Mohave County miner and our mineral wealth., 1918-08-24

pense of the undertaking.
 When l returned I brought Joe with me. He confided, on the way, that Frances cried continually with Lawton. She did not love him. Upon arriving again at Lots Mine, I learned that Lawton had taken no steps. He confessed that he had lost all the money gambling. I was disgusted with ninl, and insisted that we return Chi Euahua. I refused to let him drink on the way and he became enraged. Then, he told me that Frances would have nothing to do with me because, I quote his own words: T told her you offered U Euy her because you didn't care to
 marry ber-and she believed me- His statement infuriated me. My Spanish blood, cooled through generations, was suddenly boiling within me. It was a matter of honor. I challenged him to a duel with knives, and we fought, l know not how long, on the brink Of a. precipice. We struggled like man. iacs; ldo not remember all, but I do know that l was suddenly mortified as ] realized that we We're hurtling through space. We had rolled over the edge and were falling into the val ley below! Lawton was killed by that fall. Through some miracle-it was nothing short of miracle-I was sav- ed. Joe revived me from unconscious ness, and that night we buried Law ton within few feet of the scene of the struggle. Just as we finished covering over the body, Joe heard something moving in the bushes be- hind US. He hurried to the spot, and found nothing. A moment later we were startled by the sound of hoof- beats going down the trail. l was haunted by the thought that perhaps someone had seen us, but in time man. aged to drive it from my mind:
 "When we reached home Frances asked for her husband. could not tell her the truth, but, when was not near Joe told her all. He also told her the reason, which vindicated me in her eyes and brought me back her respect. She understood, thank God; and she forgave me! That night you were born and your mother died. With her last words she begged me to care for you and bring you up to be happy.
 "Very soon after your mothers death received a visit from two men whom had never known. They were a degraded looking pair, their attire rough, and their faces scared from a hard life in the hills. They spoke we'll, however, which surprised me; they must have been fairly well educated and, judged, had sunk to degredation in the;r early manhood. Their names you nave since heard. They were Drant and Rawls. They were the men who had seen us bury Lawton, and, as a reward had been offered by the au- thorities for the conviction of the mur- derer, they claimed blackmail, which l was forced to pay. They continued their demands for money until I could meet them no longer, and fled secretly to this little abode in the hills, bring Ing only you and Joe with me. We dug the shaft which leads to the mine, and developed it only enough to yield d living. It is as rich today as if it had never been touched. And it is yours when you read this, for shall have passed away. One-half of the chart is in an envelope that lies near this, the other half, which we took from I.awton's body, is in the main part Of the chest. Together they will serve to locate the mine. Alone, neither can help. But Yaqui Joe can also take you there. He is the only one alive, after pass away, who knows the location. That is all.
 "Your mother knew this story up to the point of her death. She forgave me. Can you, Nan, dear daughter of my heart, if not of my body? I ask you, Nan, though I can never hear your answer. may only live and die in hope.
 "Don Carlos Ybarra de Cordoba"
 Gwyn looked up from the manu- script as he finished reading. He saw that Mans eyes were filled with tears, but she brushed them away and forced a smile. Gwyn gazed at her, almost mechanically opening the other en- velope as he did so. From it he drew a folded sheet of paper as old and vel