Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-07-21
CHAPTER XIV,

accident put the solution into my hands.
l left Sidcote al eight, before the
morning freshness was quite gone from
the air, and followed the road which
leads to Widdicombe. After Heytree,
the road runs for the best part of a mile
over the open down where Mr.. Leighan
met his accident.
| soon had the whole of the great fat
ridge to myself as l 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 it lies a small fat stone;
it is called the Gray Wether. Who put
it up, and why it was put up, not the
oldest nhabitant can tell.
What happened was this. Between
the upright stone and the fat stone the
edges of the latter being Irregular there
is, at a certain place, an aperture or re-
cess.
l carried with me stick, on which l
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-a thing of which
one would have been hardly conscious
but for an unmistakable clicking which
followed, as of coins. The opening, |
found, was too small for mans hand.
The flat stone was immovable. Perhaps
with the stick | could at least feel the
coins? Yes, made them rattle.
Now, when | took out the stick again
a 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. l reversed the stick and fshed
with the handle, to such good purpose
that in 4 very few moments | had the
leather thong in my fingers and hauled
it ont.
The thong tied up the mouth Of a
small brown canvas bag. The bag was
4 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 Hamil Down in order to hide
twenty pounds in a little hole like this ?
| put the gold into the bag, tied it up
again, and put it into my own pocket.
Then | walked on, meditating.
While l was thinking, figure which
| 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 l had my
self picked among the powders. He
came plodding along with the heavy step
and rolling shoulders of one who walks
much over ploughed fields and heavy
land.
He stopped finally. Then he looked
around him quickly, as if to assure him
self that no one was present to observe
him; | wonder he did not see me. Then
he stopped down, reached within some
cavity and drew out something.
1t was in big blue bag. l 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
a single box. 1t was Il box about two
feet long and eighteen inches wide, and
two or three inches deep. 1t was a tin
box. What had David got in his box,
for the man was David. | might have
walked down the hill and asked him that
question, but one was naturally some
what ashamed to confess to looking on at
what was intended for q profound Sc
cret.
David was 50 anxious to keep the Sc
crct that he actually took off his jacket
wrapped it round the bag, and tied it Sc
curely with string. Then, without look
ing about him any more, he turned and
walked back slowly and deliberately as
he had come, carrying the treasure under
his arm. As soon as his figure had sur
mounted the brow Of the hill and had dis
appeared, | got up and sought the hiding
place. 1t really was place into which
nobody would think of looking for any
thing. The top stone sloped downward
over the mouth, so as almost to hide it.
In this cluster of four great stones no
one would have dreamed of finding or
of looking for anything. David'S hiding
place was well chosen.
Then l followed, walking slowly, 50
that l might not catch him up on his
way home with his tin box full of queer
things from the Southern Seas, | sup
posed.
In the evening l told George all that
had happened, and produced the brown
canvas bag. George took the bag looked
at it. opened it, poured out the gold
counted it, held it in his hand and weigh.
cd il; looked at it again put it into the
bag, and laid the bag on the table
1T is weather-staincd. old man" ne
said, and smells Of the mold. l should
think it had been there some time" He
took it up again and turned it round
Look he said, here are initials; they
are nearly faded, but they are certainly
initials. | make out an A-no, Il B; OF
is ii D?-and an L. Certainly an l.
B. L. or ID. L.. which is it?"
Looks to me- said, turning the bae
about in the light, looks like 3. A.; bui
it may be d. L.
VIII he cried. Il believe you have
really found something important. Sin
years ago, when Daniel Leighan fell of
his pony, he always declared that he lost
twenty pounds in gold. 1t was tied up
he always says, in Il canvas bag. This
must be his bag and these must be his
initials. l am quito sure Of it."
Very odd, if it is so. Why should Z
man steal a bag Of money only to put
it-money and all-into a hole ana ther
go away and leave it?"
well, | take it that the thief put tbs
bag there meaning to return for it. bu
forgot where he put it."
You can't forget the Gray Wethcl
Stone, George. There is only one Gray
Wether Stone on Hamil Down, and VIII,
in the world would go all up Hami OF
purpose to hide a bag of money whe1
there are hiding places in every ston,
wall about the tields?'
Take it to Daniel tomorrow anC
show it to him, VIII. He always de
clares that he was robbed of this money
as we'll as of his bonds and securities
Nobody has ever believed him, because i
seems unreasonable that robber SHOULD
take twenty pounds and leave fifty. Blu
Il L