The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-09-26

our fortunes. and the fortunes seemed
to be ready for the making Only, the
novelty having passed, it had become
hard work, just like the making Of any
other kind of a fortune,
The Pine family camped below us
used our corral ut our invitation and
set placidly to work. They were typ
ical frontiersmen and settled down IN
the well built cabin which they quick
ly ran up as though they meant to
make of It a permanent home. For
two months, which brought us up to
the end of July, they lived regular
and leisurely life. Then one morning,
without any warning at all, they rode
over TO our cabin, leading their horses,
fully packed. Old man Pine, explain
ed. while his five tall, steady eyed sons
sat their horses quite immobile in the
background, that they had dug enough
gold for their necessities, and that they
were now going down to the lower
country to pick out some good land.
These men were the very first / hap
pened to meet who had come into the
country with definite idea of set
tling.
After the departure of this strong
force, began our discussions as to the
safeguarding of our gold. 1t had now
reached q very considerable sum-
somewhere near $35,00O. us | remem-
Der 1t. Bagsby was very uneasy at Its
presence in camp.
Buck Barry brought up strongly the
advisability of sending our treasure
out to safe place. His argument was
given point by the arrival In camp one
evening of three evil lounlng Mexicans,
Shabbily clothed, but well armed, and
mounted on beautiful horses. We fed
them well, but saw to the caps of our
revolvers and the security of our cor
raj before turning in for the night In
the morning they departed before we
were stirring, without so much as
word of thanks, These mysterious
visitors had given us no faintest ink
ling of their business or destination.
Don Gaspar stated fatty that they had
come to spy us out, having heard of
our presence in the ALLEY from the
Indians.
sand l told them" said he triumph
antly. shat essoon we would be SEN
out for the food"
He went on to argue that thus he
had prepared their minds for the fact
that pack horses would soon be going
out BY distributing the gold its pres
ence would be unsuspected.
/ suggested Il strong guard, but both
Bagsby and Don Gaspar opposed me.
There's enough of these yere rob-
bers to git us anyhow, even If we all
went" said Bagsby, "and that's why
want to send the stuff out now. The
place they'll tackle will be right yere.
L they tackle anything at alf'-
will not weary you with the pros
md cons. At the time thought, and
still think, the whole arrangement
most Ill advised; but against me was
-he united opinion Of nearly the whole
amp, including the most level headed
of my own party. II was
inally agreed that Yank, Buck Barry
md Don Gaspar should take out the
sold.
They started very early In the morn
ng, carrying the treasure I'm saddle
Bags and across the horns of the sad
lie. | argued that Yank rode much
he lightest and had the strongest
lorse, and managed to get the others
% contide to him n full half of the /
metal. At the last moment we had /
modified the original plan to suit ev. |
,rybody. The horsemen encumbered |
~ pack animals were to push on as |
'apldly as possible In order to reach
,y nightfall the settlement where
iWelt the italian friend. Once there |
hey could feel themselves reasonably
Iafe. Johnny Missouri Jones and 1 |
would ride with them until noon as a
tort OF escort for the uninhabited por-
Ion of the journey. BY that hour
we figured we should have reached the |
of the regular digglDgs, |
where, our experience told us, our com
Danions would be safe.
Accordingly we pushed our mounts |
hard. Unhampered by pack animals,
and aided by knowledge of the route.
we made great progress. BY noon we
had passed the meadow of our nights
amp. After a hasty lunch we accom-
panied our men few miles farther,
hen said farewell and godspeed and
hurried back In order to reach home
before sunset.
Continued next Tuesday,