The Forrest City times., 1905-11-03
HOW CY EATON MADE HIS PILE
By ARTHUR L. MESERVE

\ PARTY of friends were sitting A around the hospitable board of our mutual friend. Cy. Eaton, partaking of the generous fare when one of them ex claimed, bringing his hand down with such force upon the table as to cause the glasses to jump about:
 How was il that you made your for tune so quick. Cy.9 If I thought stood a ghost of a chance, would be off to- morrow.
 All of Us gazed tip into the face Of our host as our friend said this and almost held our breath. as we waited for his an sWer.
 We knew that he had gone to Cali fornia poor man, and that in less than two years he hsd returned with an abundant store of the yellow dust. How he had obtained 50 much in 50 short time, none of us had ever learned.
 Perhaps you would not care 10 go through so much as have. even to make your pile" said our host, quietly.
 T will go through anything, was the answer. Nothing short of death should stop me
 "B.t l endured that In fact, was dead and buried!a
 Dead and buried?9 we all repeated, in breath
 Yes"
 How could that be9o' we said again Our host threw open his shirt front. and upon his breast We saw the hvid marks of a knife.
 The scar was just above his heart, and 1t seemed wonder how he could have received it, and still be alive to tell us the story
 We expressed our surprise both by looks and words
 You want to know how il was that ] made my pile so quick. Well, it ism; often that tell the ,--ory, but will do so tonight 10 please you. You have seen the scar left by the wound which sent me 10 my grave; for, boys. I was buried once as surely as We all expect to be.
 You all know that when went to California I was as poor as a church mouse. I had all that could do to pro- cure my outfit and get the money with which to pay my passage But man. aged to get there at last and for time. i even then. il did seem as though was ] doomed 10 bad luck. Everything tried l failed to prosper with me, and at last l went 10 the mines. There for time my luck was little, if any. better. My claim proved to be worthless, and after | nIo with Bill Harris and Seth Grant set off on q tour of exploration among the mountains. knew that people had made grand strike in discovering new plaeers, and l told the boys that l did not see why it might not be our luck 10 do the same. They were of the same mind. and for couple of weeks We toiled aud hunted among the noun tains. but all to no purpose Our provi- sions by this time were running shOrt and in little time l knew that We should be obliged to return to the settlement
 One day We set out upon our explora- tion as usual Toward noon we became separated, and l found myself alone among the rocks that oyerhung a deep
 
 a wild mountain stream It was nOth- ing new for Us 10 separate in this way. but We had an understanding that we were to meet al nightfall at a stated point ahead.
 For couple of hours Itoiled onward. using my pick here and there. wherever thought there might be a chance to find the yellow dust
 Tired al last with my tramp. threw myself down in the shadow of a rock not far from the edge of the canyon. Stretched out at full length upon the earth. lay musing upon the hard luck that had followed me thither. Like the old man of the sea that cluuu 10 the shoulders of Sinbad. could not throw Il off.
 Lying there full of these thoughts. my eyes wandered about the spot. and noticed q little way off. q sort of fun- nel-shaped hole fl the rock. II did not inserest he very much, for had seen many such in that section Why speak cf il here you will soen know.
 Tired Nith my day tramp. al last feil into that dreWsy condition which IS half sleep and half awake From it was startled by the sound of footsteps close beside me Opening my eyes, I saw. starding beside me. three as vil- lainous-ioohng MeXicans as ever be- held
 T knee E Yinute il was no slight