The Ottawa free trader. [volume], October 02, 1886, Image 6

About The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916

Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

                
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THE STORY OF A MINE.
; Ey EEETEARTil
Cop righted, lssd. by IIoiiK'hton, f iffim Co., ami
published by arrangement with ihem.J
CIIAPTEIl I.
WHO SODJIIT IT.
T was n steep trail
loading over tlio
I
I
'X
rang". Concho w as
very tired, C'nni'ho
wits very dusty,
Concho was very
".
im.c'i lisu.-.U?l. To
(.(iiu'Iio'h mind
tin to was I 'lit otic,
relief f"r th'"' in
siinii'Miiit.i,.!i' dilT!
culti"s, ami that lay
in a leu! IrTu I
.f ll!i Hldii".
lie ..lung over tli" ma hilla
Concho raU'd 'I"' Ix'l'ili' to
his 1 :. tool: a I"'1
Irnught,
made a wry
. and ejaculated:
i ".irnjo;"
1: nppenrod t'nut the 1 1 1 1
ricin.i ii ut-, hut lately
il l not
'iitain
1 in n
i h )
,,l,.as-
tavern lifur Tr.-s Pinos
v an !n!nn
juil'l li.'i'l Aiiieri'-an whisky in:
in ( 'M-li'.iali title. N.'vr'.ln I'"
r that
, ( I'll '
li.nl
uln , ly af'i:-!v.".;ti"l th" '-''1
a I; a,-".i!'..'. tin- sad'l!'.' n y.'ii"V.
a?, his own eluH'ks. Tlui- r--'-n f. r
, a:i-l it f '!
an.l I'.arrM
-.-.I, ( ui'-ho
tai n. .1 t'i lin.k nt. tli') valley 1
win j h" l.a.l iliiiil' i .:ii'
I, in, I hiai, fro;n
n.Niii. It was a
m l there l'.v ura
l'Hiil, I nit ill
-t ;i:e v.a-te liOi'lcT'il h 'i''
!.! f. ii''s uii'l vaMas of pi'
tho main dity, dry and foihi'Min,,-. eye
rei 1 for a moiin'iit on a ..w , w hit.. l"iid
hue on the ea-t.Tii h.i'i"ii, hut w mo kin;,'
un ! i:".ul'Stan!i::l that it swim-d to roine aiid
t l..M"izl. (.'oni ho stril' k hi- forehead
i v.iak.J his Uott-y.-Ji.ls. Was it the Sierras
:r Ihe euivd Anii'i ii'an w hi.-k f
A.;ain li" Pt "itinieivel th.-as.- iit At tinvs
th.' half-worn, half-hivUihle tniil U',-a:ii" ut-
ferly l -t in ii K-iro him k out-i-r. p of tho
ri.' ; hut Li. wai i"iis inul'.' ooii fuiind it
-..::i. until, i-t. I'l'iii til'O'i a .-. howMer,
.),,. 5.i::H. un.l felL 1" vain (VikIio ti i'l to
- 4 . . i. . i . .
!.:t
.!-.i-
1. .r f:-..-.i i.'if the nan oi ca.'Ii i i." i -i'"'.
;- etia i'..:is and pi 'ks; M.
e reliiaili'-.l
raisin If r
i. 'lv i-.'."iii.!-nt, (k-ea-i'.Tially
i -it if to eoatein; .latively tfMW ov.T tie I
Kr,- i.ktin Ik1"v. Tl.' ii lu bad rt-ourso to
,M.-a. Then !; i .ayi-.l iT'faiaty of
t .r bitvl, uu-h A-ti.--iii," 'Tlii' f,"
a-: v. :tii a i ;'s h. ad." fr the VM'i
. ; a no
1 iv :
!.ii 1-'
. "U I.
f.s t.
t
-ir:
Ah.
l. it
Hi".
;. I'v
Hill
tiiv
, I ' !!' ,
mast.
id"
r, a
r
r. 'a
1
. t u
(
t
1 Ull-
I..-. 1 n un! of i-i"its hii'.'-,-..ad
this kind "i e'a"i ta
u:x in a " '! si i.i- ulletnpt :
., 'i t.
1! in.
' . !'.'e;- ,-.f t!ie allar! ll') not tHer"!
1, .. " h" t'iin-v Lis hand ii.t"liie air, i xl u.l
r.; th" ii'i,:'-rs uuddenly. "leh"M, lieiid! 1
v-.:,i n'tli'S''. I la: tiTiiiMest : Uk hut a lit
1.. n..w-.v: Apostat.-: l-l-fseoiuinuni-
.a..- th"e-Mala:"
' . I.at are you ki"kii:0' nj' su h a deilof
nv. clown theiv for.'" sai l a Kiuli voire fioi'j
tii id. !:s a!"iv".
nai h'i shn M 'fed. foul I it !' that the
I, ilvvas reahy K"i'io Vollyaway with hU
mile. I lu dare'l not look up.
"I i line now," eonUnti'-d the voi.'e, '"il ju .t
lit up on th.-it mule, yun d d old dr. -user.
Ii.it,'' you we die's slipp"d her shoul h i t"
A'-i; ined its Coneho w.isat the Information,
he i"iuid not help feeb'n,; to H eortniii extent
-. hi'V-l. -lie was hinied, hut had ii"t loa her
stall iiii a:i a khm1 C.itholi".
