Year: 1878

the depositors in and forwarders by that
great California express and banking
house, and causing general doubts con-
cerning the soundness of rival institu-
tions, large and small. Thirdly, Dick
had just disposed of his interest in the
Muletown Deep Gravel Diggings for
the comfortable sum of 100000, dust in
hand and as it was more money than
he had ever before possessed, it was
calculated to shake his nerves some
what when he looked at the glittering
heap, and fondly reflected that it was
all his own.


What should he do with it ? - that
was the question. He had already re-
flected upon its future employment. He
was going to invest it in wing-dam on
the Yuba, for the purpose of mining
portion of the river-bed, popular and
occasionally profitable sort of enterprise
at that date but first of all he meant to
bring matters to a crisis with Jessie
Fairbanks, the belle of Muletown, who
had plagued him now with six
months heartache; who, he believed,
was not altogether Indifferent to his
peculiar style of masculine attractions,
not enjoy life great while longer. He
had determined, therefore, laying aside
all other business and excuses whatso-
ever, as the lawyers phrase it, to attend
strictly to his little suit in the high
court of Cupid, until it should be ended
and true verdict rendered, favorable or
otherwise.


presume he was right enough in this
course. Perhaps under similar circum-
stances should not have done exactly
as he did but he was in many respects
peculiar fellow; whatever he did he did
with all his might; and while he had
been devoting himself heart, brain
and muscle to the excavation of the
Muletown Deep Gravel Diggings, other
fellows were forestalling him in the re-
gard of his pretty little blue-eyed
charmer. have no doubt, now that 1
reflect upon it, that the best thing he
could do was to pursue the course he did;
for, between you and me, gallant young
masculine reader, there isn't a word of
truth in the old saying eff you would
WOO a maid, you must seldom be in her
of sight, out of mind" is vastly more
applicable in majority of cases. Yes,
undoubtedly Richard was right.


But what to do with his dust, that was
the perplexing question. Adams & Co.
had failed. Wells, Fargo & Co. might
also fail; and Styles, who had been
badly shaken by the late financial ca
tastrophe, was not for moment to be
thought Of 1t would not do to keep
the treasure in his cabin-that would be
a temptation sufficient to entice passably
honest men to crime. He would bury
it.


So in the night, at the hour 'when
church-yards yawn," he dug hole be-
side very ordinary looking manzanita
bush, placed his bags of dust therein,
carefully covered them up, and returned
home satisfied that no one had witness
ed the act, and that the hiding place of
his wealth would remain undiscovered
until he chose to exhume it himself


Devoting himself not with his accus-
toned energy and single-heartedness of
purpose to the business of wooing, he
prospered in his suit to the utmost de-
sire of his heart. What young lady, with
little beyond her proud birthright of
beauty, could resist lover so devoted
and withal so pleasing, and with thirty
thousand dollars buried among the roots
of manzanita bush Jennie Fair
banks could not; so in a reasonable
length of time she consented to name
the happy day, received the congratula-
tions of her family and friends with be-
coming modesty, and thenceforth, as
was right, assumed laughter carriage
and higher style when promenading the
streets of Muletown.


Pretty Jessie had insisted upon set
ting the wedding-day six months later
than the date of her engagement. 1
could never altogether understand why
young women almost invariably prefer
long engagements = never, by any
means, If they can help it, falling below
six months. Courtship is delightful
thing, know but when the parties
truly love each other, matrimony, in
spite of its disenchantments and sober
realities, is more delightful still. The