The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-10
The Cave Of KvariG8.
By CLINTON ROSS,
Copyright, 1898 by Clinton Ross }

things of no earthly use except TO the
ANTIQUARIAN, or the historian. But
they've amused me-
You fellows are easily amused with
'em books" said Borden. Now, Id
rather see a Sunday New York paper.
with the murders and divorces and poll
ties
Well" said Fenton, Il hadn't. you
know. SO I've found some fun up there
nosing about. I've almost been able to
forge"
You're chicken livered.' said Borden.
We'll, / wish I'd money!
wed go back, eh, and buy up some
body" said Borden. WED have a
house on Fifth avenue. and another at
Newport, and we'd run horses at Sleeps
head, and we'd eve our wives and dar-
ters dresses and diamonds all listed in
the papers,
shut up." said Fenton. Don't talk
about wives and daughters!"
HTS Il bit ticklish on some subjects.
said Borden. well, go on with your
yarn, little 'In."
We'll" said Fenton. Il said to my
self, If this Miguel Santos became a
monk at Corpus Cristi there's prob
ably somewhere or other about this pile
Of papers something more about him.
Finally | came to some papers of the
Abbot Pedro Juan. | knew he was the
Abbot of Santos time. So | broke open
the seal. Then | found this paper writ
ten by the dying Santos"
"You don't say! Who'd have thought
itT' Borden exclaimed.
II had some trouble in making it out"
Fenton went on.
"Wen. what of it," said Borden.
Does he tell where the moneys to be
had. We can go back to New York and
float company. THE Santos treasure
company, $10,000000 paid in. A few
chances at 80 cents.
Listen. you fool said Fenton eager
ly. Here is what is written: L, the
monk Ambrose, once Miguel Santos, do
confess. When ] am 40, and in security,
| bethink myself that death cannot be
far away. The church, declares that the
wicked shall be burned forever. If that
be indeed true-and no man ever came
back to deny tit behooves me to pre-
pare. l have thought me of the treasure
| gained evilly. Should l restore it to
those whence | had taken? But the
lust for gold makes more crime than
the lust for woman. 1t has seemed TO
me, then, that | should put this treas
IRE away where no man should find it.
| know now my sin. / could not part
with that which has cctSt me so much
perhaps even my soul. To the cave of
the underground river | had the casks
carried. Then / had a wall built 20 rods
from the caves entrance, and L walled
the treasure there against the roar of
the stream that sees no light. Twenty
men worked at this: and | watched,
leaving a guard down the slope. In the
wall is an iron door, which opens if you
touch it at certain spot. When the
work was done ] gave the laborers poi
son, and in the morning all lay dead.
(God rest my soul) One by one | took
the bodies
''He took the bodiesT" said Borden
leaning over, .all that stuff is buried up
in 'em mountains?"
Il took the bodies through the door
in the wall to the cliff over the under
ground river. and dropped them in, one
by one. Then | returned to my follow
ers, who guarded below. saying | had
sent the other score into Chihuahua.
And then / discharged all and came
down the mountain to the monastery,
and to the abbot / said: i would repent
me Of my sins" First" he answered,
thou must give all thy treasure to
Mother Church. Then / lied. and told
him | had squandered it all.
Il said to myself that for one who
has committed so many sins, the death