The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1910-07-01

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formed the dam on which he stood.
Might not the lost wagon train have
been buried under this landslide?
The more he studied the c%onagura-
lions about him the more be was con.
vinced that some cause. either a clap
Of thunder. a snowslide or an earth
quake, had loosened the mountain side
and thrown 1t down and cross the
road. Then by riding back and forth
he traced the old road noting its juno.
ton with a later one both above and
below the dam. While he was salts
fed that this avalanche of earth might
have buried the lost train. he had no
hope that be would be able to lnd any
vestige of man, beast or wagon with
out employing a host of men to re-
move the earth from the old road. a
part Of which was now covered with
water. But he could tell Elizabeth Of
his 6nd and assure her Of his belief
that the wagon train had been buried
under, the landslide.
he argued that If those connected
with the train had seen the mountain
side coming they would run to get out
Of its way. If they were nearer the
upper side of it they would run for
ward: II nearer the lower side they
would run backward. The upper side
now being a lake. 1t could not be ex-
amined. Merryweather rode down to
where the old road. striking. the dam.
was detected. to climb It by a gradual
incline. Dismounting. he tied his
horse to a, sap)ing, and began to look
about him.
He searched q good while. bending
down close to the earth that he might
the better see anything unusual. His
search was fruitless. Mounting, he
rode to the nearest house to remain
all night and in the morning bring
something to dig with. That night It
rained and the next day and the next
till it seemed that an ocean was being
precipitated. Then It cleared, and
Merryweather. taking q pick and a
shovel. went back to continue his hunt.
He found that the rain had washed
away portions of the dam. and its side
was covered with little gullies, some Of
them quite deep. He examined a num-
Der Of these gullies. but found nothing.
At the point where the road made the
turn to ascend the dam he put in his
pick. Presently its point struck some
thing that gave out the ring of metal.
Inserting the pick again. he threw out
a horseshoe.
Though elated with his find, he did
not consider it by any mean impor-
tant, but 1t stimulated him to dig on.
A root or something harder than the
earth under where the horseshoe had
been found next attracted his atten-
ton. He dug around 1t and exposed a
horses hoof and in a few more strokes
the bones of a leg to which the hoof
belonged.
Eureka" he exclaimed. 1.-The mys.
terry of the lost wagon train is solved!"
He worked all day unearthing the
metal parts Of harness. gun barrels.
bones of human beings and horses. At
last he struck the wheel Of q wagon.
Then he went away to announce his
find. 9a
The news that the lost wagon train
had been found spread. M~erryweather
hired half a dozen men to excavate.
but 81 great was the interest among
the people that many Of them dug
on their W account. some doubtless
hoping to find articles of value. 1t
was apparen. that the train had been
turned suddenly and headed down the
canyon. Some of the wagons had
not been completely reversed before
they were buried.
Among the articles recovered was
an iron box. Merryweather took pos
session of it. opened 1t and found that
it belonged to Edward Earle. It con-
tanned several hundred dollars In
gold and a number Of papers.
Some of the papers We're deeds to
property in the region to which the
caravan was going-a region where
gold had then been recently discov-
cred. Merryweather. after the ex-
cavations were concluded. rode on
to what had been the destination Of
the train. The unearthed papers all
belonged to Elizabeth Earle. and It
was his purpose to transact for her
any business that might be necessary.
He found conditions that he was sure
would make a great change in the
girl he loved.
One evening Elizabeth heard a foot
step in the hall. and a moment later
she was clasped in the strong arms
Of Henry Merryweather.
1.-THE mystery is solved. sweet
hearth! he exclaimed.
He led her to a sofa and gave her
an account of his efforts and their
outcome. And now" he continued.
'.there is news intrinsically Of fal.
greater importance to you than the
solving Of the mystery. You are very
rich. Your father before starting on
his last earthly journey made q will
leaving you all he possessed. It waE
Of no value then. but now on . por.
ton OF It 70 one Of the largest mines
IN the west. You arc the real owner,