The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-02-22
ESTABLISHED 1876

know how lonely you are without me,
how hard it is for you to have to get
your meals. and worry for fear
something will happen to you. What
would you do while am away If you
should become sick or meet with an
accident?
Never mind about that, Rosie.
Bring back the chemicals as soon as
you can
"'Oh, there's nothing in that. Aaron
Don't think about it. You're sure to be
disappointed
'They parted, Rosie going on and
Aaron going back to the cabin. 1t
seemed very quiet there without his
wife, and he wished it was the end in
stead Of the beginning of their separa-
ton. After he had cooked and eaten
his supper he sat smoking his pipe,
thinking about what the tramp had
tod him. He realized that there was
scarcely a chance of what he had seen
being borax. but the thought of what
would happen If it should be borax
sent a thrill all through him. He
would be the only person to know 1t.
and no one was likely to come into
Death valley to learn of the secret be-
fore he had established his legal claim
to all the property he cared 70 possess.
"In ten days Rosie came back with a
substance she had obtained from a
chemist But neither she nor Aaron
thought much about this, they were SO
glad to meet again. After day or two
Rosie spoke of it and asked her bus
band when he was going to Death val
ley. He said he dreaded to go, for he
felt sure he would have his trouble for
nothing. But Rosie said that since
they had the materials they might as
well make the trip and she would go
with him
$50 the next day Rosie spent the
morning preparing lunch of antelope
steak-this was all there was, since
they lived only on game-and in the
afternoon they set out for the valley.
'They reached their destination some
time before sunset, and, having pro-
cured some of the substance they had
gone for, they mixed it with the
chemicals. But they did not wish to
ignite it till night came, because they
might not be able By daylight to tell
whether or not the fame was green.
More than an hour must elapse before
it would be dark. and they spent the
interval in suspense, so much de-
pended on what they hoped for. Aaron
did not care so much for himself d.
rectly. 1t was Of Rosie he was think
ing. For years he had kept her in
wilderness, and now If this substance
were borax he could take her wher-
ever she cared to go. While he was
thinking of this the wife's mind was
full of dread lest her husband, who
had built great hopes on this matter,
should be disappointed
"The sun set, darkness came, and yet
Winters delayed to apply the match.
why don't you light it. AaronY
asked Rosie
Aaron made no reply. None was
needed. His wife knew he dreaded
the disappointment that both felt was
almost sure to come They had had
no careful description of the appear
ance of the substance the tramp had
seen, and even II they had there might
be resemblance without the substances
being at all alike. What folly to ex-
pect that they were the same!
''Then Aaron scratched a match and
held 1t to the combination. 1t blazed
up In bright fame
"'It burns green, Roster he shouted.
We're richr
$50 they were for people who had
been so poor. They sold their proper
ty for $4,000
"But they were not city people and
would not enjoy city life. Therefore
the fortune they acquired was all they
needed to make them comfortable and
happy. They bought ranch in Neva-
da, where they enjoyed a country life
and had all the neighbors they wished
for.
THAT'S the story. my dears. as l
heard 1t, ard think it's about as 1t
happened The west is full of such
wonderful cases Of people without
money. even in rags. lighting upon
something Of great value to make
them rich. 1t was not riches that
Aaron Winters and his wife required
to make them happy. but sufficient
means to enable them to leave the
Death valley region"