Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-06-20


ly was the hiding spot OF the strange
trspperl
Can't see why / missed It afore."
Ola Cy mrttered. kneeling that he
might better look within. and smiling
At the peculiar odor. Wonder II the
cuss Is dead ia thar, or what smells
sol"
Then be arose and grasped the slab
OF slate. One slight pull and # fen
aside.
"A nat'ral door, by hokey!" ex-
claimed Old Cy, and once more he
knelt and looked IN.
The bravest man will hesitate a mo-
ment before entering such a cavern,
prefaced, so 70 speak, by two aban-
doned canoes, a rusty rife, human
head covering, each and all bespeal-
Ing something tragic. and Old Cy was
no exception. That he had come upon
some grewsome mystery was apparent
Canoes were not left to rot in the will
derness or rifles dropped without
cause.
And then. that hati
Surely here, OF hereabouts. had
been enacted a drama OF murderous
nature, and inside this cavern might
repose its bloOd-stained sequel
But the altering beams OF light en-
couraged Old Cy. and he entered No
CHASTITY corpse confronted him, but In
stead human. II cramped. abode. A
fireplace deity fashioned OF slate oc-
cupied one side Of this cave: in front
a low table Of the same fat stone. rest
Ing upon small ones; and upon the
table were rusty tin dishes. a few
mouldy bareback. a knife. fork, and
scraps OF meat eXhaling the odor OF
decay. smell OF smoke from the
chsrred wood in the fireplace mingled
with It all In one corner was bed
OF brown ar twigs, also mouldy. a
blanket. and tanned deerskins.
The cave was OF oval, irregular
shape, barely high enough for Old Cy
20 stand upright Across SIS roof. on
either side OF the rude chimney. a mar
row crack admitted light and as he
looked about, he saw In the dim light
another doorlike opening into stiil an
other cave Into this he peered. but
could see nothing.
"A queer Twin spot he muttered
at last, "a regular human panther den.
An twas out o this seen the smoke
come An here's his gun" he added.
as, more accustomed 20 the dim light.
he saw one IN a corner. Two guRs.
two canoes, an nobody 20 hum" he
continued I'm safe, anyhow. But
I've got to peek into that other cave,
sartin sure" and he withdrew 70 the
open air.
A visit 20 a couple OF birches soon
provided means Of light. and he again
entered the cave. One moment more.
and then Earring torch OF bark was
thrust into the inner cave. mere Gre
vase not four feet wide. and STOPPING
as be now had 20. Old Cy entered and
knelt while he looked about.
He saw nothing here OF interest ex-
cept the serried rows OF jutting slate
across two OF which lay a slab OF the
same-no vestige Of auEht human. and
Old Cy was about TO retreat when his
flare burning close 20 his finger tips
uunoticed. caused him 20 drop Il on
the instant. and drawing another from
HIS pocket he ~ IL while the flame
lasted in the first one.
IL IS said that great discoveries are
almost Invariably made by some tri-
ling accident gold mine found by
stumbling over a stone. a valley pro-
life OF diamonds disclosed by digging
for water
ln this case 10 was true. for as old
Cy bent 90 light his second torch ere
be- withdrew from the inner cave. a
flash OF reflected light came from be-
meath This slab-only for one second.
but enough TO attract his attention.
He stopped again and lifted the slab.
Six large tin cans had been hidden by
IT, He grasped one and could scarce
lift H. Again his fingers closed over
IT, He crawled backward TO the bet
ter-lighted cave and drew the cover
on the can with eager motion. and
poured a heap OF shining. glittering
coin out upon that food-littered table.
Into that dark hole he dived again.
as a starved dog leaps for food. seized
the cans. two at time. almost tum-
bled back and emptied them. Four
had been filled with gold coin and two
stuffed with paper money
Folded with these bills OF all de-
nominations from one 10 fifty dollars
was a legal paper yellowed by age.
with a red seal still glowing Ike a
spot OF blood.
Il was an innholder's license. au-
thorizing one Thomas Mcclure to fur
nish food. shelter. and entertainment
for man and beast.
With eyes almost tear-dimmed and
heart thrObbins IL having found poor
Chips splendid heritage. Old Cy now
gazed at IL.
The sharp stones upon which he
melt nearly pierced his flesh. but ne
felt them not.
The CLINT OF sunlight from the crack
above caressed his scant gray hairs
and white ringing beard. forming al
most halo. yet ne knew IL not
He only knew that here. before him.
on this rude stone table. lay thousands
Of dollars, all belonging TO the child
he loved
Thank God little gal f." he said AZ