The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-01

some new energy and interest In life.
my old friends had programmed
a sort Of a reception for me in the
town." reported Rufe, after pleasant
evening with the little ones, but l
shut them off on the happy water end
of It. Now then. friends-for you are
that-I've got some business to talk
over with you. l was good deal sur
prised when l got inquiring around,
to find that the Golden Hope mine
had petered out"
"Yes, two years ago." nodded Ward.
'aThe vein ran short-not until they
had taken out little fortune, though.
/ so hear" said Rufe, land / found
| the runway going to ruin and the
stamp mill rusted and broken. Do
! YOU know that the old owner OF the
/ mine offered It to me for thousand
dollars?''
81 know it's gone begging. and no
one would touch it at any figure" re-
marked Ward.
We'll, I'm going to buy it," an
nounced Rufe. Don't think I've gone
out of my Senses" he added. will
you stake me-"
You mean, will l loan you thou.
sand dollars?"
Just that"
Rose, bring my bank book" di,
rected Ward, without a moments
hesitation.
mot so fast, dear old partner!" in
terrupted Rufe. The money will do
tomorrow. l want you to help me
will you do it?'
"You mean work with your"
: Eyes"
"Rufe. old friend" spoke Ward, 81
wouldn't give five cents for the Gold
d en- Hope. You're buying it for thou
p sand dollars. | never knew you Il
o make a miss in the mining game.
a don't know your plan, but dc know
= that YOU know your business. Use me
n With you for the leader, ! follow"
L Thank you, Ward" replied Ruff
e with palpable emotion-"you shan
l. miss it."
d The Golden Hope mine was locate
II out OF the traversed trails. For
le solid month every day, quietly an
y keeping their own counsel, Rufe an
Ward visited the abandoned digging
u Every day Rose brought them the
= dinner What a new glorious life
u what mighty throbbing secret thos
three talked over, worked owe
~ dreamed over! And every new da
ie two ardent hearts understood one a
- other better and better. At the eT
of the week Rufe Glidden drove o.
ri of town with hired wagon and tv
horses. He returned, with Gov
over the heapedup wagon box,
front of the assay office. CROW
gathered. The rumor spread III
II wildflre that Rufe Glidden had found
II giant pocket of pure gold at the
mine.
VI ITS gold, boys" he admitted but
antly. "but it came from no peck
III Why, you stupid galoots! it's be
III living before your eyes in the Gle
Nh open ever since the Golden Ho
h II closed down.
Ira And then he explained:
III "You see, the careless old work'
I'm let grease drop onto the quicksilN
hE plate, and the corrugations let ab'
WA as much gold slip into the tailings
FA they really got. We've sim
~ worked the dump-and panned
II pound by pound. If we don't gel
Fl clear fifty thousand dollars out OF
= cleanup. I'm tenderfoot!"
He was a tender lover to Rose,
II that was all of his life, and he W
n back to the States her proud, 10
vi husband.
THE treasure we found in the O.
ban. en- Hope" explained John Ward, w
he showed his new neighbours min
bar of the products of the tailings
-, the abandoned mine.
'ils' THE treasure worth more than
ei' the wealth the Golden Hope
a. heidi" added Rufe Glidden, his
'u' encircling bonny. contented Rose.