The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1905-10-21
CHARTER XIV.

inS If which did not comprehend until
anoiSeut put the solution into my hands
left Sidcote at eight, before the
,oarning freshness was quite gone from
.ho air, and followed the road which
loads to Widdicombe. After Heytree,
tbe road runs for the best part Of 3 raile
aver the open down where Mr.. Leighan
met his accident.
I soon had the whole of the great nat
ridge to myself as left Kings Tor and
walked briskly southwark. Halt way
along this upland plain there stands an
nnrght stone of gray granite, six feet
bipb, Beside it lies a small Fat stone;
Il Is called the Gray Wether. Who put
Il ND. and why it was put up, not the
oldest inhabitant can tell.
What happened was this. Between
the upright stone and the nat stone the
edges of the latter being irregular, there
d. at a certain place, an aperture or re-
cess.
l carried with me q stick, on which
was leaning. Now, by this kind of
chance which we call accident, In chang
Ing nv position 1 stuck the point of the
stick into the aperture thing Of which
one would have been hardly conscious
Int for an unmistakable clicking which
followed, as of coins. The opening, I
found was too small for mans hand.
The fiat stone was immovable. Perhaps
with the stick 1 could at least feel the
coins? Yes, / made them rattle.
Now, when l took out the stick again
q bit of yellow leather showed for & mo-
ment lust hooked up by the ferule as
far as the light penetrated. The sight
of the leather inspired me with faint
hope. l reversed the stick and hghed
with the handle, to such good purpose
that in a very few moments had the
leather thong in my fingers and hauled
It out.
The thong tied up the mouth of a
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, d 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 1t up
again, and put 1t into my own pocket.
Then walked on, meditAting.
While 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 / 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 IL 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 a big blue bag. I 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 a 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. I 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 a profound se-
eret.
David was 80 anxious to keep the Sc
cret that he actually teok Of his jacket
wrapped 1t round the bag, and tied it re-
curely with string. Then, without look.
ing about him any more. he turned and
walked back slowly and deliberately az
no 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, l got up and sought the hiding
place. 1t really was place into which
nobody would think Of looking for any
thlng. The top stone sloped downward
over the mouth, 30 an almost to hide It
IN this cluster of four great stones nc
one would have dreamed Of finding oil
OF looking for anything. David's hiding
place was well chosen.
Then | followed, walking slowly, &C
mat l might not catch him up on his
way home with his tin box full Of queer
1hlnSs from the Southern Seas, l sup
posed.
In the evening 1 told George all thai
mad happened, and produced the brown
canvas bag. George took the bag, looked
at It, opened it, poured out the gold
counted 1t, held 1t in his hand and weigh
ca 1t; looked at it again, put 1t into thu
Dag, and laid the bag on the table.
1T is weather-stained, old man." h
said, and smells of the mold. I should
mink 1t had been there some time" HI
S0ok 1t up again and turned it round
Look!" he said, "here are initials; the!
are nearly faded, but they are certainly
INITIALS. l make out an A--no, q B; Of
D?-aRd an L. Certainly an L
. L. or D. L., which Is it9'
=, Looks to me-" said, turning the bal
noout in the light, "looks like B. A; bu
1t may be D. L."
WILL" he cried, 81 believe you hav,
really found something important. 81,
years ago, when Daniel Leighan fell of
ms pony, he always declared that he los
twenty pounds in gold. 1t was tied up
NC Always says, in canvas bag. Thi
must must be his bag and these must be hi
Initials. l am quite sure of it."
Very odd, If it is-so. Why should I
a. nian steal bag Of money only to pu
.S--money and all-into a hole and thel
~ away and leave 1t n
Well, take 1t that the thief put tn
oas there meaning to return for 1t, blu
1"tgot where he put 1T"
4Ou can't fargnt $ba Hrau Wpfha