Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1904-07-01
ELWRAH'S TREASURE
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IN rJ II ~ koou puiHht' pNhc ~ Wv '''i
WIS one hundred and twenty
seven days on the voyage be-
tween San Francisco and Boston. Cap
tain Starbuck was much pleased with
the readings of his log. but to Ienas
Handy In the forecastle, the trip had
seemed an lntermlnabe one. 1t had
seemed so until Hatteras was sighted.
Then the watches fairly flew, whether
the wind blew fair or foul. Then his
mind perceived the urgent necessity of
furnishing some plausible reason for
his return after twenty years of al
most silent absence. or course, there
was the conventional and sentimental
one OF seeing the old place again."
but in his ease 1t seemed hardly sufii-
cient
Had his return been actually whlm-
steal, he might have been less embar-
raised for an excuse. But dominated
as he was by motive, powerful
enough to send him home before the
mast, which motive must remain his
absolute secret, at least Tor some time
to come, he felt that II would not do
to be ambiguous or mysterious. He
had nothing to brag about, nothing to
show for those many years of toll and
adventure. Nothing but scrap of
yarn overheard in the wild remoteness
Of Big Bluff Canon in the Duckwater
Range.
How wildly the scene returned to
him. The rude shanty with its rough
bar and table or two, the half-score
Of rougher men, miners now but likely
enough for any job promising money.
from poker to piracy. A wiry, gray
bearded man was speaking
Yes" he said. Just over yonder by
the big boulder where that quiet pool
10. 'Zeke Fuller cleared up twenty
thousand In three weeks, and then lit
out lively for Cape Cod and by jinks.
twelvemonth later | met him III
Frisco with fine brig he was part
owner of. l wasn't worth an ounce.
but he set 'em up several times and
lent me hundred for old tines sake.
Said he had t'other half the swag bur
led in his cellar to home. Queer cove,
Zeke Fuller. Lowed as he'd never
trust no bank"
Zenas had nearly dropped his glass
at the story. Captain Fuller had gone
down in his new brig the Two Mug
gets" Off Turks Island, on his way
back to New Bedford that first and
only voyage of his beautiful vessel.
Sarah had written him about 1t many
years ago, but never a word had come
to him of the finding of the buried
gold, and his sister would surely have
reported that TO him, seeing that he
had broken off a much approved match
with Elvirah Fuller and run off to the
Golden State; on the foolheudedness of
both steps she had never omitted TO
tax him in her few letters. He was
returning for the sake of Elvirah-and
the treasure What he meant to do
he could not decide. his brain was ton
~ turvy between marriage and rob
berry. Hence the Belle Brewster fair
ly burnt the wind as she flew along
homeward
Twenty years would make soma
change in Wingtuit. but not much The
Gins would be larger, the houses gray.
or. but the folks he had known would
be the same. a matter of score Of
years would only show on the babies.
Uncle Josh. at so. would look about
the same as he did at 80, wrinkle or
two more and a SIMMER Sunday coat
He would meet him before he could
reach his sisters.
Wall, | declare. It's Zenas! Been
gone long time, but yer look bout
the same. Come back after 'Virey,
hay? Hai Ha, Made some money,
Ell? No? Wall, sorry. boy, but better
not tackle 'virey. No. no." and so
forth.
And Aunt Mercy would be as bad.
only worse TO escape. She would in
sist on his going to meeting. and re-
peat texts that she thought applicable
TO his forward condition. For even his
reputation was rs poor rs his purse,
It least In their eyes: but oh. how ten
thousand dollars would improve il, He
had TO smile while the Belle Brewster
was careening past Highland Light,
and his plan of action was deferred TO
the occasion and his ready wit
why, It's Zenas" exclaimed his sis
ter. as she opened the door at his loud
knock. For the lands sakel where
d'you come from? Just In time for
supper"
Sarah was always undemonstrative
The remains of the evening meal were
on the table. She hustled about, get
ting something ready for him to eat.
Her husband came IN. and she intro
duced him to Zenaa