H ventiinsl to lift his eyes. A stranger
(in Aiueriea.no from his divs. and aeeeui
.-ttiiNdeseendiiiutho rocks toward him. Ho
va.sa Klight built man with a dark, smooth
r.-iee, that would have Imh h iputu eomiuon
plaeo ami in".pntivii but for his left cyi', In
uhi. h all that, was villainous in him Ap
parently eenU red. rShtlt that eye, mid you
bad tho f".'iturvs and exprensioii of an or
luiary tii'iu; cover Ui tins" lentiires, and th
i e s'i'ivvti out like. Kbits' own. Nature hud
Hi'pareatly olx-rved thii too, und had, by a
P ir:!y.-i.i of tho utirv, ironieally dropjied tho
o; m r of t!io ujimt lid over it like a curtain,
iaii .li'.d at h"r handiwork, and turned him
)' a- to pi-ey upon tho ermUiloiis world.
!V,'hat nro you doin here;'' Kaid tho
;-;,:;;; 'r t;!'t r he had assisted Com ho ill
l.i !i:.;ia- th raiiln to her fei-t, nnd a b; '.idesa
halt.'
' I'l osH'"t ill",, Seiior."
Tlie t .trniier turned his rit-iMt tiihlo ri:;ht
rye toward ('oneho, w hili his left lookist
iinutteralili) beorn and wi. kedness ovir tho
la ir h 'ape.
' l'rospeoting, what forC
"l'rapectiny, ulwl fur f
'Ooll und silven, Kt-noN-yi't for silver
i . "
4. . . .v.
"Aiou.-r
Of its th.ere are four."
i i.e sti linger lookisl moiin L
in camp a leauo beyond," expUtiuisl
the ;ieT-an.
"Found anything?"
' Of this nuieU." Cotielio took from bis
enddh'bagsaluiiipof prnjLsb iron on, studded
here and tliere with t.-ir joints erf pyriten.
The stranger said nothing, but Lin eye looked
djabolic&l Migjceatino.'
-. a 4.15 lu' ky, fi ieiJ Creahur."
-JJiif
"It ia silver."
"How you know tlif"
"It ii my bukiuaw. I'm a nit4llurjift"
IS'
"And you can say what Hhall be EUver ami
what is now" "
yt..s,;o! here!" The ftrongor took from
his saddle hugs a littlo leather cu.-o con-
tainlng mnn half don phials. One, en-
u nipjHwl in dark Lluo -uiper. ha held up to
Condio.
"This contains a preparation of diver."
Concho' even sparkled, but be looked
doubt ingly at the stranger.
"Got mo snino water in your pan."
Concho if mptied his water Ijottlo in hi pros-
s ting pan and handed it to the itrauger.
He dipped a driod blade, of graw In the bot -
tie and then let drop full from its tip in th
wat-r. Thu waUT reiiminoiJ uiKliang.tl. rv,n below, and in a few
"Now throw a hub halt in the water," kai l ,,.( th0 furnivo wm in full blast,
tho hi ranger. j jr Wibt did not partieipato in thesn
Concho did so. Inntantly a whlto film np- , B,.tiw. preparations, eseept to give o.-jx-aivdon
th" Ktirfai',andpresf:it!y thowl.ol.) vi.j,,nu ,iir,.,.ti,(iis l.'twwn his t-th, whi,h
mass a.ssuine.1 a milky hu". ! w,,ri, contemplatively flxel over a clay pio
Co'h ho cr se.1 hiiiwlfhMtily, "Mother of f s ), liiv ,.,,.f,,r,Hi,iv ,u back on tho
tjod, it is liiagic:'' pround. WhaUtver enji'viuent the rascal
"Iwjs chloride of nilver, you duniM f.vil ." I bavehad lu their us.'less labors he di 1
Not eoiileiit with this cheap expf rimmit,
the stran.'jer then toik Coin ho's hreath a'.vay
1 v ivildenia Home litnuin p;er wirti thu
nitrite, flnd then euinplett-Iy kii'K'k'Nl over
Ci" Mmpl" Mexieon Ir r.-toiiin; it ivlor hy
dh-.t-iiri it i:i tho -wilt wut. r.
' V"ii ?ha!l trv rue thii," i I "'
.'liellO, i fT'T-
i i x hi i'"!i "i'e t" the tra!igr;
us- tli" silver mid the Kiik."
'Not so f.'tt my fii'tid," nr.
y.'mr. : r; "in 0: tir4 phe " thi "
Liel!.-.!, f 1 ; 1. 1 t'leii : rliin tf.K'i"! l
"yini slial)
vrrfd t'.o
'i e t:i!i .1 1
ta 1 pu in
s.i i- f 'ii.-'
lay -.-.-i.-.-r
hi'"ii I all hi y
- .'ii 1 tha' is w.
li.'iiili. N'. sir,
i;:ili at I'ri i''i:r
;h sota. 'hi:i,;,
a t::'i:i d"'i't
; and Il"id"l-
bi;:g to t!:row a way his s.i. n i grutiut.
I Oil the tl"st I Ir. IS T he Ill'S-ts."
I "I; will i st t-'a how mti hi" svii 1
'isly
the
; S.-sicm eag'
' "W.-ll. Jsh'.'.ii l.-avit. would ta eal."Ut fbX)
a'i'l i x;" !i.s-.s to to - llnd silvi r in that on'.
