The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-06-08
.a,iy part Of something that was

hand. and with this he pokrd at il in
an idle sort of way. There seemed 10
be some; hing harder than earth un-
der IL, and he polSed 1t again with lit
tie more vigor, whereupon il tore, and
three yellow discs about the size of
silver dollars rolled out.
''ln an instant he had cast aside the
branch and was on his knees over the
canvas gathering gold eagles and half
eagles and double eagles into his
pocket with a fe,erish haste that
would hardly have seemed possible in
the idle dreamer of few moments
ago; he moved as if his life depended
upon getting them out Of sight an
soon as possible"
There" said the man by the win
dow, lis where such stories usually
end, with the first chapter"
"This one doesn't end there; 1t has
second chapter.
"When the bag. for such the canvas
was. had been cmptied. he dug with
his pocketknife as we'll as he could
all around it to see il there might be
another, but could find no more. He
then proceeded to cover up all signs
Of disturbance. making the ground
look as nearly like that about 1t as
possible. and dragging some fallen
branches and dead leaves over il, look
ing about him now and then to see il
anyone was in sight.
mot that he felt for n momen mt that
he was stealing; the coin appeared to
have been buried for long time, and
he believed the finders title TO be
good, but he didn't care to discuss the
matter with any inquisitive farmer or
tramp who might happen along.
"By the time ne had covered the
ground SO he thought there was moth
ing to attract the attention of the
most obscrvant he found that he was
in profuse perspiration and trem-
bling like an aspen leaf.
ale went slowly up through the
woods and out into a road. and here,
in the shadow of some sunflowcrs he
sat down TO rest and think. And then
he began to realize that few thou
sand, even a very few. would make q
big change in his life.
..lIc pulled coin out Of his coat
pocket 1t was a twenty Of 1855. lie
took one from his trousers pocket. II
was ten OF 1919: another was TWEEN
ty Of 1854. One at time he drew out
a number. and found them all to be as
old as 1855, which seemed to show
that they were buried, or at least
gathered together. not long after thai
time. so he decided that he need give
no thought to the rightful owner
that is. the original owner OF the bag
that he and anyone who knew OF thu
burying We're probably beyond th'
need Of gold. or it would not have
been permitted 70 remain there al
these years. but the owner OF the lane
on which he had found it might hav'
a legal title TO il. and might endeavo
TO enforce it should the finding com
TO his knowledge. and he could no
prove that il did not belong to any
one who nigh: claim 10 have buric'
il. So the only thing was to keel
quiet as 20 the whole business and &c
the coin into circulation in some wa
that would not excite suspicion.
1.-The sun was getting low. and
was several miles TO an Omaha stree
car. so. after he had rested a shor
time. he crossed the road TO walnu
tree and picked up enough nuts to 81
the tops of mis- outside pockets an
thus account for their bulginess, an
, then started homeward. his heav
pockets pounding against him on tn
, outside and his heart poundin
, against him on the inside for fea
some one would hear the click OF hi
, coins and guess what he was carry
! ing.
| "Uc took bobtailed car at tn
, north edge Of town. that was bcfoi
there were any electric cars. and,
: course. imagined everyone in IT VS.
/ ewing him suspiciously. but he reachc
4 downtown without anyone'S sreakin
! 10 him and went to the Office whcI
I he worked.
! "Aftcr locking the door he went
[ the desk farthcst from the windo
y and took out and counted his frea
@ urc. There were five thousand and IN
dollars. and no coin dated later tina
n 1855. lie weighed one twenty on II
a letter scale and figured out Il
i weight OF the whole to be trife ov'
: Is pounds.
i quitting a few Of the smaller picc'
i in his pocket. he did the rest up
packages. which he put in the oifi'
Is safe. behind the books. so If by cham
l. anyone opened it before him in II
4 morning they would not see IT, ~
n may be sure he was certain the sa
Il was locked before he left the Office.
= ale went to n newsroom and bong
a magazine. paying for it with fly
h dollar gold piece, and he paid b
Il check at the restaurant where he e
h supper with another putting Z
a change he received and money fro
i his purse TO make up the amou
. spent. with the other gold. in Sc
d, arate pocket.
n ale must change mis- manner OF !
ID ing gradually. 1t wouldn't do to lea
IN his position at once. People must =