The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-08-11

we are Obliged to have you. Get your
stun up out of sight, We will help you
do that for our own sake. After that
you will keep away from our camp and
dig all you please"
An hour later his outfit was in the
valley. and as he busted himself putting
up his tent he wore a self-satisfied eN-
preston that BODIED iii for the peace
dirt began 10 melt away before the Wig
orous attacks of the men. while Hank
Bowers dug marfully by himself ashort
distance away, apparently satisfied TO
AXE them at their word. lie was an
experienced miner. and his little pile
Of dust grew steadily.
That night the result of their com
bined efforts was nearly $1,000, and
Tom Scott could hardly be content 20
stake the necessary time for sleep. 1t
seemed to him that his fortune was al
ready made.
Three days of unremittinG toll fol-
lowed, the average being a little less
than the first day. Then Avery said,
as they were starting out the fourth
morning:
Taylor, we are digging in the wrong
place altogether"
THE wrong place."
YES. that's what | said. I've waited
TO see how rich this dirt is and | am not
satisfied Don't you see. Dick. you have
been digging here by stream that runs
now, but it isn't the stream that cut
that big hole through the face of the
=, ~.
tion altogether. YOU see.
perhaps hundred or thousand
years ago this stream wasn't running
at all. Now, where must the bed of the
stream have been that did cut its way
through that rock? You can see il must
have been over there on the other side
of the ridge. I'll bet that old stream
ran thousands of years before it dried
up. II must have"
"How do you know?" asked Tom, in
wonder.
Because it would take that long to
wear through the rock as it did. twas
bigger stream than this by good
| deal. See those big stones scattered all
around in its bed. 1t must have been a
powerful stream to start them, and
there they are everywhere"
by thunder, believe you're right"
cried Taylor, eXcitedly. IL car see it
now. ought to have known itat first,
but we struck good paying dirt on this
side, and didn't prospect any further.
Come on, let's try over there
Hold on a bit" replied Avery.
"Ycu're not headed for the best place"
The others looked at him to see if he
was joking, but his face was very
earnest. and he went on:
ut makes lots of difference where
we dig. We may be surprised here any
day and can't hope to keep this place to
| ourselves a great while. We don't want
to waste a day. just look a that bend
/ where the round pebbles are collected.
| There was strong eddy just there. I'm
der the ridge of such a place is apt to
! be more gold than anywhere else. Let's
| try there first, and If we don't find gold
I'm no prophet
| His words carried conviction. and the
party seized their shovels and hurried
to the spot at once. They found it Gov
cred with single, the debris Of cen
| turies. Below was little dirt, and then
they struck layer Of gravel.
Tom Scott was working with all his
might. He had taken about a foot OF
| gravel from the place about yard
| square, when, rs he drove his shovel
down, it struck something which felt
| like rock. \ moment later he had laid
bare u few inches Of rough, shay sur
face just rs the others also struck the
same obstruction.
Il guess I've struck bottom" he said
ruefully. I'VE cant dig here"
As he spoke he scraped the surface
of the rock under his feet careless,y
with his shovel.
Something yellow caught his eye, and,
with a little exclamation of surprise,
he dropped on his knees and brushed
away the dirt about it,
His heart seemed fairly TO stand still
as he grasped an oblong lump of dirt
ON the side Of which his shovel had left
yellow scratch. As he lifted II its
great weight told him the truth, and he
| sprang erect, shouting:
It's nugget! It's nugget"
| Let me see!"
Ayery's voice trembled as he held
out his hand.
ITS heavy as lead!" cried Tom, as he
laid lump of virgin gold, weighing
nearly pound, in the old miners
extended palm.
Its gold my lad, said Avery, after
one glance. II knew was making no
mistake We must take no more
chances. Let each. man stake out
claim along this old river bed before
anyone arrives. We are all rich men"
1t seemed impossible TO leave at that
time, but the old miners advice was
good and they followed it, while Hank
Bowers, who had not been aware of
their discovery, soon understood that
they were stalking out claims formally,
and proceeded to do likewise on his
side ofthe ridge.
/ When this had been accomplished,