Hut on. e vuii've got it there you'ro all right
f. r tons of it."
"You hhali have it," said the now er-it'sl
Mexicuti. "You shall have it of us-the
four! You shall come to our rnmp end shall
nif lt it aud khow the silver, and -enough!
Cotne!'' and in hi fcvei ishieiis he clutch'sl
tlio h ni l of la, coinpaniou as if to lead him
forth at onis'.
"What bid you going to do wi.h your
mul said the tranger.
"'l',-i". h dy ttiDth r what, in h-o-lf
"IyK'k yer," said the stranger, with n grim
stuile, -sho won't ktray fr, I'll bj bound.
I I'v in extra pack niulo above Uerc; you can
ri ! oti Ir r, and lea. I me into camp, and to
morrow com'? back for your beast."
I'. or hoin -t Concho's ln-art si -keiied at th"
pro-of I'-aving behind tho tirrd s.-rvatit
i b In-I objiirgut.sl strongly n moment
' I 're, 1 nt 111 1 ivo of jrold was tip;ierriio-t. ' I
I w,:j ''-laeb.ck to thee, little r.ne, to-morrow,
a n a ir'i!!. .Meanwhile, wu.t tuou n.-re,
paJ- n one Adiosl tiiou smallest of inn',' s
A-.-l
iii'C thi Ftranger's hsn 1, ho clmn
t'.i" id- ky led, y until tin y r- ac-li'd
nit-. Th.n the stranger turn, d mid
" sweep of bis tnalevohnt eye ov. r
pave
th" vr.ll.-y.
Wh.'icf. .r", in after years, wh"n their
story wan related, with the devotion of t run
C.ilhchc pi itiiM'rs, they named the mountain
"L'l Canada do la Visitaciua del llinblo,"
'The (liil' h of tho Visitation of the Ivvil,"
th'isame being now tho lxuindary lined of
viir of the famotis Mexican land grants.
CIIArTRR IL
WHO FOUND IT.
ONCIIO wnisoim
patimt to reach tho
camp and deliver
his good news to his
companions that
more than once tiio
stranger was
obliged to command
him to slacken his
puco. "is it not
enough, you infer
nal (Sreaacr, that
you lame your own mule, but you must try
your hand on mine? Or am I to put Jinny
lown iiinonj tho expenses)'' ho od'led ith
a grin and n slight lifting of his baleful rye-
lid.
When they had ridden a mile along the
ridgo thev liegnn to descend again toward tho
vulley. Vegetation now paiingly hordon-d
tho trail, dumps of chemisal, nn occasional
maiiJiuit.'t bu.sh and one or two dwarfist
"buckeyes" rooted their way between the
interstii-cs of tin- Mack gray rock. Now und
then, in croei!:i( some dry gully, worn by tho
overflow of winter torretita from iilsjve, the
grnyit.li rock glcsmi was relieved by dull rtsl
and M own maa-'Sof color, and almost every
over'.iuneiu ivx k bore I hn mark of a miner's
pick. Presently, an they rounded tho curv
ing flank of tb mountain, from a rocky
licncli IkiIow them, a tldu ghost like stream
of smoke '! 1 1 lie Rtmdily drawn by in
visiblo handa into (he LuvUlblo ether. "It ia
tho camp," aid Concho, glivfully, "I will
myscrf forward to prepare them for Jhostrun
ger," und lvefoiu his co:.inion rouM detain
him bo hud disappeared ut a sharp canter
around tho curvu o the trail
Ix ft to himself, tho strangor took a mora
lelsurel pai.s, which l"ft him atHplo tlmo for
rell.s-tinii. Scamp as bo win, therv wassomo
thing in tho aimplo credulity of jsir Concho
thut made him uneasy. Not that his moral
couscioiisuesti Win bmchml, but he feared that
Concho's conianiiHis might, knowing Con
cho's simplicity, instantly mrscct himof trad
ing iimii it. lie rodo on in a dis'p study.
Was be reviewing his past lifof A vagaliond
by birth and education, a nwlndler by profes
sion, tin outcast by reputation, wit In nit abso
lutely tumin his lck upon rvspeotubility,
be had trembltsl on tho perilous elgo of crim
inality ever since bis bo) hood. lie did uot
scruple to client them M ex leans they were a
degraded nice und for a moment he felt al
most nn aeerislitej agent cf progreM and tlv
ihitioii. Wo never really understand tho
moaning of wulightenment nutil we begin to
use it aggrensively.
A few iis-s furthor a four figures ap
peail in thu now gathering darkness of the
trad. Tho t ranger cpiickly reingnLusI tho
lieaming gmilM of Concho, foremost of Uio
jsiily. A quick fiance at the faces of the
other sntislicd him that while they Uicked
Concho's g'"l humor, they certainly did not
curttt.-c him in intellort lnlro waa slout
vupi.ro. llttiuel wimatdunhiilf nl and
ex4uvert of tlie MiJai of Son Cartad, and
Miguel a went but. her of MonU'rey.
