Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-02-07
LET me carry them," he entreated

tie lila not see her until late the
second day. Most Of the intervening
time he had spent In gold-seeking,
and WAS now over live miles from the
railroad At length, discouraged, he
grunt of disgust.
"Feel as bad as thatf' a girls voice
Querled
He peered round some shrubs, Mar
garet was sitting on the ground not
ten feet away.
"WOrse." he answered, as he rose
and Joined her. I'm suppresslng most
of 1t. And I'm beginning to believe
those birds must have made flying
visits Off to Sheep Range for the
gold"
mo. It's here somewhere" she In
sisted. Though I'm through. Look
yonder!"
A rabbit, sitting dozen feet away.
regarded them wisely. Sam dropped
a hand to the ground, and began to
finger round for a small stone.
But as his hand rose, she clutched
~ ifuhlcuiiy' Oh, tOVhi iOoh' ShO
cried
"At what, the rabbit" that was
scurrying away at sound of her voice.
mo. your hand"
He looked, and Gasped The stone
was a piece Of gold as large as q
walnut.
"G-o-s-hl" he exclaimed. "Tve heard
the god Fate is blind. believe 1t
now"
They were both on their feet by this
time, their eyes searching the ground
swiftly. Sam saw another nugget,
smaller, glistening in the sun. Then
the girl found three. In an hour they
had dozen or more each, some
hardly large enough to be seen.
"Notice the long depression we're
in" said the girl, as she Strengthened
up and studied the surroundings
thoughtfully. 81 wouldn't wonder II
1t was some ancient river-bed. There
are a lot Of small sink-hole springs
through the scrub One near here.
Perhaps It's a drinking place for tur-
keys, after which they peck about.
The bits of gold attract their atten-
ton. Well. it's getting too dark to
see, so I'll 60 on to camp"
"Not leaving in the morning, | sup
poser" asked Sam, jocularly.
mot for a few days." smiled the
girl. 81 shall be here at daylight"
"Find me right on the spot"
During the next ten days they saw
good deal of each oher, and at the
end Of 1t they met at the track, to flag
the train when 1t should come. Each
had a comfortable little buckskin bag
filled with something, which each held
carefully concealed so 1t should not
be conspicuous on the train.
Soon Sam began to look uneasy.
"Why doesn't your father conner"
he asked at length. pretty near train
time He wouldn't want to be left
Shall I go and"
mo, father Is dead" the voice striv-
ing to keep from breaking. HE died
a few days after shot the turkey.
and when | went away 1t was to take
his body home We've had been ex.
pecting 1t for over a year, though 1t
was none the less hard when 1t came.
| returned to look after his papers
and the crates consigned to my care.
and of course with some little hope
Of finding gold"
A shrill whistle was heard In the
distance. Sam stepped to the middle
Of the track.
"What are you expecting to do,
Margaret?" he asked-"lf you don't
mind telling"
go straight to the city and enter
fOur-years' college course" prompt
ly. "Pm pretty old for It. eighteen,
but my education has been neglected
roaming round with father, and want
to make It up. shall rent a suite
of rooms nearby for mother"
sand buy back your homer"
"Of course, but will let the present
people live In 1t till l get through col
lege. What are your plans. SamT
Haven't any, much shall send
big sum to astonlsh my folks, first,
then--but say" as new thought
seemed to fash to his mind, ~ never
thought much about real schooling,
because there never seemed any pos
sible chance for It. I've taught my
self some. hit and miss. But now
do you know OF any nice college for
overgrown boys who shaver"
"There's said to be a splendid one
1--WE miles from my town"
"Fine! I'm going straight there and
enter for tOur.years' course"
He stepped Off the track as the train
ratified up and then helped the girl on
board.