The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-01-03

SNeN 49, 'tD
certain that his own was the only II
containing a particle of gold he burst
forth in a torrent of blasphemy SO ter
rible that even Rider trembled lest
some retribution might instantly fol-
low and include him in its wrath.
Sold! Took in like a tenderfoot!'
raVed his companion. kicking one of
the bags in his fury. whats that?"
AS he spoke he picked up a folded
paper which had dropped from the bag.
Tearing it open he read the following
lines:
w We're too smart for you. Re-
member that if we find O have given
away u secret we will give an ac~
count of you to the Canadian police
and have you driven out of the coun-
try. If you show yourself here we will
fill YOU full of cad
a SECRET NO LONGER.
AS the reader is aware. there was no
pursuit made after Rider n his COM
panion. The whole matter had been
arranged by Avery. who had seen a
would-be robber deceived in a similar
n in his younger days. He had
been awake through it all, and there
had been no intention to shoot the
thief. They had %purposely aimed wlde
of the mark.
When he had disappeared they all
INDUCED in a hearty laugh at his dis
comflture when he should discover the
fraud, then retired to rest with a feel
ing of relief at the success Of their
counter-plot.
Freed from the necessity Of watching
Bowers, they now redoubled their Ia
Dor, and for another fortnight they
took only barely sufficient time to
sleep. They were constantly in dread
lest some prospector should appear, but
" - "a l-- ,,.-~~I -<I t. 1Nr4 49,
undisturbed.
The unusua labor, however, began to
tell on the older men, and one evening
Dick Taylor declared, as he threw him
self YEARLY down on his couch:
I'm about ready to quit. Let's reck-
on up how we stand"
They had a very indefinite idea of
their wealth, as they had made no
calculations up to h a time, devoting
every to work New they
watched him eagerly as he produced
his scales and began to estimate the
weight of the numerous bags contain
ing the result of their arduous toll.
Bag after bag was laid aside in 81
lence until the last had been weighed.
Then after a rapid mental calculation
the miner said:
"Well, I make it that we've got about
$150, 900 worth now. That's about $780,
600 apiece. and a very tidy months
work. Sui I'm tired. I haven't got a
great many years to live and l confess
I want to enjoy the rest of my days.
We can sell our claims here for a big
pile any time, and l move hat we do
it."
Blu who is to buy them?" asked
Tom, while Avery merely nodded his
approval of his friends sentiments.
"There'n be dozens Of capitalists and
spectators In Dyea by this time" re-
piled Taylor. We've got a good deal
more here now than. we want to carry
out on our backs. l move that the rest
of you keep on digging here and that
I go to Dyea, and find out what kind OF
a trade l can make. Besides that.
these claims must be registered before
We can sell them"
II agree that is the right thing to
do" agreed Avery. 1--WE shall be rich
enough, and l confess I am anxious to
see these claims registered before we
have any trouble over them. 1 think
you'd better start right off, Dick. The
season is very short, and it'll take some
time to settle the. whole thing up, even
if you find some n right off who
wants to buy" '-f
The others were of the same opinion,
and it was soon decided that Dick Tay-
Tor should start the following morning
for Dyea on his important mission, the
rest delegating to him full power to dis
pose Of their interests to the best ad-
vantage and to bring the WOuld-be
buyers back with him.
Accordingly he started bright and
early the next day, the little party
watching him from the top of the cliff
until he waved his hand at q urn in
the trail and disappeared from view.
With ~listless steps the party turned
to their work, but the labor Of the past
few weeks seemed to make itself felt
all at once, now that their thoughts
had been even temporarily turned to-
ward civilization. They had been slav-
ing like madmen each day, their minds
intent on adding to their golden store,
while at night they slept that sleep of
utter exhaustion. o that Taylor had
diverted their minds for awhile from
the incessant labor they returned to it
almost unWillingly against the protest
of their aching limbs.
AS they neared the claims Avery
suddeny exclaimed:
ct wonder IL that ridge is worth any,
thing? I've been thinking lately that
it may be where all this gold comes
from. All these pieces of quartz we
find IN the bed Of the river must have
been washed from it 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 thar
axes and found 1t slow work, but after
an hours disappointing labor the old
miner gave a shout Of triumph and
stood erect, holding in his hand a piece
of quartz about the size Of an egg, the
side Of which was a bright yellow. 1t
had the appearance Of a honeycomb.
the cells being filled to overlooking
with gold.
AS the other gathered about him he
exclaimed:
We've struck it! It's the richest vein
I ever saw"
The heavy lump was passed from
hand to hand for examination, and
Avery said excitedly:
IF Dick had only known this! This
ledge is full Of gold"
Then l guess we'd better locate
here said a strange voice near the
little roup.
With a start Of surprise they turned
to see two rough-looking miners who
had approached them from the wooded
side Of the valley, their packs on theil
backs, and who were gazing at the
treasure in Avery's hand with greedy
| eyes.