Under the N nign iufluencHi of ConelMi that
RUipi'.-ioa wita which la ignoraut rrjajd
I ttrnnger, died away, and the whole isvty t-
rort0l tl0 stranp'r -who bail given his nanm i
as Mr J.M-.b Wiles-to their ramp lire. S" Tr'-"" "''PJuei.---wiere. xuou goexX
onxlous were they to 1cin their experiment ' 'm' Tl"s '-v I have thee, lit
that even tho instinct of Ix.ital.t v wen.; t; v-' ti.ucl,ncha-xin and IU
forgotten, and it was not until Mr. Wiles- until he hod quite furgott.nthe defec
now known as "Don JW-shari.lv niiiin.kl 1 t10" wf ,,w "-'.'anions. And even w hen hu
them that bo wanted mo "grub," that they Humld-rcd hi orry pudi, ho wan fain to
rami) to their wnses. When tho frugal meal
tif tort ilhts, frijoloM, kalt pork, and cb'-olat
was over, an oven was built of tho dark rod
rix k brought from tho ledgo ls-fore them, and
an larthenwaro jv, claaKl by some i.s-uliar
, ()(,nl j,r,H.,W( tight'' fitted over it, and pa. kisl j
1 wjfh an l A firu WHJj Sj,v,iiv iujit j
f u,Ui:hs continually brought from u
li' t show- it, but It wits observed that bis left
rvi'i fteti fi.'.iowisl the li!"ild figUft' i f the i X
va'picro, l'tslro, and often dwelt o:i that w. r
thv's ! tiiii. brows and half s;iag" face.
M.vtii;;; that baleful flinee ovce, I'edro
proAicd out ,i-i oath, but could n--t its -t u
bid's Ms fiis.-i laiioil that calls, d him i' lia
a:id H.iin t" s. ek it..
Th" s i He :.s wt ird enough w i'li nit Wiles'
eye to a Id to its wild j ictures.piets.-ss. The
ti.ou! '..ii:i t iwi-ri 1 ulo'Vi' a heavy H'lii
I'Va" i:i-!i un-, . f Muck shadow ha'-ply cut
In re a:al th !'' a.ainst a shy c i:i' ivaMy
r.-iiiot" that th" w-rM s ,ul niu-t l.a"
dcspalri-d of t vt-r reaching so far or of i-liinli-in
i's sl.vl 1-hi" wall-. Tli stars were large,
keen an 1 briiliant, but cold and steadfast.
They ,1.1 not dan "e nor twinkle in their ada-in-'iititie
setting. Tim furnace fire painted
the faces of the men nn India!) n d, glanced
on brightly colored blanket and s ra', but
was eventually caught and nlisorlied in the
waiting sha.'.ows of the black mountain,
arcely twenty fis.t from the furnace door.
Tli.s low, half sung, half-w hisju ri.d foreign
s-nveh of the group, the roaring of the fur
naif and the ijuick, sharp yelp of the covoto
on the plain In-low were the only sounds that
broke the awful silen -o of the hills.
It wils uhnost dawn w hen it was umiounce.1
that the oro had fused. And it. was high
time, for the pot w;ts slowly sinking into the
fast crumbling oven. Concho uttered a jubi-
hint '-Cod and Li's-rty," but Don .Io.se V.'ii.-s
' bade him be silent und bring stakes to sup
I port the iot. Then Iou Jose bent ocr the
j sis long mass. It was for a moment ot.lv.
! Hut in tiiat nioia nt this u"oompli-h"d ni"t
! tallurgist, Mr. Joseph Wil. s, had ip.ii. :ly
i diopp" 1 a silver half dollar into the .t 1
j 'J'l.i ii he charged them to kei p up the fifes
j nnd wi nt to l.s p all but one iv.
j law n caiiie w ith dull l"-a on lires o:i the
n ar 1...1 t"p-, R.'id, far in t'.ie ea. t, i".
j th" Si-iT.in snow. Kirds twit t. ring
al.l'-r friugen a milo It low, und the c
' of wag in v.hevl.s-th" wagon it.s. If
! c i iu 1 of dust in the distant road v.er
-s 1 1 -'i r
in the
r.aking
a mere
e heard
! distinctly. Thoa the iiieitWig pot was sol
! oi aav bro'ien by D-ii Jiw, and the glowing
in aiidesceut mass turned into tho road to
cool.
And then tlie metallurgist clippi'd a smaU
fragment from t Ih ma.ss nnd Hu:idil it, anc
ehi; i d another suiail r piece and pouudi'd
that, und then suhjectcil it to acid, and thel
ti taUsl it to a suit bath which b'f 'aiiie id
onco milky and at last produced a whit
something mirabilo dictu! two cents' worth
of Silver I
Com ho Hh(mtsl with joy; tho rest guzod nt
each other douhtiugly and distrustfully; com-p.-uiions
in poverty, they Is-gan to diverge
nnd Kuspci't each other in prosjx'rity. Wiles'
left eyo ghineod ironically from tho ono to
the other.
"Hero is tho flOO, Hon Jose," said Pedro,
handing tho gold to Wiles with a decidedly
brusque intimutioii thut tho wrvicew and
pr.ficnco of a stranger wero no longer ro
quired. Wiles took tlie money with a grai'ious
smile and a wink that wut Pedro's heart into
his loots, and was turning awuy when a cry
from Manuel stopped him:
"Tho pot the pot it has leaked! look! be
hold! seel"
Ho hol been cleaning away the crnmblisl
frngmeiits of the furnaco to get ready for
brcakfa .t, and hal disclos(xi a shii ing pod of
quicksilver!
Wiles starbsl, cast a rapid glance around
the group, saw in a flash that the metal was
unknow n to them, and then said, quietly:
"ft Is not silver."
