Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-05-18
See what


Vincent, handing the idol to Mr..
Pence.
What a singularly ugly thing, u
remarked the, capitalist as he han
died it gingerly. It's awful heavy,
What's it made of ?''
Vincent pulled himself out of the
hole and brushed the mold from his
clothes. Mr.. Pence looked intentIv
at the image. He .'hefted'' it Judi
ciously 1t was of a rusty brown
color, but smooth and well pre-
served.
Remarkably heavy!' said Mr..
Pence. His eyes glittered and he
was much excited.
Let me take your knife he said.
Vincent produced knife and opened
the big blade. Mr.. Pence dug into
the fiat nose of the idol He gave
the knife circular motionl and on
the end of the blade lay a shining
yellow chip
Gold!" he shouted. Gold! Solid
sold! Solid gold, and it weighs more
than ten ponnds!''
The face of the millionaire was a
study. For moment it shone with
the splendor of the gold shaving
which rested in the palm of his hand
At that instant he was oblivious to
his surroundings. He tlenched the
image tightly and regarded it with
rapt expression such as a mother
1avishes on her babe. Suddenly his
attitude changed. He recovered him
self with a start. His face darkened.
He glared at Vincent and drew back
from him as in aversion.
'Where did you find this?'' he al
most shrieked in voice harsh and
trembling with excitement
Back in there said Vincent, way
ing his hand away from the mouth
of the cavern There's lots of them
back there
Take me there! Take me there."
He dropped his voice almost to a
whisper. He glanced around as if
expecting some one might see or
hear him.
They belong to u.s. he said, lay
ing his hand affectionately on Vim
cents shoulder. ''To us; do you I'M
derstand. to us. We found them
you and I. They are ours, Vincent,
all ours. We will divide them be-
tween us two-just you and I. Help
me down there. Let me see them
Are you sure there is lot of them
Perhaps they are not like this one.
Bigger. did you say? Which way is
it? How awful dark it is, Take
hold of my hand!"
Before the magic of the touch of
gold the natural cowardice of the ell
derby millionaire disappeared. Twice
he fell and bruised his hands. but
he did not care. They came to
the vault. Vincent went in first
and lit match. Mr.. Pence gave an
exclamation of delight. He rushed
to one of the images. lifted it, ran
his fingers lovingly over the sur
face and laughed with joy. The
match burned out and the room was
dark as midnight.
Light another. quick!" shouted
Simon Pence. "rn tell you what you
do" he exclaimed, as the match
hghtened up the gloom II will
stand outside and you hand them to
me, and | will carry them where we
! can see them
Vincent did as he was told. He
started at one end of the shelf and
felt his way around, and handed the
/ images to the outstretched hands
of Mr.. Pence, who carried them
along the corridor and placed them
i'll a corner of the outer room. 1t
took an hour or more to do this
at the end of which timeVincent de-
clared that all figures were re.
moved. Mr.. Pence began testing
the images. As he dug into each
idol and found it gold his joy knew
no bounds. Vincent also was de.
| lighted. He owned a half interest
in more property than he ever had
hoped to obtain, unless by chance
some of his cherished plans should
find a 6nancier. Both forgot the
fight of time. They counted the
idols and images and found there
] were 63. They then attempted t.