Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1904-07-01

property more than the owner But
however hard IL may have been at one
time to distinguish where the main at.
traction lay, Zenas' love had now
grown so that he would gladly have
married Elvirah had the ten thousand
dollars been buried in his own cellar
instead Of hers. If after the manner
of her race she was disposed to frugal
ity yet she was thoroughly good.
As she stood smiling on the flag
stone, looking around at the well filled
cellar. her appearance was SO plump
and comely that the heart of Zenas
quickened. And her pretty feet-and
right beneath them He heaved the
box of cranberries he had just brought
In on the pile.
"Elyirah." he exclaimed ardently
will you have me?"
NO. / won't" she snapped. She had
just computed that the berries before
her at twelve dollars per barrel would
be six hundred and eighty-four dol
lars, and ii flashed into her mind that
Zenas had made the same calculation
Just prior to his sudden proposal But
TO be just Zenas had had no thought
Of berries His glance may have drop
ped momentarily TO her feet, but that
was involuntary.
Il could improve the place lot"
ne said, wiping his forehead. There
Is plenty room for another bog"
Yes, Mungusson can make that for
dollar a day. No. thank you, Zenas,
like you pretty well, but 'twon't
pay"
She picked up her skirts and ascend
ed the stairs sighing-because he was
not owner of dozen shares in the
Old Colony.
Her refusal and then his discharge
because the work of harvesting was
all done made him resolve on d more
violent course the end of which he
could not foresee, but some OF the
reoklessness of his Californian life had
returned to him. Elvirah's house was
comparatively large two-story build
ing and during the summer she occu-
pied an upstairs chamber A mild fall
postponed her removal to the first floor
later than usual. One night she was
awakened by a dream or n sound. she
knew not which. But she was thor
oughly awake and presently her acute
I hearing detected a sound from below.
She could neither locate u nor account
for It, but third click" sent her
downstairs to investigate the back
door fastenings. The old decrescent
moon gave gimmer of light She
found the doors properly secured and
was about to return when she heard a
slight noise In the cellar. She glanced
toward the low door; the small pane
therein was family luminous.
Elvirah was not at all timid, but the
light startled her. She crossed over
cautiously and peered into the pane of
glass. Then she was almost surprised
into a shrek A dim lantern revealed
Zenas lifting the fagstone into place.
On the lower step were six bags about
the size of a pearmaine apple. One
was open and its contents glistened
yellow. Gold! Her knees weakened
and her tongue seemed to swell and
gag her, but her eyes acquired new
powers of vision.
Zenas secured the open bag, placed
them all In grain sack, and departed
Herewith by the hatch, which he
closed very carefully. She watched
him from the shelter of the geraniums
in the kitchen window until he dis
appeared in the shadow of the barn.
1t came upon her suddenly-there had
been a treasure buried in her cellar,
and her friends and lover had discov-
cred and stolen 1t. All the sly and
self-satisfied remarks of her father con-
corning his wealth were now made
clear tie would show her something
when he got back" But he never
came. This was what his dstrust of
banker and daughter had done for
him. A thief had stolen the gold from
under her very eyes. But she could
rouse the neighbors and apprehend
him. She tore upstairs and began to
dress hastily. But what then? Would
she be happy? She paused with her
skirt over her head then threw 1t upon
a chair and went to bed again.
In the morning she arose with red
eyes. She stayed indoors without a
glance at the morning train as 1t thun-
dered by TO Boston. Zenas was aboard,
gone from her again. this time with
both her wealth and affection At II
she went to the postoffice for the mail,
and ran plump into Zenas She start
ed visibly and read confusion in his
face.
Dreadful glad to see you, Zenas;
thought you'd gone to Boston" They
were walking under the tall, bare elms.
Il want you TO fix new hinge on the
cellar hatch"
Zenas paled a little.
"Gone to Bostonl Why. 'virah?"
Il was afraid you had. Zenas," she