' Pardon, seiior, it is, and still molten."
Wiles stooped and ran his fingers through
the shining metal.
"Mother of Gxl what is it, then! magic?"
"No, only Utse metal." Put here, Concho,
fmlsildened by Wiles' experiment, attempted
to Bt izo a handful of tho glistening muss that
instantly broke through his lingers in a thou
sand tiny upherulcH, and even kt-nt a fow
globules up his shirt sleeve, until he dances 1
uixiuud in mingled fear and childish pleasure.
"And it U not worth the taking'' queriisl
Pedro of Wiles.
Wilea' right eye and bland face wore
turned toward tho speaker, but his malevo
lent left was glancing ut tho dull, red brown
rock on tho billsido.
"No!" nnd turning abruptly away ho pro
ceislisl to saddle his mule.
Manuel, Miguel and Pedro, left to them
selves, liegan talking earnestly together,
while Concho, now mindful of his crippled
mule, made his way back to tho trail where
ho bad left her. But sho was no longer there.
Constant to her master through U'atings and
bullyings, sho could not stand incivility und
inattention. There nro certain qualities of
tho sex thut lielong to ull animated nature.
Inconsolable, footsore and remorseful, Con
cho returned to tho camp and furnace, three
miles across the rocky ridge. Put what was
his astonishment on arriving to find tho place
deserted of man, mule and camp ispiipago.
Concho called aloud. Only tho echoing rocks
grimly answer! him. Was it a trick f Cou
cho trus-1 to laugh. Ah yiss a good one a
joke no no they hnii deserted Liml And
then jsxir Concho liowed his head to tho
ground, and falling on his face, cri.sl as if his
honi.t heart would break.
The tempest a.ssed in a moment; it was not
Concho's nature to suffer long nor to brid
over an injury. As he raistsl his head ago in
I his eyo caught the iihimmer of tho quick
; kilver that po;l of merry antio nc'tal tluit
hail so ddigbUsl him an hour U fore. In a
few moments Conehti was again disporting
with it ; cliasing it UeiM und there, rolling It
M" Plmand laughing with boylike Rice
carry his playmat away with him in Ubi
niipty leathern flask.
And ywt I fancy tho mm looktd kindly on
him us he Htiih i.frily down tho black
mountain side, and U( step wjls nono tho less
fps.' nor light that Uo carrieil with hi:n
neither the brilliant prospects nor tho ennio
of I.U lato comrades.
C'HAPTKK III.
WHO CLAIMED IT.
FTV
UK fogUadrilrcndy
closed ill o;i Monte-
rev, (iM.l was now
rolling, a white,
billowy sea ivbovc,
that sivin shut out
tin1 blue breakers
b'low. Once or
twice in descend
ing the mountain
C'-tii h i h:;d o cr
luing the cli.r a:.d
hioi.cd il.. c.vu upon
-7-s
the curving horso
slim' of u bay N low hini-distant y t many
Huh-. Karlicr iri t he aft. ruooti he had .-s ii tho
giit i rossnti th' w hite faced Mis i- n flare in tho
MiidiUt, but now all was gone, l'.y thetimo
h" I . i' I; d l h" hi ;hway of ti:e town it was
ipiite dark, and he plunge.1 i it.) tho tlrst
fon, la at the wayside, nnd endeavored to
forget his u in s and his weariness in aguar
diente. Jlut Concho's head ached, and his
l ack a he. I, and he was so g 'iicrally dis
tivsasl that h" b "thought him of a medico
an American dixl or lately come into tow n,
who had o:i"e treated Concho and his mule
with apparently the same medicine, and after
the huno heroic fashion. Concho reas
on's!, not illogi.-ally, that if ho were
to Ik? pliysnk(sl at ull ho ought
to get tho worth of his money. Tho
grotesque extravagance of life, of fruit
und vegetal. k s in California was inconsistent
with infinitesimal doses. In Concho's pre
vious illness the doctor had given him a dozen
four-grain quinine powders. Tho follow ing
d iv the grateful Mexican walked into the
doctor's oilioe cured. Th.' doctor was grati
lie.l until, on examination, it iq.je:ired that,
to save trouble, and U'cnuse his memory was
poor, ('oil' l:o had taken nil the powders in
ii"" do-". Th" doctor shrugged his shoulders
and --altered his practice.
Well," sai l Pr. (iin'M, as Concho sank
down e.'di'iust.-ily in one of tln do- tor's two
chairs, "w hat now r'' Jlaceyuu K'en sl.s-pii'g
a;iin in the tulo marshes, or nro you upM-t
w ::!i i . cin.iis.-aiy wl.i-k J ( 'onie, lne it out."
Put Coti.-lio declared tlu.t the d vil wa.s in
his stomach, that Judas Iscari. t had po: ses.-.id
himself of his spine, that imps were in h.'s
forehead, nnd that his feet had been scourged
by Pout ills Pilate.
"That means 'blue mass,'" said the doctor,
nn l gave it to him a Udus as hirg ) as .i iuhs
ket ball, and as heavy.
Concho took it on the spot, and turned to go.
'd have no money, Senor M- di' o."
' Never mind. It's only a dollar, tho price
of the medicine."
Concho looked guilty at having gulped
down so much cash. Then ho said timidly:
"I have no money, but I have got here what
iis fine nnd jolly. It is yours." And ho handed
over the contents of the precious tin can ho
hud brought with him.
