necessary to regain their
liberties will come from this valley.
But one white mar ever saw it. and
that was a Spaniard named Jose AL
varrez, who entered through the sub
%terranean passage. and, being discov-
cred by the guardian priests, was sac
rificed to the sun on the golden ledge,
"And you know where this wonder
full valley is?" l asked Levi Bronson,
when he had finished his description.
YES" he replied, II am sure | could
lead you within one mile of the place
Are you going there?"
II am"
And you are not afraid of the
guardian priests?"
mo, for l am a doctor, and | have
practiced my profession for year.
among the Indians to make them my
friends. They would not harm me-"
But, granting that you can find til,
gold" I asked, "cf what use will sucl
a fabulous amount be-"
II will only take what 1 want" h,
replied.
And how much will that be?"
81 do not know. l have earned
great deal in all these years of workin,
and waiting. l want to MAKE my oil
age serene and happy"
Levi Bronson wanted me to joil
him, but I declined, and we each wen
our separate way, and l did not hea
!, of him again. But it is safe to sa,
!, he never reached La Madre d'Oro.
I have often thought of the old ma,
since, and those to whom I have toll
the story laughed and said: He wa
surely insane"
, Perhaps he was, but is he any NOR
, insane than the myriads who fror
|, youth to old age give every though
: to the acquisition of wealth. and VIII
seek valleys Of gold as inaccessible an
a fabulous as Levi Bronson,s Madr
d'Oro?-New York Ledger.
Why Old Clocks Have iii.