Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1925-06-05

from those initials"
Lee wondered at Railways agita-
ton. The man seemed quite beside
himself. He twined his fingers in his
black beard, and shambled away with
his peculiar hunched slouch Lee led
him to the cross above the little grave,
II think that's proof" he said
quietly.
But Railway, clenching and un-
clenching his fists, said nothing. Lee
went back, calling Joyce, and they
proceeded in the direction of the cave.
Lee pointed out the pans and cradle,
and the proofs Of dynamiting.
AYE, but the gold-wheres the
gold" Railway demanded.
II have seen none" answered Lee,
"and, If you remember, l made no
guarantee as to it."
How do know you haven't taken
1t away?" Railway shouted. AYE,
you may have stolen my gold as you
stole my wife. You may be planning
to take my wife and my gold away
together"
Lee looked at him in amaZement,
for Railway was nearly crazed by
some passion, probably, Lee thought,
the anticipation of obtaining the treas
ure of old Pelly.
1--WE taken no gold and I've seen
none," he answered. II must again
remind you of our agreement, Rath-
way"
Railway pulled himself together
with an effort. AYE, that's all right"
he answered. "This looks like Pelly's
mine. Let's look inside. Have you
been inside, Anderson"
"Ive only explored the entrance"
Lee answered. II brought no candle
with me last time I was here"
Relighting the candle, he preceded
Railway within. The sound Of the
distant roaring came Immediately to
their ears. By the candle light Lee
saw fresh footprints on the sands
They were made by a man wearing
moccasins, no doubt Leboeuf. He did
not call Railways attention to them,
and Railway, absorbed with his eager
ness to find the treasure, noticed moth
ing. Lee wondered, however, what the
Indian had been doing in the cavern.
The cave grew narrower; then, just
when Lee thought that they had
reached the end, it suddenly vaulted
out and up into large chamber.
The roaring Of the waterfall imme-
diately became accentuated as the
sounds echoed from wall to wall. By
the light of the candle they could
now see what looked like a sheer drop
into darkness Immediately in front
of them.
They drew back from the edge has
tily. But the next moment they per-
ceived that what they had taken for
a precipice was river, inky black, a
swift and perfectly soundless stream
rushing through the cavern from side
to side of the mountain.
1t emerged through a low tunnel in
the rock and disappeared through an
other, barely two feet in height, upon
the other side And the roaring that
they heard was not caused by this
stream within the cave, but by some
instant cataract. either beyond the
mountain or deep within the bowels
Of the earth.
There were evidences, in the shape
Of rusty pots and kettles, and disinte-
grating tins strewn about the place,
that this had been Pelly's head
quarters, while on the opposite side Of
the cavern there was a deep sand
tunnel extending into smaller cavern
under the wall, showing that Pelly had
worked this part for gold. And the
whole interior was piled high with
wood ashes and remains Of charred
logs.
This seemed, in fact, to be the heart
of Pelly's gold mine.
Suddenly Railway, who had been
wandering apparently aimlessly about
the interior, uttered shout and
leaped toward the obscurity Of the op-
posite wall. In another moment he
had returned, dragging with him
large sack, from whose mouth tiny
yellow particles exuded.
AS If unconscious Of the presence Of
Lee and Joyce, he kneeled down, and,
muttering feverishly, began untying the
cord about the sacks mouth. The gap
ing sides disclosed a pit Of gold.
Gold in fine dust gold in nuggets.
Railway plunged his arms within the
sack up to the elbows, chuckling and
mumbling There was a fortune in
that bag, the accumulation Of old
Pelly's years Of nocturnal labors. 1t
was impossible to estimate it, but 1t
would make Its possessor a very rich
man for life.
well, I'm glad you've got It," said
Lee.
But he was thinking bitterly OF
Joyce's loss.
He turned away. Suddenly some in
stinct caused him to duck and spin
around. The flash of flame spurted al
most into his face He heard Jeyces
cry ring through the cavern.
Railway had pulled second pis-
tal from his clothes and fred at Lee