The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-25

Aaron Anything agin the young fell
ler2''
HES straight enough. Aaron. but
I've got a better for my gal Talk to
YOU when I come back-Thich bend did
they shoot?"
Strikes me, ST Robbins" said Aaron.
slowly and impressively, you and your
wife ran of and I know skedaddled
with minel If I had gal like yours
that would ride the best part Of loo
miles through such a hole as this for
Teller she loved, darn mel I'd give her
to him with my blessing, and throw
rafting good outfit in with her-ff
had itt''
You always were a blamed fool.
Aaronl" returned his old-tfme friend
which way did them kids go?''
Turned around therei" said Aaron,
deliberately pointing to where the
guIch forked, half a mile beyond, and
up the rightt'
without a word of thanks, the two
men jumped upon their horses, and
with cut OF the whip were off
When you catch them said Aaron,
in a soft whisper to himself, come
back and tell mel Then he called;
Here, kids. come out Of therel''
For answer the girl came running to
him
"A lead pot, some matches and some
soda-have you got them?" she cried.
excitedly. ~Yes2'' as Aaron nodded as
sent Bring them quick Jack has
found something
Startled and infected by her excite
ment. and trembling with a vague hope
that leaped up into his throat and Al
most choled him, Aaron rushed into
his hut and came out with the required
articles, followed by his devoted and
mystiied wife. They hurried down into
the pit to ind Jack Mason had scoop
ed out a hole of some size and had
piled up by IL what looked like a small
mound Of white. translucent sand
What's the matter. boy. what's the
natter" gasped Aaron, quivering from
head to foot.
The boy, snatched the things out of
his hands.
7 don't know" he said with sup
pressed nervousness DO you know
what this stuff is?'' He threw a handful
OF the sand into the leaden pot. where
it glistened like crystals. It's ike
what they found in Nevada, when I
was there-and it's made them richi''
'.Rich?" gasped Aaron
Jack, paying no attention to him.
stirred the soda into the sand, and ad-
ded a few drops of q liquid from a
small bottle he took from his pocket
Light a match" he cried, and in
patiently snatched the box from
Aaron's hands. Watch. If it burns
green it's a fortunel"
He applied the lame to the mixture,
they stood watching it in speeches. ex-
peetancy and could almost hear each
others hearts beating Rather they
thumped.
The match fiickered and went out.
The boy uttered a cry Of disappofnt-
ment, struck half a dozen at once, and
held the light down into the pot. A
Whit of smoke. almost -imperceptible.
went up into the air; the substance
was catching fire. How would it burn2
Aaron felt himself grow sick Sudden
", the experimenter jumped up with q.
wild shout and"
Green! She burns green. Rosiei"
cried Aaron hoarseIy. What is it ?"
It's boraxt" shouted Jack. It's a
forttinei"
Aaron flung his arms around his
stunned wife in q deIirium-
Been here all the time, RosieI" he
cried. and we never knew It'll Were
rich. Rosie; we're rich. thanks to God
and the boyl"
Il thought so when I came into this
hole and saw the crystals said Jack
calmly, but with note Of triumph in
his voice. Now marry us,'
Marry yOui" cried Aaron. giving
him wild hug, and shouting hysteric-
ally. This find is yours as well as ours!
Stand right UP here, you two Darn 81
RObbinsI He won't kick at you for be-
ing poor nowI Cupid's beat hint
Henry Waldorf Francis. in the Valley
Weekly