The Elbert County tribune., 1914-08-28

miners working at Fortuna. ana they
say every one of 'em has got a rife
buried. Now they're beginning to quit
and drift out into the hills, and we're
likely to hear from them any time"
"All the moro reason for staying in
camp. then." remarked Bud. eIIl tell
you. Phil, need you here. That
dogged ledge is lost, good and plenty.
and ] need you to say where to dig.
We amt doing much better than old
Aragon did-just roofing around in
that rock-pile-let's do a little timber
ing, and sink"
you can't timber that rock" an
swered De Lancey decidedly. "And
besides, it's cheaper to make a cut
twenty feet deep than it is to tunnel
or aink shaft Walt till we get to
that porphyry contact = then well
know where we're at"
"All right" grumbled Bud: but
seems like we're long time getting
there. What's the news downtown"
We'll. the fireworks have begun
again over In Chihuahua-Orozco and
Salazar and that bunch-but 1t seems
there was something to this Mocte-
yuma scare, after all. was talking to
an American mining man from down
that way and he told me that the fed
erals marched out to where the rebels
we're and then sat down and watched
them cross the river without firing on
them-some kind of an understanding
between Bernardo Bravo and these
blackleg federals.
The only fighting there was was
when a bunch of twenty Yaquis got
away from their officers In the rough
country and went after Bernardo Bra
vo by their lonesome. That threw a
big scare into him. too. but he man
aged to fight them off--and II was
making a guess I'd bet that your Yaqui
friend was one of that fighting
twenty"
Il reckon" assented Bud; but don't
you say nothing. l need that hombre
in my business. Come on, let's go up
and look at that cut--I come across
an old board today. down in the muck.
and bet you it's piece that Kruger
left. Funny we don't come across
some of his tools. though, or the hole
where the powder went of"
When we do that" observed Phil,
well be where we're going. Nothing
to do then but lay OF the men and wait
till get my papers. That's why | say
don't hurry so hard-we haven't got
our title to this claim. pardner. and
we won't get it. either-not for some
time yet. Suppose you'd hit this
ledge"
well. If hit it." remarked Bud.
"I1l stay with it-you can trust me
for that Hello. what's the Yaqui
foundf"
As they came up the cut Amigo quit
work and, while the Mexicans followed
suit and gathered expectantly behind
and an iron drill-spoon and presented
them to Bud.
Evidently he had learned the object
of their search from the Mexicans. but
If he looked for any demonstrations of
delight at sight of these much-sought-
for tools he was doomed to disappoint-
ment, for both Bud and Phil had
schooled themselves to keep their
faces straight.
"Um-m," said Bud. "old drills. .eh?
Where you find them?"
The Yaqui led the way to the face
of the cut and showed the spot. hole
beneath the pile of riven rock; and
a Mexican. not to be outdone. grabbed
up handful of porphyry and indi-
Gated where the dynamite had pulver-
lied It.
"Bien," said Phil. paving solemnly
around in the bottom of the hole: and
then. filling his handkerchief with fine
dirt, he carried 1t down to the creek.
There. in miners pan. he washed
1t out carefully. stopping the waste
over the edge and swirling the water
around until at last only a little dirt
was left in the bottom of the pan.
Then. while all the Mexicans looked
on, he tailed this toward the edge.
scanning the last remnant for gold
and quit without a color.
"Nada!" he cried, throwing down
the pan, and In some way the Mexi-
cans sensed the fact that the mine had
turned out failure. Three times he
went back to the cut and scooped up
the barren dust. and then he told the
men they could quit.
mo more work." he said, affecting
detected bitterness; mo hay NADIA
there is nothing!" And with this sad,
but by no means unusual, ending to
their labors. the Mexicans went away
to their camp. specializing among
themselves as to whether they could
get their pay. But when the last of
them had gone Phil beckoned Bud into
the tent and showed him piece of
quartz
"Just take look at that!" he said,
and single glance told Hooker that
1t was full of fine particles of gold
II picked that up when they weren't
looking" whispered De Lancey. his