The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-11-11
CHAPTER XIV.

nay wv AuAA lASAA-
ing Of which did not comprehend until
accident put the solution into my hands,
| left Sideote at eight. before the
morning freshness was quite gone from
the air, and followed the road which
leads to widdicOmbe. After Heytree,
the read runs for the best part of a mile
over the open down where Mr.. Leighau
met his accident.
l aeon had the whole Of the great fat
ridge TO myself as left Kings Tor and
walked briskly southwark. Half way
along this upland plain there stands an
upright stone Of gray granite, six feet
high. Beside il lies a small dat stone;
II is called the Gray Wether. Who put
1t up, and why it was put up, not the
oldest inhabitant can tell.
What happened was this. Between
the upright stone and the Tat stone the
edges Of the latter being irregular. there
is, at certain place, an aperture or re
cess.
carried with me a stick, on which
was leaning. Now, BY this kind OF
chance which we call accident. in chang
ing my position l stuck the point Of the
stick into the aperture thing of which
one would have been hardly conscious
but for an unmistakabls clicking which
followed. as Of coins. The opening.
found. was too small for a mans hand.
The fat stone was immovable. Perhaps
with the stick could at least feel the
coins? Yes. made them rattle.
Now. when l took out the stick again
= bit Of yellow leather showed for a mo-
ment just hooked up by the ferule as
far as the light penetrated. The sight
Of the leather inspired me with a faint
hope. reversed the stick and 6shed
with the handle, to such good purpose
that in a very few moments / had the
leather thong in my fingers and hauled
1t out
The thong tied up the mouth Of
small brown canvas bag. The bag was
a modern bank bag, and its treasure was
a collection Of twenty coins.
Twenty sovereigns in a bag. a modern
brown canvas bag. Who could have
climbed up Hamu Down in order to hide
twenty pounds in little hole ike this
pnt the gold into the bag. tied it up
again, and put it into my own pocket.
Then | walked on, meditating.
While | was thinking. a figure, which
l began dimly TO perceive through the
nebulous veil Of thought, was working
his way slowly down the hillside opposite
by nearly the same way as | had my
self picked among the powders, He
came Flooding along with the heavy step
and rolling shoulders Of one who walks
much over pioughed fields and heavy
land.
he stopped finally Then he looked
around him quickly. as If to assure him
self that no one vas present to observe
him; wonder be did not see me. Then
he stopped down. reached within some
cavity and drew out something.
Il was in a big blue bag. | could
plainly see that the blue bag. like my
canvas bag. was weather-stained He
laid the bag upon a stone, and proceeded
to draw out its contents. consisting OF
q single boz. IL was a box about two
feet long and eighteen inches wide, and
two or three inches deep. II was a tin
box What had David got in ais box
for the man was David. l might have
walked down the hill and asked him that
question. but one was naturally some
what ashamed 70 confess to looking On al
what was intended for a profound Sc
cret.
David was 50 anxious 10 keep the So
cret that he actually took of his Jacket.
wrapped II round the bag and tied it se-
curely with string. Then, without look
Ing about him any more, he turned and
walked back slowly and deliberately A.
he had come. carrying the treasure aader
his arm. As soon as his figure had sur
mounted the brow Of the hill and had dix
appeared, got Up and sought the hiding
place. Il really was a place into which
r4.1tIlv grauHA 3 f...I-E~.r.
thing. The top stone si5ped downward
over the mouth. 80 as almost 20 hide H.
In this cluster # four great stones no
one would have dreamed # finding Or
Of looking for anything Dagid's hiding
place was well chosen.
Then | followed, walking slowly. 40
that | might not catch him I'D on his
way home with his tin box full u queer
things from the Southern Seas. sup
posed.
In the evening | told George an thar
had happened, and produced the brown
canvas bag. George took the bag looked
at il. opened it. poured out the gold.
counted II, held it in his hand and weigh
ed IT, looked at it again, put it into the
bag, and laid the bag on the table
1T Is weather-staiued. old man." he
saul anu HAiel4S u EtE nDiQ. l should
think ii had been there some time" He
took il up again and turned il round.
'Look!' he said. here are initials. they
are nearly faded. but they are certainly
initials. / make out an A-no. a b; Or
ls Il Df-and an L. Certainly an l..
B. l. or d. L. which ia itT'
Looks TO me-" | said, turning the bag
about In the light. looks like 3. A; but
{ may be ID. L.
WILL" he cried. II believe you hsv.
really found something important. Six
years ago, when Daniel LelEhan fell of
his pony, he always declared that he lost
twenty pounds In gold. II vas tied up.
be always says, in a canvas bag. This
must be his bag and these must be his
initials. am quite sure Of tt
Very odd. II 1t IL 50. Why should q
man steal a bag Of money only to put
t-money and all-into q hole and then
80 away and leave itr'
''well. l take It that the thief put the