Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1919-10-23
Far Flotsa,1l
b RALPH HAMILTON

By RAlPHfiANlLToN
t0ss,nsx ials. by Western Nswspapss untea.l
..Father!"
Breathlessly vesta Woods uttered
the word. Then, spellbound, she stood
looking down ut heap of bank notes
and a dozen or more articles Of rich
jewelry. OF the latter there were
rings set with diamonds. scarfpins. Q
massive watch and chain.
John Woods had thrown his arms
protectingly over the opulent heap.
vesta did not like an expression In his
eyes she had never noted before. She
read a newborn avarice. the gloating
longing Of q spirit that suggested Sc
crecy and temptation. Then the pure.
sweet presence beside him appealed
to the better nature Of the old man.
Fl know what you're thinking, Yes
tn" he said-"that all this wealth
can't be my own. know what you
are going to say-that 1t must 60 to
It's rightful owner. Ihhge been tempt
ed. but haven't intended to keepit.
Oh! truly. vesta. Human natureSis
human nature. though, aid I've held Il
Ton a week. dreaming OF the comfort
Il would bring to, as"
'Where did you get It all. fatherT
"From mans vest, tangled In q
floating tree branch, floating down.
stream. It's freshet spoil. vesta. You
remember the terrible fi1,,d Of week
before last. Well, some :,oor victim
! probably got caught in II, cast aside
his clothing to tighten himself so he
could swim ashore, never caring for
wealth as against his life.';
The freshet, the hood1 vesta re.
called that thrilling season Of havoc
| and destruction Iii which even human
habitations had become tho sport OF
the rushing waters. She an her aged
father had done heroic worl In behalf
Of the sufferers. More than one beg
CARED victim they had housed tenn.
porarily. more than one lift. they had
saved. They had lost their boat and
their ramsliackly barn.
| It was no marfel that John Woods
had been tempted for the pl aspect for
/; the year ahead WINS one that presaged
| privation aud ineessant lab.r on the
6ve-acre plst of farming la,.d..'s Now,
however, the inEate integrity Of his
soul was aroused through v1sta. He
said with sigh: There's over 1--WE
thousand dollars worth in m.ney. and
the jewelry must be worth half "a
much more"
"Yes. father" p.,dded vesta steadily.
"What are we Eoing to do scout it1''
"Find its lawfst owner and restore
It to him." came the definite and de.
cided reply. '.Tnen not a dollar OF
the money-it wonld be robbery on or,r
part to use It otherwise loust be
touched, except IA an effort to ind the
man who lost IT,
vesta secreted the splendid ,poil Of
the flood in safe hiding phase; sys.
temalcally she advertised In the
newspapers sof. every town along Q
stretch Of one hundred miles ulignina
the river upstream. A concise adver
tisement notified fhe reader that some
valuable property had been found In q
vest floating downstream. dun ing the
flood period. One ring, the notice
stated. bore the inscriptions, aUri,
from Mother" Us
Every week fJt SIX month"; Vests
kept up this Advertising, but with no
result. She had decided, when an.
other month went by, to 60 to some
lawyer and learn what her next legal
and moral duty In the premises should
be. Then came the crop seasoL. Mr..
Woods fell Ill. vesta was oyerbur.,
dened with the extra labor aud put
up a notice In the village post ONCE
Offering two months work for:
helper at fair pay.
She never forgot the day when an
answer came to the notice, in the
appearance Of young man who ap.
piled for the task. He was pale and
thin, and Vesta doubted II he had the
rugged strength adequate to the work
required. His pleasant face smiled,
however, as he gid:
1--WE been 81 the hospital for two
months, out OF II Just the same length
Of time. but there isn't day that j
don't gain and frai stronger. Try me,
miss. I've got 70 Ind work and want
TO keep away frmn the city
what alo you rnean BY that1s ques
/ tipned both pretty and practical Yesta.
@Just This: ma gone through the,
deep waters, a. one might phrase II.
! was spendthrift and q sot. Money
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