The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-08

children ran to the window. The woman started to rise.
 Sign first' insisted the caller. "Oh mamma! Here comes papas wagon into the yard!' At this Mrs. Lethcoe jumped up in spite of her visitors urgency and ran out. On the front seat was Bud, the young man who had been Daves partner. He was driving a pair of sorry-looking oxen hardly recognizable as the fast, trim crea- lures who had left the farm three years before
 He's back in the wagon, Mrs. Leth- coe," said Bud kindly; don't be scared he's all right"
 Mrs Lethcoe and the children hurried ly climbed into the wagon. Dave was lying on a pallet gazing vacantly up al the storm battered cover. He was very thin and pale, but shadow of the strong man who had gone west for dream treasure Nellie and the children kissed and embraced him, but he still seemed as if wandering in the darkness. With the sturdy assistance of Bud they got him out and supported him to the house. An easy chair was placed for him. and the family gathered about with kindly at tention The man who was negotiating for the underground rights had not for gotten his mission in the excitement in- cident to the return of the prodigals
 Mrs Lethcoe," he insisted, again pro- ducing his paper, please sign this docu- ment and I will be off"
 Mrs Lethcoe turned to the man with some indignation.
 .eMr. Manning" she replied, "don't you see my husband has just returned and is i'll? Please call some other time.
 "I thought you needed money?'
 "I do, and sadly" replied Nellie. who was kneeling by her husband, but l cannot think now what Is best to be done.'
 What does that man want?
 If was Dave who spoke, to the amaze ment of his partner, who had not been able to get an intelligent observation from him during the homeward journey.
 "It's just like this. MT. Lethcoe, re- marked Manning, turning to Dave. we the railroad-want to do some prospect ing in these parts and I've offered Mrs. Lethcoe $25 an acre for anything we find under the farm. She won't sign the con- tract without your consent"
 "Twenty-fiv dollars, and you won't hurt the top?'
 Light was returning to the defeated miner.
 Not a bit" eagerly replied Manning. I've just want what's underneath
 "What is underneathT'
 "Why, I-er--we don't know, but some of the men were digging along the ra- vine the other day, side of the bluff, un- der the big black rock
 s"That big black rock! Say. does it look like coffin? And are there ems and cottonwoods about the bottom? And is there a spring there?'
 Dave had arisen. trembling with emo- ton, and almost shrieked the words out Manning looked at him in surprise. Why, I believe that's the description of the place." he said. Have you ever prospected there?'
 sNo, I never put hole there" replied Dave resuming his chair, but I'm going to tomorrow That's on the 160 I got from Bill Thomas before I went west. Nellie, it's lucky you didn't sell it.
 Manning looked keenly at the returned wanderer and decided that he was fully informed.
 MT. Lethcoe," he said, "I'll be frank with you about this matter. We pros pected under the rock and sunk vertical holes in the valley. There's lead and zinc there-I don't know how much, but a great deal, without doubt. You see