Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1899-08-31

asked him if he would show me where |
rock was III place IN the district, and |
where l might myself trace an abso-
lutte geological formation at the sur
face. After studying moment, he
replied that he would.
How much will you charge mes'
I asked:
again he studied, turning his face
away. Suddenly be arose and started
to leave me- His actions were very
strange. He had not gole further
than three or four yards, when he
turned suddenly about and came back
to me.
"'Would S. be too much?' he in
quired hesitatingly
Il was thunderstruck. / had ex-
pected him to say at least 500, and
perhaps much more. l told him that
| would gladly give him s5 to show
me where the formation was plain at
tue surface.
'''Shall we go now? 1 asked.
No, he replied This whole
crowd would follow us. These people
are watching our movements. They
consider them to be Of Importance
Let us meet tomorrow at some place
in the woods, and then, keeping out
Of sight of these men, we can see the
rock i'll place. | am going to Joplin
| to night, and shall return at any time
that you may specify
am going over to Baxter Springs,
| said, 'and expect to return on to-
morrow mornings stage
8" IN the woods off yonder, he said.
you will find little deserted log
cabin hear the stage road: When you
get to that cabin have the driver let
you out. ] shall conceal myself among
the trees beyond and wait for you.
You will find a little path leading down
a ravine from the cabin Take that
path. If you are alone I shall whistle
to you-if not, shall remain quiet
eve agreed upon this plan, ana
soon after separated for the night, he
going to Joplin, No., aud to Baxter
Springs, Kan.
con the following day. as agreed, I
left the stage at the lonely cabin in
the woods, just to the east of where
Galena has since been built I was
alone. found the little path that the
stranger had asked me to take. The
woods about it were then, as now,
quite dense, and [ moved with some
care that I might not lose the path,
which seemed to be travelled but little.
At last 1 heard whistle. and an
swered it. Below me in the path stood
the stranger.
"'Are you afraid to go through this
wood with me?' he asked, looking me
directly in the eye. The idea of fear
on this occasion had not before come
to me, but his words seemed so queer
that / rather took them as ominous of
evil. 1 put on bold front and re-
piled emphatically:
Afraid! No, why should I be
afraid? I'm armed!'
owe walked on, saying nothing. I
simply followed where be led. After
winding about for perhaps thirty min
utes, I came to the conclusion that
the stranger was fraud-that while
he was very wise he was at the same
time very dishonest,
cat last he paused at large flint
boulder
"'Observe this rock closely he
said. Here begins our formation.
Let us SO straight on to that other
rock yonder
"When we reached the second rock
the stranger pointed out third one
still further on, and in direct line
with the two we had just examine ed.
We went to the third rock, and there
was still fourth, fifth and sixth be.
yond-all in direct line. They were
close together, almost forming 6
natural stone fence. The cropping'
were as plainly discernible as thu
} rows of corn in field. It was vei1
in place and we traced it for half ,
mile.
Gas we went along the stranger be-
came greatly animated and here and
there pointed out places where he wa:
sure deposits Of rich ore could b,
found. | designated these places b,
throwing up little piles Of rock and
thus we went on. he telling all tn,
while OF the possibilities OF the coun
try. He did not speak as one guess
! ing, but as one knowing. His word
carried conviction.
/ 1--WE were several hours In mark
: ing the places where he was positiv
[ that mineral lay in rich deposits
| When we came to the edge of tn
1 woods and looked off toward the wes
t we saw the men at work
! LET us not be seen togethe
here, he said. 'You 60 around tha
I (pointing toward the uorth) and II
go down this little draw.
| I'm less than an hour We wer
l again together in the crowd Wit
S his help l drew map OF tho land W
: had just visited and designated til
/ places where he had told me to di
: for ore. paid him the S., and b
thalkel me as if he were satisfied
although he acted with indifference
when I spoke to him Of money mat
i, ters