Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-06-10

OF the sixth cargo was SO remarkable
when brought out into the sunlight
that it invited closer inspection.
Though his knowledge OF geology was
slight. he was forced to believe that
the specimens he handled SO dubious,y
contained neither copper nor iron
pyrites, but glittering yellow gold
Their weight. the distribution Of the
metal through quartz in a transition
state between an oxide and a telluride.
compelled recognition.
Somewhat excited. yet half skeptical.
he returned 10 the excavation and
This time there could be 20 mistake.
Natures own alchemy had fashioned
a veritable ingot There were small
Jumps in the ore which would only
need alloy at the mint before they
could be issued as sovereigus. SO free
from dross were they.
Iris had gone TO Venus bath and
would be absent for some time. jerks
sat down on a tree stump. He held in
his hand small bit OF ore worth per-
haps f20- Slowly the conje,tures al
ready pieced together in his mind dur
ing early days on the island came
back to him.
The skeleton OF an Englishman ~
ing there among the bushes near the
well, the Golgotha Of the poison filed
hollow, the mining tools, both Chinese
and European; the plan on the piece
OF tin-ah. the piece OF tin Mechan.
ically the sailor produced it from the
breast pocket OF his Jersey. At last
the mysterious sign - divided by 1"
revealed its significance. Measure thir-
ty-two feet from the mouth Of the tun-
mel. dig one foot in depth. and YOU
came upon the mother lode Of this gold
bearing rock. This, then. was the Sc
cret OF the cave.
The Chinese knew the richness of the
deposit and exploited its treasures by
Quarryng from the outer side OF the
hill. But their Grass ignorance OF mod
ern science led to their undoing. The
accumulation OF liberated carbonic acid
gas in the workings killed them I'm
scores. They probably fought this I'M
seen demon with the tenacity of their
race until the place became accursed
had they dug little ditch and per
mitted the invisible terror To flow quiet
ly downward until its potency was dis
sipated by sea and air they might
have mined the whole clin with i'm
punity.
The unfortunate unknown, J. She
OF the whitencd bOneS-might have
done this thing too. But he only Dos
sessed tie half knowledge of the work
ing miner and while stunning the
plague stricken quarry adopted the
more lahorious method OF making an
adit 10 strike the deposit lie succeed
ed 20 perish miSerubly ia the hour
when lac saw himself a millionaire.
Was this portent of the fate about
10 overtake the latest comersr jerks.
OF course. stood up He always stood
square ON his feet when the volcano
within him fired his blood.
No he almost shouted. Il will
break the spell. am sent here bv
Providence. not Co search fer gold. but
TO save a woman's life. and il all the
devils of China and Malay are In league
against me | will beat them!
The sound OF his own voice startled
him. What was all the fuss aboutY
With barrow load of gold ne could
not 'uy an inStant's safety for Iris.
not 20 mention himself The language
difficulty was insuperable. Were il
otherwise the Dyaks would simply
humbug him until he revealed the
source OF his wealth, and then murder
MN as an effective safeguard against
foreign Interference
IRIS. Not once since she was hurled
ashore in his arms had jerks so long
forgotten her existence. Should he tell
here They were partners in everything
20 the island. Why keen
this marvellous intelligence from her?
Yet was he tempted, not ignobly.
but by reason Of his love for her.
once years ago. when his ar,iuous pro-
fesSional studies were distracted bv
momentary infatuation for q fair
race a woman had proved tickle when
tempted by greater wealth than he
possessed For long he was a con-
hrmed misogynist. 70 his great and
lasting gain as n leader Of men. Rut
with more equable judgment came n
nxed resolution not 10 marry unless
his prospective bride cared only for
him and not for his position. To a
stan corps officer, even one with n
small private income. this was no
lnattainable ideal. Then he met with
he shame and agony Of the court mar |
lal- While his soul still quIvered |
lnder the lash OF that terrible down
All Iris came into his life. He knew /
lot what might happen il they were
'escued. The time would quickly pass /
Until the old order was resumed. she
o go back 10 her position in society.
lie 10 become again disgraced ex-
'fhcer. apparently working out a mere
xistence before the mast or handing
'lates in a saloon.
Would il not be sweet defiance OF
diversity were he able, even under
uch conditions, TO win her love and |
hen disclose TO her the potentialities
Z the island? Perchance he might
all. Though rich as Croesus. he would
I'LL be under the social ban melted ont
cashiered officer She was II girl
mo could command the gift OF coro- |
cts With Transformation, 90 ~ 49,. Il