The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-11-04
Have another cup of

~ b'iiAB oftA W Dear canyon to-day
to dig for gold in a cave you will find
there. Do, please, give this one days
work to please within of mine," com
ing around the table and giving his
cheek coaxing pat.
20, pshawl Well, I suppose 1
must-there's nothing else when a
woman"
III have your lunch ready by the
time you have saddled Mag. Children,
run for papa's pick and shovel" she
broke in, in cheerful haste.
Jim King saddled the little roam
mare and led her up TO the camp, tied
his dinner pail to the camille, mounted,
and shouldered pick and shovel, with
a hang-dog look.
Now, Jim, look for big dogwood
that's the mark, and there are wild
blackberry vines growing over the
mouth of tS;e cave"
Anyway, what's the good-suppos-
ing l should find 1.-THE lands all
staked," was his parting shot as he
waved a farewell and rode down the
slope.
With happy, confident heart, Mrs.
King watched her husband ride away,
till he was hidden by the low growing
shrubbery along the winding trail
Somewhere in the distance a quail
piped a warning note.
"Jim's gone that far already" she
said, but she could not see what the
quail saw: the pick and shovel cached
under a thicket of tall huckleberries.
and the rider pass on, without them,
taking the fork that led directly away
from Bear canon.
How still the morning was-not
touch of wind anywherel Mrs. King
lifted her eyes to the scenic splendor
of her surroundings. On every border
were the mountains in the quivering
haze of sunshine, unfolding in ever
changing tints and shadowy lights.
Peak beyond peak. as far as the eye
could reach, they rose, grand, still.
majestic and untamed, expressive of
imeprial solitude.
Stir! Stir! Stir!" said noisy blue
jay. and she turned to her work. The
children were happy when camping
and to them the day passed quickly
with school books and excursions up
and down the mountain side for nuts,
MOSES and lichens, and in untiring.
never-discouraged searches for Gold"
And family of inquisitive jays must
receive instructions in the art of be-
havior. for which all the table scraps
were carefully boarded in all kinds of
secret places, and doled out according
to the merits earned at each perform
ance.
Slowly the vivid noon-blue of the
mountains changed to blue-gray of
even and deepened to purple, making
them seem nearer and clearer than in
the morning; and as the shadows gath
cred near. little bird trilled timid,
sweet vesper hymn.
"Come. mamma. isn't it time to cook
supper?" The children brought in
dry limbs and cones for the nights fire.
There he comes! Papa's coming,
children-wave your hands!"
The horseman coming up the grade
doubled up his palms and sent shrill
whistle echoing along the ridge.
'Here. children. give Mag good sup
per. She's tired" he said, after I'M
saddling the mare. Then he poured
water in a basin. picked up a bit of
soap and began lathering his hands
DIRTY, aren't they?" with provoking
GOODNESS.
"Yes, but. Jim-what-?" interro-
gated his wife.
"Oh, found the cave just where you
said I would; but cave. claim, and all
are owned by a man over in Ashland.
went over and found the fellow-runs
little coffee house there and didn't
value your cave very highiys Said he
didn't propose to risk anything on
such a picnic, but l could work it
'halvers,'" King ran on with remark
able glibness.
"Yes. of course; but what else?" she
insisted hurriedly.
well" he continued with a tantal-
izing drawl, at is vein of quartz that
runs down the porphyry and the
gold"
pocket goldl Didn't tell you? I
knew it, 1 knew it! Now you'll be
lieve in dreams!" she almost screamed
in her firm belief.
Don't you want to see nugget ?"
and he handed her yellow Bellefeur.
"Jim King! How could you do such
thing?" and on her face chagrin and
perplexity struggled for supremacy.
aren't you ashamed to play such
shabby trick?" she managed TO say.
"Well. no. You see. you were so
bound and determined l should find
nugget that l was afraid to come back
without one; and it's the best could
do" an amused light dancing in his
eyes.
ST see. And what else?"
81 met Sam Adams on the way. He
put me on the track of job as fore
man on a ranch down below. So 1
went over and met the owner; and de-
cided to abandon Prize Bar for farm
life and good pay. Ny time begins
tomorrow. and wen begin packing
the first thing in the morning. So.
Emily, even if your wonderful dream
didn't bring us the gold you expected,
:. lrourb+ eor,atbipu which I booa