Year: 1873

I found the old tree which the reverend
dreamer had particularly designated and
went to work at its roots. And ere long
my labors were rewarded. Beneath one
Of the main roots l found lump of pure
white metal as large as hens egg; and
upon further chopping and digging l
found several more smaller pieces. They
had evidently been taken from a molten
mass, and upon rubbing off the dirt l
found them all pure and bright.


That night l slept but little. / could
only lay awake and think of the vast
wealth that lay buried in that bleak hill
side. But what could ! do )? The lot
was not mine. and 1 should run great
rick if l troubled another mans prop
erty. And, moreover, if I made further
explorations while the land was not mine,
the secret might be divulged and the
vast wealth snatched from me. / must
purchase the Twist lot, and | had no
doubt that could purchase it for a mere
song.


On the next day 1 rode over to See
my cousin, and when l had spoken of
the Twist lot, be informed me that not
only that lot, but rumber of others
were for sale. They had been advertis
ed, and would be sold at auction in two
weeks. He called me fool when l told
him l should bid on the Twist lot but
l told him | bad looked it over and
made up my mind that my sheep could
find plenty of grazing there throughout
the summer months. He a,ked me if l
hadn't already got all the sheep-pasture
needed ; but l told him he need not
trouble himself.


During the next two weeks ! kept
quiet and held my tongue, giving no op-
portunity for my secret to become known.
On the appointed day l went over to- the
settlement where the land was to be sold.
1t was to be put up in hundred acre lots,
and sold by the original plans of the
Whitney purchase. Lot number one
was put up first, and sold for one-quarter
of cent an acre.


The next lot was the "Twist lot," so
called, and 1 heard it whispered that
iron and copper had been discovered
upon it a stranger in jocky clothes
started it at fifty cents an acre. Another
stranger, who wore blue frock and top
boots, bid seventy five.


There was more talk about iron and
ore. The man in the jockey suit said
that he had positive assurance that pure
iron ore had been found in some of the
gulches, and he bid one dollar an acre.
At this point l entered the contest and
bid one dollar and twenty five. Up
up-up--twenty five cents at time,
until at length had bid ten dollars an
acre. People called me crazy Ten
dollars an acre was more than the very
best land in the whole country was
worth. But held my bid, and kept my
own contest.


! And the Twist lot was knocked down
to me for just one thousand dollars. The
terms were cash. l told them to make
out the deed while | went home after the
money. And away 1 rode. 1 emptied
my old stocking of gold and silver, and
found nine hundred and fifty dollars. l
borrowed the other fifty Without trouble
at the settlement. and straightway pro-
ceeded to the Office of Squire Simpkins,
where the deed had been made. The
instrument was duly signed and sealed,
and when the Squire has assured me that
the payment of the money would make
all fast and safe, handed over the gold
and silver. p


observed that the name of John
Twist had been recently signed, and l
asked Simpkins if Mr.. Twist was pres
ent.


"He was present few minutes ago"
said Simpkins, "and will be back again
for his money. He's feeling pretty good
| should judge, since he has got rid of
his hundred acre lot for twice as much
as it cost him, and for thousand times
more than any sane man would think it
was worth. ...
Half an hour afterwards | called at
the Squire's agam. Mr.. Twist had just
gone out with his money.


There he is now said Simpkins. just
bound off


looked out the window, and saw at
the door of the inn. on the opposite side
of the way. tall man. in bottle green
coat, with bright, glaring buttons. just
mounting horse, l recognized the horse
and 1 recognized the man


"Who is that man 2" l asked he
with the green coat and brass buttons ?


THAT" said Simpkins sis Mr.. John
Twist"


In moment more the man in the
bottle green coat had ridden away, with
his heavy saddle bags behind him, and
buttoned up within that coat l beheld
my reverend guest 1t rushed upon me
that the Rev. Paul Meekmore and John