Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1900-01-10

from All these pieces Of quartz we
find in the bed of the river must have
| been washed from il thousands OF years
ago. Suppose we break up a few OF the
smaller pieces? If we find gold there we
shall have something to sell and no
mistake"
They had no Implements heavier than
axes and found il slow work. but after
an hours disappointing labor the old
miner gave a shout of triumph and stood
erect holding in his hand piece of
| quartz about the size of an egg the
side of which was bright yellow 1t
had the appearance of a honeycomb.
the cells being filled TO Overlooking
with gold.
As the others gathered about him he
exclaimed:
We've struck it! It's the richest
vein | ever saw
The heavy lump was passed from
hand TO hand for examination. and
Avery said eXcitedly:
| "lf Dick had only known this! This
ledge is full OF gold"
Then | guess we'd better locate
here" said strange voice near the
little group.
]
20 see two rough looking miners who
had approached them from the wooded
side OF the valley, their packs on their
| backs. and who were gazing at the
treasure in Avery's hand with greedy
eyes.
For a moment our friends were too
astonishcd TO speak; then Tarbox
stepped forward with extended hand.
saying:
Hello, Mitchell: Where did you come
from >"
Why. it's Joe TarboX."
One of the strangers shook his hand
warmly and then asked, eagerly:
What, the show here, Joe? That's
beauty nugge; you have there"
Are there any more of you?" said
TarboN.
NO; Bill and are all"
! How did you happen TO find us?"
saw your smoke last night before
dark. We thought il must be somebody
out prospecting, ana so We took a look
over this way this morning. Struck it
rich?'
Yes; we've been here all winter. You
see where our claims are staked out.
Dick Taylor has gone to 7, ei>tcr hem.
Better stake ont before anyone else
comes. guess you'll find plenty of
room above Us. Idou't mind telling Won
we've made our Pile here, Bill. We've
just found that this quartz ledge is
mine of wealth. See that your claims
take in a slice of it,"
Before the words were fairly out of
his mouth the two men were tearing up
4 i. ''..,- D IS
| they had stakcd out their claims. d, -
were hard at work bent on the one all
! absorbing quest for which they had
! 3raved the rigors of an artic winter.
thus FAR without success.
Half an hour later they had scrapcd
away the soil and moss and sampled
the rich gravel just above the lightly
covered bed rock. The first pan of
gravel was washed out. and a moment
later the man TarboX had accosted as
Bill came running up, with bcaming
| face. crying:
God bless YOU, TarboX, for giving us
straight tip! Look at this. Wen be
rich in no time, Look"
Tn" perspira,ion was dripping from
| his face, his clothes were torn and full
of mud. but what rocked he Of such
things? In the pan he held joyously
forth was little heap of coarse gold,
which was worth fully 5000.
Then. rs if RENE bering that he was
wasting time, he turned on his heel and
| dashed back again like a schoolboy,
| throwing his arms about his partner
and hugging him in the excess Of his
| JOY.
Then, actuated by one common i'm
! pulse, the two men gave a wolfish veil
Of eXuItatjou. and fell to work once
more, tearing out the moss and soil with
desperate energy. They had reached
the goal for which they had left home
| and dear ones. and, with supcrhuman
! strength. they went at the work Of dig
! ging and washing unmindful ofalI else.
Meanwhile Tom and Dr., friend, had
/ returned ~ their digging. With their
! crude Implement, IL would be q waste
! Of time 10 attack the ledge. and they
! determined 20 stick 20 the gravel until
Taylor returned. They had only dug
mp very mall part of their claim, as
! yet.
The following day Tarbox -a,y a thin
! column Ot smoke sCyera, mics away.
and said 10 Avery:
There more Of them coming"
"Thrf may nor be coming ncrt." re-
/ piled the old miner
eye. they arc" was The confident
! rcjgirdcr. "Tlr.. Two mon -sv our
| fire ard followed it up. That party of
/ There probably has been following their
smoke. and -o IL goes. when one crow
fnG- anything to cat. you know. other.
]