The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-04

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 his
bunk in the clubhouse, bordering over
the matter. AT last he reached a de-
cision. He had spent a hard and lone
, ly life, and now, at eighty. he was
quite willing to take up the threads
again.
found a 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 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 flour 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 flat of the
plains he was nowhere in sight
I'll go after him." said Edwin.
NO" answered Bessie. Hell 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. Its twelve
miles distant" he said Il guess l
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 I did. I'm
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 a man walking
| across the sand and alkali. At once
| fear came over him. This man was
coming to rob him of his cherished
gold
Furtive as 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
I 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.
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 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 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 1t and ar
ranging them along the edge.
well, children" he began, II reckon
the old man fooled the pair Of We.
There'll 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. That'll
assay two ounces to the ton
This is too much" cried Bessie.
| ssNntp 1icton old rn hod
enough of this talk of gold!"
Old Jim pulled another stone out of
| the bag and looked at it with twin
| king eyes. II 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 we 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
pected for it. The gulch is full of
nuggets, enough TO buy our machinery
for stamping when the alluvials end
ed. We're rich, children, and Wen go
back to Kansas City"
Father" sobbed Bessie, kneeling
beside him. Its yours. Take it all
| We deserve none of it after the way
we treated you
| why, that's all right, honey" said
the old man. looking at her in mild