The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1914-11-14

On the following day, early In the
morning, the Indians and Father
O'Flynn set solemnly forth on horses
TO the barren mountains that held the
secret of the gold. For an hour or
more they made their way into the
well-known passes. Then halt was
called; the good priests eyes were
carefully bandaged, a.,d for many
rough and rugged mile he rode as
one doomed to utter darkness.
But, ah. for the wiles that tempta.
ton may suggest Playing upon his
well-worn rosary, his fingers told off
prayer on prayer, the while his
patient horse was stumbling forward:
and all the while he slipped bead
by bead from the long. stout cord. to
drop them by the way. He prayed for
assistance. for light in the gloom, for
heavenly help in his labor. He prayed
for special forgiveness OF his sins, In
case his actions should appear du.
bious or unacceptable in the sight OF
heaven. He prayed for the Indians,
and prayed for himself-all the while
dropping his beads upon the earth.
He prayed for nearly everything
long, long chain of prayers but
mostly he prayed for guidance-guid-
ance to the mines, which the telltale
beads that blazed the trail would fur
nish on the following day
II was long Journey but the
rosary was also and the
fathers prayers We're exhaustless.
Shortly after noon they arrived at the
place. and the blindfold was lifted al
last.
1t was not much to see, that tabled
place of gold. Such virgin deposits
are never vast in size. In an ancient
working, covered up with sand. was
bedded the seam of cleaning metal
a narrow, crooked Judgment of tho
gold, where IL seemed as IL the light.
'nings OF the gods had some time
struck and then remained inn
modified forever prisoned in the
adamant cold and solid stream OF
fire to glow in its matriX throughout
all the ages OF eternity.
Father OFlynn felt beads of sweat
creep out upon his ample brow. His
church. fields. houses-all were here.
reduced TO sovereign metal! 1t was
all he could do TO contain his excite
ment. He tried to look about the
place. and mark down" the vital posi-
ton but alas In all that wilderness
of bare and broken rock he was as
helpless as a child But then, thank
the saints, the rosary beads were
strewn faithfully along the winding
trail. and on these and his prayers he
could rely
When. at last, he was ready to de-
part with his friends, and was once
more made sightless for the trail, he
carried away but pocketful OF gold,
since he must not appear too covetous
of that which was not yet his own.
1t was long after dusk when at length
he was back at his meager little hut
IA weary man, but inwardly aglow
with pious content
Young Manuel was waiting, in the
shade of Father O'Flynn's vine, when
the party rode up to the shack.
Wholly at a loss to understand what
such proceeding as this might sig
nifty. he saw the bandage taken from
the good mans eyes by the silent
old Scar-Face, grown Unfortunately
grave.
Father father-why. where have
you been?" cried the young man ca
gerly assisting the priest from the
saddle You ride home thus; can
not understand. Perhaps the sun has
hurt your eyes,"
"Ah. give yourself no worry, lad, !"
said Father OFlynn, with his cheer!
TEST smile. "Sure all day long I've
been taking ride with my friends
and my brothers; but I'm pledged, my
son, not TO answer as to where we
have been, at all. at all, or what has
been blowing in the wind"
He stood on his old legs somewhat
stihly, since for many month he
had taken no such exercise. Old Scar
Face, near by, was fumbling in a
pocket of his coat Ho presently
drew forth a grimy buckskin pouch
that bulged out TO generous plump
ness. Then into gourd that was
hanging by the door he deliberately
poured the bags hoardings. The con-
tents ratified out in lively chase-a
dusty lot OF units, marble-like and
round, all fron Father o'Flynn's de-
Ipleted rosary.
you heap lose um beads" the wrin.
llded old red man said TO the priest
without the least suggestion OF a
smile upon his face. "Injun heap find
'um-ketch um all"
Father Q'Flynn nearly dropped in
has tracks. Not word would arise
to his moving lips, but his WEAKNESS
decended upon him like a shroud OF
lead. and he sank on the bench be.
fore his door.
Once more old Scar-Face dragged
out q bag, this one containing a mod
est gift of gold. He placed IL in the
listless hands that had prayed off the