The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1922-03-23
In Dykeman's
Culch
By MARVIN ST. JOHNS

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Copyright. 1922. Western Newspaper Union
go tell that to the marines-foot
soldiers won't stand It'll"
The little spare man with soft,
dreamy eyes and the face of poet
bowed in deprecatory manner and
left the noisy messroom of the Kim.
berly diamond mines.
One man among the group arose and
followed him. " -
wait moment" he spoke, LAYING
a gentle OBTAINING hand on the man
who had preceded him.
What is it you wantl" inquired the
latter.
i heard your story in yonder."
"Well~
And l believe it. You want some
one to share your venture. am your
man. If you will accept me-"
A great calm and soft content over.
spread the features Of the man ad.
dressed. He simply put out his hand
to clasp that of the other.
"They laughed at me in yonder," he
said; Il, who located the big Rhodes
claim and have spent ten years in the
district. l am still John Brazelton,
still know when ! see a bit
OF gllttering spar and real diamond,
even mile away. There is one at
Dykemans Gulch. | have seen It and
1t IS mine. You heard my story and
believe it, you say. Then we become
partners"
ITO the extent Of my limited means
"a bare $500, all--all I have in the
world" r..
ut is more than sufficient. All we
neeo IS a wagon, team of mules,
some tackle and provisions"
"And then?'
Patience and-riches"
Bruce Beresford led his new part.
Ter to his room. As they entered It
mlld-faced, blue-eyed man arose
rom polishing a rifle and some pis.
oils at little table
This is my friend and to be trust:
d. He is Vaclav 'Polski," introduced
'eresford. "Now, then, Mr.. Brazel.
on, tell your story over again."
IN few words the gem prospector re.
lted his story. In lonely mountain
ulch 200 miles away, while camping
It night ne had awakened to have his
ye liked hundreds Of feet up the per.
cliff side upon a great
quescent mass Of prismatic light.
Just at that phase Of the moon, Just
that hour the lunar rays rested for
erhaps fifteen minutes across q sur.
ace, small but distinct, studded with
parkles Of prismatic brilliancy.
"Diamonds!" pronounced the old or.
ert positively. Embedded In the pct.
ned clay, thrown there by some up.
eaval OF nature they shcne down.
romised fortune. Then the glow
assed with the shifting moon rays
You could not fix the spot2' cues.
oned the interested Beresford,
How could |? Why, l dared not
owe to lose the focus l might not
ter regain"
The plans for proceeding to Dyke.
ans Gulch were talked over and
sresford pledged himself to the en-.
rprise.
Two years preyioushe had left home
d pretty Ethel Rayner to seek his
rtune.
JUST after his arrival at Cape Town
mad come across a poor feyer-strick.
wretch, homeless, friendless, This
's his present companion, or rather
pensloner, Vaclav Polski. The
ung man had been a crack target
rformer with show that had be-
ne stranded. He had been aban. :
ned to his misery and poverty. S
'olski was just recovering from his :
less. His gratitude, his fidelity to. )
I'd Beresford was touching. I.
Two weeks to a day after leaving .
mines the little party Of three ar.
60 at Dykeman's Gulch. They .
nped In the valley.
was shortly after eight O'Clock
60 the moon, clearing d lofty ledge
I It's full refulgence upon the face
the great steep bluhl.
It Is there-see look! / have not