The doctor took it, looked at tho shivering
volatile ma-As, and said: "Why, this is quick
silver!" "Coneho laughed. "Yes, very quick silver,
so!" nnd he snapjxsl his fingers to show its
upright liness.
Tho doctor's face grew earnest. "Where
did you got this, Conchof" ho finally asked.
"It ran .thu the pot in the mountains be
yond." Tho doctor looked incredulous. Then Concho
related tho w liolo story.
"Could you find tho spot againt"
"Coidi joii 1-nf that upotagiiin
"Maibo do Di.w, yes. I have a mulo there;
amy tho devil fly away with her!"
"And you say ycur comrades saw thisf
"Why not J"
"And you say they afterward left you de
serted you ?''
"They did, Ingrates!"
The doctor arose and shut his office door.
"Hark ye, Concho," lie said, "that bit of nied
icino I gavo you just now was worth a dollar.
It was worth a dollar liecauso the material of
which it was composed was made from the
stuff you have in that can quicksilver or
mercury. It is ono of tho most valuable of
metals, especially in a gold mining country.
My good fellow, if you know whero to tind
enough of it, your fortune is made."
Concho rose to his feet.
"Tell mo, was the rock you built your fur-nui-e
of rsl .'"
"Si, Senor."
"And brown!"
"Si, Senor."
"And crumbled Ul.der tho heat"
"As to nothing."
"And did you see ntii H of this rod isk k"
"Th" mountain niothoi Is in travail with it."
"Are you sure that your comrades have not
taken oss-N.sioii of the mountain mot hen"
"As liowf
"Hy burning its iliscovcry under the min
ing laws, or by pre-emption f
"Tbey hhall li"t."
"But how ill you. binglo handed, fvht the
four; for I doubt m l your acieut-tk friend
bos a hand in itr"
-I will fight."
"Yes, my Concho, but suppose I take the
fight ofT your hands. Now, here's a propo
sition: I will get half n dozen Americanos to
I go in with you. You w ill liavo to get money
to work tho laino you will need funds. You
shall share half with them. They will take
the risk, raise the money, ami protect you."
"I see," said Concho, nodding his head and
winking hn eyes rapidly. Bueno!"
"I will return in ten minutes," said the
doctor, taking his hat.
II" was as go.nl as his word. In ten ruin
ut he returned with six original locaters, a
liourd of directors, a president, secretary, and
a deed of iucorjxiration of tho "Itluo Mass
yuielisilver Mining Co." This latter was a
delicate compliment to tho doctor, who was
popular. Tho president added to these, neces
wry articles a revolver.
"Take it," he Mid, handing over the weapon
to Co:i"ho. "Take it; my horse Is outside;
take that, rid" liko h 1 and bang on to the
claim until we come!"
In another moment Concho was in tho sad
dle. Then tho mining director lapsed into
the physician.
'I hardly know," said IV. (luild, doubt
fully, "if, in your present condition, you
ought to travel. You have just taken n pow
erful medi ine," nnd tho doctor looked hypo
critically concerned.
"Ah, th-i devil!" laughed Comdio, "what Ls
the quicksilver that is in to that which is out
Iloopa, hi Mula!" and, with a clatter of hoofs,
nnd jingle of spurs, he was presently lost in
the darkness.
"You w, re noiv t" Kin gcti! l.'ineii," said tho
American rd'-alde, as he drew up before the
doctor's door. "Anot her company has just
Is-on iiieorj orated for tho sumo loi'ation, I
rec!:on."
"Who r.re they?"
"Thr.s' Mexicans Pedro, M.inu. l and Mi,;
iiel headed by that d d coi k eyed Sydney
duck, W iles."
"Are th"y here?"
"Manuel and Miguel, only. Tho others
nre over tit Tres Pinos hilly-gaging lloseoni
num and trying to rop him in to pay off their
w hisky bills at his groc. ry."
"If that's so we needn't start before sunrise,
for they're sure to get roaring drunk."
And this legitimate successor of the grnve
Mexican alcaldes, having thus delivered his
impartial opinion, rode away.
Meanwhile, Coneho the redoubtable, C mcho
the fortunate, spared neither riata nor spur.
The way was dark, tho trail obscure und ut
times even dangerous, und Concho, familiar
as he was with these mountain fastnesses,
often regretted his sur. -fxtod Franei.sipiita.
"Care not, O Coin lu.,'' he woul d ray to him
self, " 'tis 1 ut a little whi! , only a little while,
and thou shall have nnotlier I-'ranciiipiiia to
bl -ss this-. Ph, shipj.'i' k. t here was line mil ic
to thy dancing, A dollar for un oiiuci 'tis
n.s good as silver, and itn trier." Vi t for all
his i "".I spiriis he kct a sharp lockout at
certain liei'.i'.s of t he mountain trail; not for
ii'slitsit brigamls, for (' c: -!ri w.i . i 'iv i
cn'dv e'.mM "in ., t at f, r 1 1 e Kv:! u in
vi:. io'i.i .fins, v.-.-i-i stii-.l to !,'i-l; in the Sa!ir.
