The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-02-04


I've located that quartz, or maybe a
bed Of shining nuggets in that gulch
was speaking of, Then I'll come
home. ! guess you won't grudge me
the little bag OF -four and the matches
and blanket I'm a-taking with me-"
They stared at each other. The old
man must have been gone long since,
for when they searched the fiat Of the
plains he was nowhere in sight.
I'm go after him." said Edwin.
NO" answered Bessie. He'll como
back at nightfall, when he's tired. and
maybe it'll be a lesson TO him"
But nightfall arrived. and there was
no sign OF the old man. Nor on the
following morning. Bessie was now
thoroughly alarmed.
Edwin, you must go and look for
him." she said. You know which way
he went?"
Her husband nodded. TITS twelve
miles distant" he said. Il guess
can walk II and back by night"
Il do hope he has come to no HARM"
said Bessie. "He must have heard
me when / said what | did. I'm
sorry dear When he comes back
I'll never lose my head again like
that"
Meanwhile old Jim Ross was indus
trlously grubbing among the boulders
Of the gulch. He spent the entire
day there. At night he slept in the
river bed. Next morning, awakening
late, he stood up and peered out across
the plain. Some sense, Ions latent in
him, told him that there was another
human being approaching him.
He looked out to see a man walking
across the sand and alkali. At once a
fear came over him. This man was
coming to rob him of his cherished
gold.
Furtive as a fox, he crept along the
gulch, out Of sight of his son, whom
he had not recognized. Over his
shoulder he carried the sack full Of
his precious stones. He knew that,
once clear of the gulch bed, he could
make his way among the mountains
and be we'll on his way homeward be-
fore the newcomer had come upon the
place where he had been.
He chuckled as he strobe manfully
across the plain, oblivious of the burn
ing sun. He covered mile after mile,
borne up by the knowledge that for
tune, which he had evaded so long,
lay hidden in that bag. And thus he
staggered into the cabin late at night,
an hour before Edwin's return.
II found his tracks," cried Edwin. at
the door. But he's gone - he's
gone"
mo, he's here" answered his wife
sourly. HE played a ine trick on
us, Edwin. He's in his bunk, asleep
In the morning I'm going to send him
back by train"
The return of the old man, babbling
about gold, had awakened all her re-
sentiment. Her husband saw that it
would be useless to argue with her.
But in the morning Bessie's anger was
unchanged. They found old Jim seat
ed with his sack at the kitchen table. |
He was taking stones out of it and ar
ranging them along the edge.
We'll, children" he began, "T reckon |
the old man fooled the pair Of ye.
Theren be no more drudging now, If
know the value of what I've struck
in the hills. Look at them stones!" |
He held one up to Ross and indi-
Gated the tiny yellow fecks among .
the quartz.
1T amt much" he said, but wait
till s. o get our stamps up here. Thatu
assay two ounces to the ton"
This is too much" cried Bessie
Now, listen, old man! I've had
enough Of this talk of gold!"
Old Jim pulled another stone out of
the bag and looked at it with twin
king eyes. 1t was a yellow stone,
pure yellow, dull, rich, and unmistak-
able, and at least as large as a
pigeons egg.
Maybe this wouldn't make ye a
bracelet, honey" he said, holding it
up before her. Nor this he added,
pulling out another He shook out a
dozen more from the bottom of the
bag.
"Why-it is gold!" shouted Edwin.
IF it amt" said jim, Il never pros
1ected for it. The gulch is full of
enough to buy our machinery
or stamping when the alluviars end
I'd. We're rich, children, and Wen go
pack to Kansas City"
Father" sobbed Bessie, kneeling
,eside him. IT'S yours. Take it all.
Ne deserve none If it after the way
We treated you"
why, that's all right, honey" said
he old man, looking at her in mild
Il amt had nothing to COM
lain of. 1t was the work, reckon,
ort of put an edge on you. You see,
hildren, good woman's like gold
he's there, somewhere, only some
ines she takes sort of-sort of look
ng for"
The Modern Church