Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-10-11
The Argus Daily Story
A Turn of the Earthly Jefferson Port.
Copyrighted. 1911, by Associated Literary Bureau.

that had fallen with him, and alto
gether were wedGed among u new for
nation of rocks near the little stream.
Consciousness feft him at this time.
When he awoke 1t was high noon
and the sun poured fiercely on his
unsheltered face. He moved and
found that beyond severe bruises he
was unframed. He climbed out OF the
labyrinth OF twisted branches and
looked about him at a strangely trans
formed canyon. The earthquake had
rlven the earth in a dozen places; had
tossed huge rocks aside as il they were
the merest pebbles; had diverted the
little stream in a new bed
Clarence Ives stared and stared
again at the place where the huge
beetling rock had stood guard over
the head OF the stream. The rock
with the serpent carved upon It had
tumbled over. disclosing beneath II n
deep indentation of the earth. Here
something glittered in the rays OF the
sun, and Clarence scrambled over rocks
and trees until he hung breathlessly
over this storehouse of golden treasure.
Nuggets or pure gold rubbed smooth
by the grinding process of water and
rock, were pocketed here. Nature had
opened her storehouse for him after
ALL and she was a liberal dame when
she chose TO give bounty. Feverishly
he filed one OF his empty canvas food
sacks with the precious Jumps, and
when not one remained in the cavity
he turned away, satisfied a fortune
was his
There in the canyon, torn and ragged
with the effects OF the earthquake, the
man flung himself upon his knees and
gave thanks to the one who had di-
rected the earth to open for him. To
Clarence Ives It was a greater miracle
than those which he had read about I'm
the Bible.
he was to witness n still greater mir
acle before he left the canyon. He
had secured his bag Of precious metal
and had searched for and discovered
his provisions, which had slipped down
the canyon walls with him In the
shock of the quake. and he was JUST
leaving the canyon for the second time
when once more the earth trembled.
The rocks ground together. the trees
shivered. and then. as earlier that
day, there was a violent tearing sound.
and he saw the earth beneath the re
and precipitate the rock back into its
former bed from which he had rescued
his golden store. After a few flint
shiverings the earth ceased turning in
her bed and was still.
Awed by what he had seen, Ives
struck the backward trail. witnessing
many evidences of the disturbance as
he made his way toward Ensenada.
His progress was slow on account OF
the weight of gold, and he was wary
Of wandering prospectors or stray
bands of half breeds, but he had lit
tie to fear, for the earth shocks had
driven them panic stricken into the
town.
Then one afternoon as he neared the
last few miles before he should reach
Ensenada and a semblance of civil
Zation he saw coming toward him n
little party mounted on wiry horses.
He scanned them closely, wondering
at their Identity, hoping he might be
able to purchase additions to his de
pleted store OF food.
They came within range Of recogni-
ton. First he recognized Felipe Or
dero's sloping shoulders, over which
curled a streamer Of cigarette smoke.
then the large, bulky form OF NorS
man Royce, red compleXioned, gray
haired, anxious eyed until he saw the
worn face OF the pedestrian. Behind
Norman Royce rode a girl, her pale
face shaded by large felt hat.
"Ah. the Senior Ives!" CALCULATED
Felipe, and he fell back 10 permit
Norman and his daughter to see the
young prOspector.
Good heavens, boy, you are safe!
I'm thankful to see you alive!' burst
forth Norman as he dismounted and
Rrasped the hand Of the amazed pros
pectOr. Eve read about the earth
quake and that It was reported a
great many miners had been entomb-
ed. Well, OF course we didn't know
where you were then. you were so Sc
Cretive, but Felipe here came to me
and told me OF your search after his
grandfather's gold mine, and Cora gave
me no peace until consented TO come
down here TO Lower California and
dig you out" He laughed with tears
in his eyes.
Father" cried Cora, who was hold
ing the other hand Of her lover, sit
was your own suggestion. You blamed
yourself for driving Clarence away on
n wild goose chase for a fortune when
you wanted him 10 stay right there"
We'll" admitted the older man,
we've got him. Now. Clarence, you
come back TO the ranch and take hold
with me. I'll get that carload OF or
ange blossoms. and Cora seems willing
TO take chance on your future sue
cess"
CIornpca tbr71st ono hand daan In
his treasure bag and tossed n golden
nugget into Felipes astonished hands.
Then he handed the bag TO his future
Father-ln-law.
Il went on n wild goose chase. all
light" he grinned, and 7 found the
wild goose and the nest where she had
laid the golden eggs"