Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1903-12-25
She went home and taking hoe ane


She went home and taking a hoe and
an ak hurried toward the still.
Ii was not large rock that stood
near the entrance to Mat Dixon's still.
Its situation rather than its size
served To conceal its entrance. 1t stood
where the mountain side was extreme
ly steep and where a mass Of bushes
and vines made the place difficult of
access When Bess had reached this
place, she calculated well the task
before her. She dug the earth away
from about the rock. She felled
small oak, near by. of which she made
a strong lever. Using a piece of the
fallen oak for a bait, over which to
pry, she placed the lever and, with a
strenuous effort, pryed the rock from
It's place and 1t went crashing down
the mountain side Mat Dixon saw
this from place higher up the noun
tain.
HI, Bessl What are you doing?
What Is the matter, gal? Have you
done gone crazy?" he cried, as he
fastened to her, followed by Tom Saw
age
She did not heed them. Selling the
hoe, she furiously dug into the sides
of the cavity where the rock had stood
and soon unearthed q rusty canteen.
With an exultant cry, she seized 1t and
tore 1t Open Then. as though just
conscious of her fathers presence. she
cried:
See, pa Goldr'
Mat Dixon eagerly seized the can
teen, poured it's yellow contents upon
the ground and began counting the
money There were twelve hundred
and thirty eight dollars, and small
good watch, on the inner case of
which was engraved, Emily r. DIX
on" A card bearing the words
George Hedges, Thirty fourth Ohio"
was also found with the money.
Bess told her father about Arthur
Hedges and also the story of her love-
Then, producing the chart, she told
him the story that Hedges had told
her at Poll Wingate's cabin. How
found a considerable sum of money,
on a deserted plantation, near which
there had recently been a battle, how
he had carried the treasure about for
a long time, but had finally buried it
under the edge of rock on a certain
mountain in West Virginia, intending
to return for 1t at the close of the
war, having made a chart by which
he could find the place. How he had,
from time to time put off coming
after the gold and, at the time of his
death, had revealed the secret to his
son, who subsequently ventured into
the mountains to locate the buried
money by the aid Of the chart, how
this son had met her, and, reluctant
to leave her, he too had put off secur-
Ing the money and had been seized on
suspicion of being a raider.
Mat Dixon apparently took no heed
of his daughters words, but sat star
ing blankly at the yellow mass before
him. Finally he gathered it up.
Take this home" he said to the
Fetch that man to my house."
'Ye're not goin' ter let him go. are
ye?" asked Savage.
What is that to your" tiercely de-
manded Dixon. do as l say, and
Tom Savage knew him too well to dis
obey.
When Arthur Hedges reached Dix
on's house he was ushered into room
where Dixon was waiting to receive
him. Their conference was long, but
Arthur's eyes glowed when he came
out of that room.
well. madam, you have found your
money, at last Let me congratulate
you" he said to Emily.
And you, sir she replied, you
have
Il have found the dearest, sweetest
girl in all the world for Il wife, he
said throwing az arm around Bess.
Saved, sweetheart. saved by you" he
whispered. placing a kiss upon her
forehead.
And l." said Mat Dixon. ''have
found new purpose in life. No more
shilling for me. We will leave this
Wilderness. where | have been hunted
like beast. Somewhere in old Vir-
ginla we will build us home and be-
gin life anew. Waverley Magazine.
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King Finds the Bottle,