The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1902-04-04

Jacks hand trembled as he touched
the half-bowed and supplicating SEN
tinel that in all these decades, while
the world was moving on, making
wonderful history, had remained here
in the dense jungle, guarding well the
secret of those strange people of Aztec
times.
Jack estimated the value of the
statue at some thousands of pounds in
London, even at the present depreciat'
ed price of silver
But they were after higher game,
and could well afford to scornfully cast
this base bullion aside.
1t was not long before the descend
ing pick struck metal, and presently
Jack. shovel in hand, had cleared a
slab that had a dull lustre not unlike
bronze.
Barrajo danced what, in another
quarter of the world, might have been
termed an Irish jig or a Scottish horn
pipe.
"Por Dios! 1t is just as the docu-
ment relates. The old Indian did not
deceive me. Come, lift the trap with
me- Senior Jack. See, stone steps lead
down to the ruins of the old Aztec
temple. Oh, tell you, my president,
we are the luckiest men on the face OF
the earth, this night, since we have
but to stretch out our hands to clutch
fortune"
The invitation to descend given by
Barrajo, as the two fortune hunters
surveyed the ancient stone steps lead
ing to some mysterious subterranean
depository of the Montezumas was a
most welcome sound to Overton.
They had come upon the expedition
fully prepared for all emergencies, and
the gloomy depths of the yawning pit
below had no terrors for such brave
hearts, so, taking pick and spade, they
began 10 descend.
At the bottom of the stairway they
came to a long slab, forming Intel
over the top of door. Upon digging
the doorway was uncovered and was
found to be blocked by huge metate
or native milestone. Carved across its
entire surface were inscriptions in the
hieroglyphics of a civilized race.
AS soon as the doorway had been cut
through the two adventurous treasure
hunters entered the chamber of the
temple-tomb. Mural paintings, repre-
senting female figures draped in
shrouds and in attitudes of prayer,
were on the walls. inches in the
crypt contained a number of skulls,
and other bones comprising parts of
skeletons were scattered about. These
were all painted a bright red. Red,
it may be remarked, was the mourning
color of the Aztecs.
There were numbers of idols in the
cave. doubtless looked upon as eX-
ceedngly chaste in these olden times,
but their supreme ugliness gave Jack
a rude shock when his artistic eye
first fell upon them.
However their faults, while many
from this point of view, could be read
lily condoned when the fact was taken
into consideration that each and every
one of the little monsters seemed to
have been fashioned from crude metal,
and even Overton's inexperienced eye
was able to tell that it was gold un-
alleged.
This was glorious-still, it was only
a beginning.
With trembling fingers they picked
up many of the less weighty images
and vases.
BY degrees the two men managed to
recover their wits and calm down,
when they set about rough estimate
of the value of their find.
Overton was fain to agree with the
general when the latter eXultantly ex-
claimed that in all probability never
before in the history of the world,
from the days of King Solomon down
to the present time, had such a vast
treasure been heaped up in one pile.
1t was like dream-Overton in his
widest moods, when fancy ran away
with reason, had never imagined so
marvellous a thing.
Finally Barrajo said: Remember
our sacred compact, Senior Jack-an
equal division if we both live; should
misfortune overtake lis while we are
in the act of removing the treasure,
the one who survives is entitled to all,
after he has settled a few requests
we have taken the pains to write
Jointly. Is this so understood"
at is in the bond general; and may
heaven deal with me as l deal with
YOU
They solemnly shook hands as if
to again ratify the bargain.
Barrajo and Jack had as yet no sus-
picion that they were followed from
San Juan, and, eager to begin opera
tons. the two comrades had each
seized upon several images that were
most handy and began to lug the I'M
resisting captives toward the exit.
Barrajo assembled the steps first and
Jack handed up the booty. raising the
temple images one by one. while the
generalpiled them outsideon the grass
beside the overthrow silver sentry.
Jack had handed up the last of their