The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-08

stood uncertainty in the entrance
where he had come hoping to find
out what the trouble was.
So it was himself! He had never
guessed that he was in the way. De-
spite his years, he had done such
work as was in his power. He had
helped Bessie with the dishes-chat-
tering the while about the gold; he
had talked of pockets" and produced
samples of likely quartz while she
fumed inwardly and said nothing.
But he had never dreamed that he
was a nuisance.
The old mans pride was stung to
the quick. All night he lay upon bis
bunk in the Clubhouse. bordering over
the matter At last he reached de-
cision. He had spent hard and lone
ly life. and now. at eighty. he was
quite willing to take up the threads
again.
That morning Bessie and Edwin
found roughly scrawled note upon
the table.
I'm going, children" it ran. I'm
going to leave you for while until
I've located that quartz, or maybe
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.
"Tll go after him." said Edwin.
mo-" answered Bessie. He'll come
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 VENT"
Her husband nodded. IT'S twelve
miles distant" he said. Il guess
can walk it and back by night"
Il do hope he has come to no harm"
said Bessie. He must have heard
me when | said what l did. lin
sorry, dear. When he comes back
I'll never lose my head again like
that"
Meanwhile old Jim Ross was indus
triously 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, long latent in
him, told him that there was another
human being approaching him.
He looked out to see 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 oil
his precious stones. He knew that
once clear Of the gulch bed, he could
make his way among the mountains
and be well 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.
Il 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 fine 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 II
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, 81 reckon
|, the old man fooled the pair of We
Therell be no more drudging now, II
l 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 flecks among
!. the quartz.
1T amt much" he said. but wait
: till we get our stamps up here. That1
assay two ounces to the ton"
This is too much,r cried Bessie
. Now, listen, old man, I've hat
| enough of this talk of gold"
Old Jim pulled another stone out O
the bag and looked at it with twin
. king eyes. It was yellow stone
;, pure yellow, dull, rich, and unmistak
able, and at least as large as ,
pigeons egg.
Maybe this wouldn't make We
. bracelet. honey" he said, holding /
up before her. Nor this" he added
u pulling out another. He shook out
!. dozen more from the bottom of tn
: bag
Why-it is gold," shouted Edwin
IF it amt" said Jim. Il never pros
= pected for it. The gulch is full O
:. nuggets. enough to buy our machiner,
u for stamping when the alluviars end
ed. We're rich, children, and well z,
back to Kansas City,"
Father" sobbed Bessie. kneelinI
beside him. Its yours. Take IL al,