The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-02-07
THE GOLD AT
GRAFTON
By M. QUAD
Copyright. 1916. by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.
By M. QUAD

/ forty years old who descended from /
the stage at Grafton one summer aft |
ernoon. He was very quiet spoken I,
man and registered his name at the |
tavern as Robert Meadows. He said
be was interested in ornithology and
might pick up few birds as specimens
for the taxidermst.
After three or four days be began to
wander along the highway and across
the fields. He had brought with him
fowling piece. and with this he took
few snapshots at robins and blue
birds. and he skinned them himself
and cured the skins.
About half a mile from Grafton was
farm belonging TO man named
Sweet. His land ran back from the
highway to small creek. and a part
Of this land was a sand strewn ridge
1t ended in bluff about fifteen feet
high at the creek. The stranger was
seen walking along this ridge sev.
eral times. and he spent quite tie
OF his time along the creek The re-
ports of his gun were often heard. but
be brought in very little game. From
this II was concluded that be was a
poor shot
A man with a wise and file can
take piece of brass and file II to dust
in few hours. and that dust will So
closely resemble gold dust that an or
dinary person will be deceived. If a
spoonful of that dust is poured into a
gun II can be easily shot into soft sand
stone. That is one way sf SAILING" a
mine. Often real gold dust is used
The ornithologist was shooting brass.
, That ridge of sandstone had been
there for centuries. and no one could
remember back when that old pasture
had been made any use of except to
provide scanty grass for flock OF
sheep. The present owner was dunn
founded when the stranger asked him
, his price for the land. When the bar
: gain was concluded he was very much
elated. He had received 500 In cash
q Tor his almost worthless ridge. Mr.
S Meadows was probably asked a hun.
e dred times in the next week Of what
= bsN ~ -f'Ah lossiply VI tHc
! land. hut his replies were not satisfac.
2 TOR. To any one. 1t was two weeks
after the sale and the recording OF
: the deed when he came In from his
u daily walk one day with chunk OF
T. the sandstone wrapped In paper In his
hand. That sandstone was a-shine with
/ specks of gold. and when the stone
lnI la,
Y gold in the middle Of 1t. When It was
pounded up into dust with a mallet
@ the most doubtful man in Grafton lost
: his last doubts
!. There was no call for any one to
il ask Mr.. Meadows where he picked up
e that stone. Every one knew that 1t
G must have come from the ridge
Il Next morning there were not only
. twenty but 200 citizens who went out
n to the gold fields. They walked along
!, the sand strewn ridge from the high
way to the creek, and they waded up
u and down the creek. Yes, the gold was
n there II was In sight for many feet
p up and down the creek.
le On getting back to the tavern Mr.
N Meadows would have gone to his room
r to write some important letters. but q
ID crowd detained him. There were quite
he a number Of wealthy men In Grafton
N and they saw chance to add to theiI
n wealth. They wanted to know II Mr.
ne Meadows would form stock com
u pany and let them subscribe at leas
p half the capital. III he wouldn't d.
10 that. would be sell claims along the
ne ridge and the creek? His reply wa.
er that he would think 1t over.
When the stranger had wrestled will
al his thoughts he called I'm the mos
prominent citizens and said:
IT, Gentlemen, l have gone over thi
y thing a hundred times Some Of yo'
is want a stock company, and some o
you want to buy claims. | have con
III cluded to sell claims. and the owner
IL can do what they like with the or
taken out. | don't know how the gol'
as runs have seen only just what yol
d have SEEN You will have to go
blind. and so will l. make no guar
y" antees."
Ii was understood that every sal
III should be for cash down. and the deed
~ were TO be delivered on the spot
~ The reader should be prepared :
hear that when the morrow and tn
=. auction came there were at least so
-, people on the spot
~ The first choice OF claims sold 10
$1,000. The second claim was the on
l.. next to II. and 1t sold for almost a
~. much as she first The last two claim
were located In the bed o. the creei
m although no gold showed there.
,s, or course the whole thing was
at rank fraud. Every claim buyer wa
up at an early hour next morning. an
nd II he did not WELD pick or a crowba
oil. himself he had hired one or two me
a to work for him In the midst OF th
ou turmoil the stranger settled his bill q
mr. the hotel and disappeared. taking wit
him many thousand dollars.
h,o ord ~ N