Cruz ran;,".', to th- great i'.i:-.s :nf. i t of nil t rue
Cal!i'-li s. 11 rcalk-l th" i.ii i-!-:it of l,;aa
ci , a Icr "!' li'c I'.-.i-.i U -a.i f, : who,
su ij.jiiu ; nt I he Air. hi-, t.) rep.at t!: cred. .
saw I.u.-.oi I i lai'ily ia the hkenovs of a it:o:
strotis ; .rizzly bear, mockiu.f liitu by si'.tiii;
on his hutiiifhi -s and lifting his pans, ehi.. "si
together, as if in prayer. Nevertheless, wi;h
oil" hand grasping the r. ins nnd his ro. ary
and the other i hitching his whiskylla.sk und
revolver, he farl on so rapidly that he
reai bed the summit as tho earlier streaks of
dawn w.-ro outlining tho far-off Sierran
peaks. Tethering his horso on a strip of
table land, he descended cautioiihly afoot un
til be reached tie? tioiich, tho wall of red r(H-k
and the erumbL'd und dismantled furnace.. It
was as ho lui-1 left it thut moniing; thero was
no traceof rivent human vLdtation. llevol vcr
in hand, Concho esammisl every cave, gully
and rwisss, juvred Uhind tn-s, s'iict rated
cin'.s of buckeye and manzanit.i. and listened.
Thero was no sound but tho faint soughing
of tho wind over the pines below him. Kor a
w hilo ho paced backward and forward with a
vaguo sense of being n sentinel, but his mer
curial uuturo soon rels-lcd against this ran
noUmy, and soon tho fatigues of the day ln-gnu
to tell upxm him. Recourat to his whisky
flask only nunle him tho drowsier, until at
Inst ho was fain to lie down and roll himself
up lightly in his blanket. The ne.xt moment
ho wtis sound asleep.
His horse neighed twico from tho summit,
but Concho heard him not. Then the brush
cruekled on the ledge nlmve him, n small frag
ment of rock rolled nonr his fivf , but he stirred
riot. And then two black figures were out
lined on tho crags beyond.
"St 1 1!" whL-pered a voice. "Th"ro Ls ouo
lying beside the furnace," Tho speech was
Spanish, but tho voice was Wiles'.
The other figure crept cautiously to tho
edge of tho crag and looked over. "It is
Concho, the imbecile," Miid Pedro, contemptu
ously. "But if he should not le alone, or if lie
should wakeuf
"I will watch and wait. Co you and affix
the notification."
Wiles dispiearcd. Pedro began to creep
down the fae of the rocky ledge, supiKH ting
himself by chemisal and brushwood.
Tho next moment Pedro stood beside the
unconscious man. The;i ho bx-kod cautiously
around. The figure of his companion was
lost in the shadow of the picks aliove; only a
slight crackle of brush Ik travel his w here
abouts. Suddenly Pedro flung his scrape
over the sleeper's head, and then throw his
powerful frame and tremendous weight full
upon Concho's upturned face, while hisstrong
arms clasped tho blanket pinioned limbs of
his victim. There was a momentary up
heaval, a spasm and a struggle; but the
tightly rolled blanket clung to tho unfortu
nate man like cerements.
There was no noise, no outcry, no sound of
struggle. There was nothing to he seen but
tho peaceful, prostrate figures of the two men
darkly outlined ou the ledge. They might
have Un sleeping in each other's anus. In
the Mack silence the stealthy trend of Wiles
in the bush aliove was distinctly audible.
Gradually the struggles grew fainter. Then
a whisper from the crags:
"I can't see you. What are you doing?"
Watching!"'
Sleeps hef
"He sleeps!"
"Soundly f" "" '
"soundly." "
"After t he manner of the dead f
"After the fashion of the deadl"
The last tremor had ceased. Fedro rose as
Wile cescended.
"All Is rady," said Wiles, "ytu are a wit.
riess of my placing tho notiilcati jus?"
"I am a witness. ' i
"But of this one?" pointing to Concho.
"Shall wo leave him hero?"
"A drunken imliecik why not!" '
Wilis turned his left eyo on the speaker.
They chanced to be standing nearly In the
same attitude they had stood tho preceding
night. Pedro uttered u cry and nn Imprura
tion, "Carrambn! Tako your devil's eye from
Hie! Whats.s) you? Kh what I''
"Nothing, good Pedro," said Wiles, turning
his blank right cheek to Pedro. The in
furiated anil half frightened cx-vaquero re
turned tho long knife ho bad half drawn front
its sheath, and growled surlily:
Tliere icos a momc.iciri sirugjte,
"do on, tii' ii! But keep thou on t lint side,
and I will o.itlrs." A lid si, side by fide,
listening, watching, distrustful of all things,
but iM.iinly of each other, they s!o!" hnek and
up into those shadows from which they might,
liko evil spirits, have l.ivn poetically evoked.
A half hour pasnd, in which the vist
brightenisl, tla-hed and again molted into
gold. And then the sun came up haughtily,
nnd a fog that had stolen across tho summit
in the night nroso nnd fled up tho mountain
side, tearing it.s white rol.es in it.s guilty haste,
nnd leaving them fluttering from tree und
crag and senr. A thousand tiny blades, nest
ling in the crevices of rocks, nurtured hi
storms und rocked by tho trada windx,
stretched their wun and feeble arms toward
Him; but Concho the strong, Concho thu
brave, Concho the light hearted spako not
nor stirred.
To If Continued.
line1 tin's Aluie.t Sulve.
