The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-20

II was an hour before dawn when they
were halted by a grunt. and heard the
click-click Of a rifle cooking Uncle
Ben called in a strange tongue, Chekko
answered. The pathfinder told his COM
panions TO remain where they were, and
then approached the hogan, near the
door of which the old Indian had spread
| his blankets.
Chekko stood forth in the moonlight.
a solitary eagle feather sticking up
from his fur cap.
The banker, eager to see the Indian,
advanced two or three steps. Chekho
cooked his rifle again, and the banker
stepped back.
IF you come too near" said Uncle
Ben, coming close to the white men,
you'll spoil it ALL
I'VE won't said the banker; here
take the money and show il to him.
Tell him we've got it to burn
Uncle Ben took the satchel and
showed the. money to Chekko. The In
dian only looked at it, grunted, and
turned to regard the strangers.
Presently they saw Uncle Ben put the
bundle of bills back into the grip. The
Indian waved his hands, talked loud
and pointed toward the east, where the
dawn was showing.
ITS all right said Uncle Ben, re-
turning the grip to the banker, only he
says you must be gone before the sun is
up. Hes all broke up, but he won't
make no trouble. He himself will guide
you out to the main trail. but you must
not come within twenty PAGES of him.
Stay till | bring the bar OF gold.
II was great load-eighty pounds,
as they afterward learned. The banker
and the editor took turns carrying It,
the old Indian leading the way. When
it was full day the Indian put out
hand, signing the men to stop. Leav-
ing the trail he placed himself upon a
huge rock, pointed bony hand down
the trail and the men passed on.
When the Indian could be seen but
dimly outlined against the forest, Killing
called back, cheerily: 'Adiose."
The banker and the editor reached
RevelstOke just in time to board the
eastbound train for Calgary.
They were silent and thoughtful.
Now and then they exchanged glances
and smiles. At Glacier, which was the
eating station on the old time card
King left the train and brought some
sandwiches and coffee back with him.
but the banker would not stir. All the
way over he sat with one foot on the
old rag of a blanket that covered the
eighty-pound slab of gold The old
satchel. with the ST. 600 in it, lay in the
rack above his head.
That night. in the Bankers private
office. the two men unrolled the old
blanket, and there lay the big yellow
bar. 1t was a sight to see. Weary and
worn as they were, they sat for hours
talking over their good fortune.
The manager WIS busy at his desk
when the bank opened for business on
Monday morning. Uncle Ben was
coming over on the express. Did you
bring the money back?' the cashier
asked, entering the private office.
Sure said the manager. reaching
for the little satchel that stood upon
the top of his desk. When he had found
the right key he unfastened the spring
lock. lifted the bundle. looked at il for
a second, and sank back in his chair.
The bundle dropped from his hand. The
cashier picked it up. 1t was a bundle
of brown paper.
The revelations came swift and fast
from that hour. The banker clipped
corner from the big slab and carried it
to Mr.. Smith, but Mr.. Smiths assay
shop was closed. The card on the door
read: 'Adiose."
The old assayer was found, and the
yellow slab was found to be worthless.
The other bar, the smaller one, was
brought out. There was a little gold in
the bottom of the augur hole. The rest
was tinkling brass. The nuggets were
worthless; the dust sacks were filled
with sand.
1t was scarcely necessary to visit the
camp but they did, the banker and
the editor. Near the. cabin they found
an Indian false face and Uncle Ben's
whiskers. Upon the cabin door there
was a card. upon which Uncle Ben had
written: "Adiose."