The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-20
The paying teller ana told him to put

the paying teller and told him to put
the gold in the vault.
The difficulty that confronted the
banker now was how to get this Sl2. 32l
out Of the bank. He could not draw a
check for the amount himself without
exciting the cashier de must have
confederate. He would take in a part
ner, bur it must be some one not CON
nected with the bank.
He called upon a friend who did lit
tie business in a legal way, but the
friend was out. He now sought out the
editor of the local paper and told him
little bits of the wonderful. story that
had come to him in sections during the
past six weeks. The editor was willing,
almost eager. to do his part and 20
take whatever came to him.
Uncle Ben was introduced, asked to
supper at the editors house, and ac-
cepted the invitation. Mr.. Smith, the
new assayer and base singer. was
there, and the banker. 1t was a pleas
ant evening. Here were three men OF
intelligence, all reasonably well edu-
Gated, men of some refinement. enter
tanning an unwashed hiliman, but they
soon discovered that Uncle Ben was
unconsciously entertaining them. From
the moment he entered the little vesti-
bule he had the whole party al the
point of exploding with laughter. He
on the moOSehead hat rack, and then
deposited his on the floor in the hall.
When Mrs. King. the editors wife. Of
fered him a napkin he said. Thanke.
I've got a hankicher." He had been
reserved and very guarded in his con-
versation with the men, but in the pres
enCe of the ladies he thawed percep-
tibly. The Unborn chivalry of the south
still showed through the tan and thirty
years of beard.
What nice cupboard" he said to
the hostess.
That isn't a cupboard, Uncle Ben"
said Mrs. King sweetly; that's a pi-
anO-a music box
And then she went over, lifted the lid
and let her hands wander idly over the
keys.
Uncle Ben said no more, but as she
resumed her seat his hostess saw him
sneak a corner of his red and white
kerchief up TO his off eye.
Away along toward the coffee he be-
came talkative again. 'Uh,' he eX-
claimed. graspjng the stem of a cham
payne glass in his big brown fist. that
liquors finer'n moose'S milk" The roar
of laughter. in which the ladies joined,
seemed to embarrass the old man.
Tell us a story, Uncle Ben said
Mr.. Smith; "a bear story if you ALL
Ben. making a dough pill and tapping
it at the lamp that hung above the
table. Had a little time 18th couple
NV EN- today, comm over"
Tell US about it," urged the assayer,
reaching for the nut cracker.
Yer wastin' good liquor there, pard-
ner," said the old man, as King emp
tied the bottle on the back of Uncle
Ben's hand that sheltered his cham
payne glass.
When the train stopped at the Gla-
cier fer dinner, l moSied into the lunch
room for a bite to eat. Whin L come
out | see a couple O. fellers prancin'
up an down the walk lookin' ST they'd
been there fore we come. Little while
after the train started they come into
the car when / set smokin', one pushed
my shoulder down with a punch he
packed. jest edZactly like them pinch
ers at Mr.. Smiths mashin' nuts with.
an said to me, authoritative like: open
up"
.What?" says l.
"Open up yer pack, sails he, this is the
government Inspector" pintin' his
pinchers at the other man.
Jest then we darted into one o. them
wooden tunnels an thinks / here's a
good place to hide the slab Well at
cushin we darted out again an one o.
the inspectors sees me. He caught my
arm, trailed it down an found the slab
o. gold. First I'm mad but some skeered
at the same time. Then the second fell
Ter, he TUX the slab from the first man,
sayin', he's an old chap, we won't re-
port it-give back his gold.
How much you got?" he asked me-
Thousand dollars" says l.