Search America's historic newspaper pages from 1756-1963 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities external link and the Library of Congress. Learn more
Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL
Newspaper Page Text
mmmmmmmm "drew 12 and cursed viciously. Five others followed. It came the turn of Ramon. With his usual deference and timidity he approached the bag put in his hand and drew out blank! There was a dead silence except for a low murderous hiss from the lips of Bad Gib. Then the bluff, hearty Dan grasped one hand of the aston ished but delighted Ramon, in honest congratulation and placed the won derful gem in the palm of the other. It was only for a very few hours that Ramon enjoyecl his opulent pos session. The glittering eyes ef Bad Gib followed him every move he made. He shuddered when he met that metallic gleam probing, men acing. Still more distraught the poor native became when it was announc ed that they would trek in a body to the nearest river settlement, then they would break up, each man go ing his own way. Ramon realized that it was not within the range of possibility that he would reach Cape Wold, the first met ropolitan safety point m the district Sure" was he that it had become the one motive of life with the sanguinary scoundrel, Bad Gib, to trail him step by step, to catch the critical moment and despoil him of his lawful posses sion", the Rajah. There were others in the group who coveted the precious gem, but; border honor was sacred with them. While they were heedless as to the security of Ramon, they would not deliberate ly set a plot to rob him. He must, however, protect himself. They ig nored and forgot him and his prince ly possession. Ramon sought Big Ben at dusk, He led him aside, Bad Gib watching his every movement, was glowering at him darkly from a near distance. "You are my friend," spoke the na tive to Ben. "Listen it is" fate. The man who drove my mother to starva tion, death, and my only friend, Bur ridge, after her, will "never allow me to get to Cape Wold with my treas ure.'' , "Give him the slip, Ramon," advis ed Ben bluffly. 1 ""1 cannot hope it," asserted Ramon,? dolefully. "My friend, see I must carry ft about with me. I dare not hide it, for he is watching me." Ramon drew out a chamois bag and shook it As he restored it to "his bosom the eyes of the observing Gib shone like two living coals of fire. "If you would do something for me," suggested Ramon plaintively. "See, friend," and he held up a knobbed club. It was of some hard forest wood, hacked by usage and blackened by time. All of the camp knew of this souvenir pf the father of Ramon, who had been a 'native ,chlef. It was a war club, sacredly .treasured by the son. "You will reach Cape Wold in safe ty," Ramon resumed. ''If perchance Burridge has reached theret or my mother, or you find only those of my kin, give them this family memento." "Sure, I will," acquiesced Ren, will ingly, but casually. "Don't giveup, Ramon. Light out You know all the trails. You ought to be able to slip 'Bad Gib. That night Ramon stole away from the camp. Within an hour Bad, Gib was also missing. Big Ben shook his head gravely. A month later to a day Ben arrived at Cape Wold. A surprise greeted him, for he found Burridge there, and in the same little .hotel, beingViursed under his direction, the mother of Ramon. Burridge told a vivid story of how he had come across the outcast wo man in the wilderness, nearly starved" and in delirium. He took the war club. The next morning he gave-it to the sick woman. i A week later, worn to a skeleton" with wild eyes and mixed emotions ofi excitement and delight, Ramon ar rived on the scene. When he learned of all that Bur ridge had done for his mother he f air-I ly 'groveled at his feet in a paroxysm? of extravagant gratitude. Mfifittfigitfiiiitiiiiiiijfiiiltt