The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-09-07

confidence He kept saying: Gold. gold. |
gold. Chunks and chunks Of It! Under
the nossy rock: keep to the right! Go
down hill to stream, then left up the slope |
and down again to gum springr' The
man died at break of day
There was nothing to do but lay him
away in as decent form as was possible
Nobody could guess whatSrelision. If any.
he had and so no particular denomination
officiated. though all was represented
at an impressive ceremony at the tomb
Nobody knowed (the pronounciation was
Abners. interpolated in shis excitement)
where the deceased lived. and so his
friends and relatives could not be noti-
fed. but they were evidently on the watch
as to his movements. Whether 1t was
something he had written back to his
folks or his failure to write can only be
surmised. 1t was a fact, though, that
within ten days after the interment two
we'll dressed, dark Skinned men with the
same high cheekbones and other facial
blemshes and straight backs came and
put up at the hotel.
They could not hide the heexcitement they
were in. They spent the days nosing about
in the mountains and the nights confab-
bing together in their room. Sometimes
they would set the proprietor of the hotel
to tell them exactly what the dead man
had mumble& in his delirium.
AS you and your gentle readers may
well imagine, the whole matter got in a
ferment in the neighbofllood. Nothing
else was talked of at the fireside. in the
field. office or place Of business
The Indian fellows that had come seem
ed to give up. or pretended to give up, for
they went their way as silently and mys-
teriously as they had arrived But what
happened after they left?s
With all the lynx eyed ability of their
forefathers they had overlooked a thing
that a little boy. the twelve-year-oId son
of one Of our most highly esteemed farm
ers, discovered by bare accident when he
had his pas shotgun out hunting yester-
day. He ran across a big. fiat sided
bowlder of gray limestone a mile or so
from town facing due east. On it were
some letters that had evidently been made
by the dead man with a brush and oil
paint. They were fully six inches in size
and, while washed with the plenteous rains
| which have recently fallen. were distinct.
| ly discernible. They were:
T. d C. A. G. M. E. IS. M. S. D..
The boy happened to relate his discov-
cry to his pa In the presence Of our es-
| teemed town clerk and others, and you
may well imagine the Excitement thus
| promulgated Needless to. say. the spot
| was promptly visited by everybody who
could possibly climb the rugged sleeps and
| cross the yawning canyons Intervening be-
tween Elktown and that Interesting goal
Your correspondent happened to be among
the first to view with his own eyes the
| discovery, and he, for one, makes bold
to say positively that the dying stranger
| who passed into the vast unknown with
| sealed lips with his own hand painted the
| letters On the rock as a landmark to guide
him back to the hidden treasure.
| Such excitement has never been known
| since Lees surrender. ..
l beg leave to sign myself. respectfully
| and admirinsly yours,
THOMAS L. KEITH.
Amt that stunner?" Abner asked.
as he finished readiny. Il don't know
what Keith he is. but he must be some
kin O old Uncle Tommy Keith over
thar. The Keiths In that section are as
thick as flies in August.ts sse IA ~.
Nov, we must git to work an sci
this up i'll type. Put the biggest head
lines on it you possibly kin get up, and
above all, NUNS the word. The news
may reach barley overland before oul
paper is out, but We'll hope not. II
would tickle me the best In the worlt
to see the folks openin' the New Clar
ion tomorrow an runnin' across al
item like that just as eff sech news was
an everyday matter with us
Howard was about to reply when h,
was arrested by step on the stairs
and Frank Raymond entered. Il hav,
political item for you" he said. -
! have just heard it from reliabl,
source. Henry ". Potion has com,
. out in the governors race and vii
make a strong candidate. 1t will b.
important news for southern dailies.
have Just wired it to Atlanta. Charles
ton. New Orleans. Chattanooga an,
Nashville, under Il new arrangement
have made for special news"
D You can pick up good many item
now and then" Abner eyed Howar
furtively. his lips curving in a trium
phant smile. I'VE are much oblige,
for telling us about Potion, an | wis
= we was in the shape to do you lik
y favor. Now and then big item fall
on Il weekly like our'n, but, rs you XII
well see. we couldn't afford to divid
with the big dailies. You see. the Al
$ lanta papers will be on the streets her
4 in the morning, for instance. before W
!. can get ours wrapped and distributed
We are in this thing for all thar is /
$ it, an we don't want to print stal
t news If fresh variety lies ready a
& hand"
d Raymond whistled softly. II cate
IS on" he said. with Il smile. "You hav
II some news now can tell by the wa
II you chuckle. Uncle Alb. Say. don't 20
e think you could tip me OFF,"
e Not OIL this. Frank" Abner shoe
>. MS head firmly. I'm sorry. but tn
t, thing is our special pie. If it was
n little squib like the one you hay
e handed us 1t would be different. b,
= tEis-oh. just wait till You see the Ne
.larfon in the mornin'! don't kno
e tut what we may git some boys
!, yell it out as an extra at cents
IN copy"
y II call that dog mean, Uncle al
lp Raymond laughed good naturedly, IA
e you will feel bad if l hold back
h h. piece of news from you some day.
as long l must go
er At the foot of the stairs Reymo
~ met Pole Baker going up.
,d us Uncle Alb up thar!' Pole asked
a. Yes I've just left him. Want
fe see him?''
oma m Yes. You remember / told )
nc about the fuss betwiXt Howard {
as Fred Crais?" ..
as Yes. and 1t made me anxious. fol
~ IN saw him down the street this mornil
In We must keep the two apart Tht
dy will be trouble if they meet So
ct, .sThat ;s what | want To see Tn