The ti'-t salve ni the world fori u!i, bruises,
sore-, ulcers, salt rheiun, fever sores, tetter,
chapped luinils, chill. Ian. s, corns, and ull skin
erupt nuts, n i nl Jin -t uc! cures pili:s,or no pay
required. It is irinirauie 'il to eie perfect sat-'sfai-tion.
or cioiu y refunded. Price A1 ceil!8
per i.ov Ki.r s;ic hv I). I.onhtux.
OTTAWA I'Osr Oi l ICI'.
Am:: '. :. M' !o :" I ; in: "1 M i!.s.
( .. i: t. ,v ! i; i:
I I. ,l . A i:f ' V KS.
.- i-t.-'-r. it; el t . -'h' . m. :.: - e w.
w. -i.-rn i:, u- -i-' t: . !! . a.
NH,!ll lll'lll S.'ll ! M.
c. n. a ' p. t:.
S .. r. ' I . ', ' I o ." . . " i: M.
S..1-0,. -,, ;,, :;. i . ". I c' i.
sin-iit .r sri- . i : :' i: v. o.s . m.
It.Ki: I'.!;s.
Tu.-.t-n-. Tli'ir-.!'i.s, Ir : at .y. 1 ."0 r. M, t.MHl u.
( i Mi.-,' i-i . .. it :ii . M. ( ;. -.'. ill T -OH I'. M.
OtiU i'i :i siiii.l '- from U l" ; "'.
VM. OSMAN. f. M.
Chicago, Hurlir.gtr.n na 7uiacy E. B.
TIMI-: TAI1I.K,
.1 une ' .: rh, 1
Going South.
kx. I riili..
No. 71 I So. .
11. I B.
' t
i '-
-7.
Going North.
STATIONS.
lrtS.
No.TIi
B.
IV
So. 72
B.
r. At
S.i
s.i;
5 (K
4 ht
4 r.
4. n
4. "i
4.:
4.i
4 M
3,35
P.M. LV
4.15
d.U
SIS
(1.30
to
41)
6 M
?.ft.1
7 U
-,M
7 0
7.i7
a a. lv
S.K)
ui.-;b
u.m
td.M
tt.no.
11.96
It. is
II. VI
11.3.5
11.42
tl 50
a a. ab
10. HO
r.15
W.UT
N 54
S.42
S..M
s.n
8. ls
S.lh
7.58
7 50
. . . Chtr.HUO...
. . . .Aiin.ru... .
1 .Went Aurora.
il'iKox tltv June
f, I HWV.'l-O. . . .
:u .Yiirkv.tle...
l.-.sjl K.ix
',9 I. Mllllirook..
.M.Ulnrfton..
...si 'ii.iun...
rellH....
... UUI'li.. . .
....Wcih. ill...
liiiytim
r.i:.i.i ri's r
u I ttaw. 1 m 7.28
7.50 112.02
4I i.. ill 111 (IttJOlil
..Side 1 r;l('H.
r:i .(its.nl I'Mki
!W ...Ittrliarrth..
:0;...Hlri'alir..
n.iti t2 a
7.0-1
i 15
R.SU I
P.M. Alt
11. 45
ra.i
IJii
a a . r.v
s.re
pi.ii
KreiBti t intinBCiir-;"' "wh 'wth irnve otuwa
follows: For Ksrl, -1.0 I' M.; for Annrn. 10.(15 A. .
Siri'Htnr. 5 n a. , s.il v v.. siel mils a. m.
Morpinu trsln inl!e i:lie coiinectlofl ilu,-.( lai
si' point e" uii'l -'t.
Pullmiiii I's ii'-e slveiitnf! Curs, C U. Q nrnw!.j
.'(yei. I'll-", HortonV IJ'-eilnliiK CM-lr C.irH. tin) the;
H s. l''e.U'e te.i'tii' I'sru. iy 'Ins route. All lHforis
flon -.'nont nit.ti of f". hie. tunc cur mvonimfKlHtloi"
snil time tallied Vll twebwrfin'r ivhii 'iv .ipplytng VO
I'h KCIVAL LOW Kt.r.
(ienerKl l'siienit''r AiiiT.t. Uhlcsgo
II. IV Sr.. vs.
Ueneml M'ln.if-flr OIiIcako. GK'l K. K'F,
Axt.i hi 'twa
Chirago, Rock Island ami Facifio F'iilroaa.
NEW TIMK TAIII.K.
CillNtl Kast.
Sa.1, 1'seiflc KxpreH-nnil Mull
4, N.!it F.viiress
" 6, KiiR l-ily Kvpri'Bn
" s, ('hiriW'i mul iMvenport Ai ioin
" in, lt'iriml Fsst An-onimodiilioii
" Vi, si. 1'nul Kxpn-M
FretQh s Fanylng I'tuntniJirt.
C.oino Wist.
No. 1, AtlsnttrF-pr.'iw
" 3, MkIiI hxprtu"
" 5. nncAitn mul Ksnwi" City Kxprin....
" 7, tiHvi'tiport Areoiii'iioitutlon
" 9. Bureia Ksnt ArcoiTim'MlHtlon
" 11, U, I'mil Kx press, vib Altwrt I'
Frtlghu Cun-yiny l'tnnirrt.
"
...I0..79 A M
... 3.11 A
... J.:a a
.. ill P M
... 1MI a a
...11.. A M
... 1 V5 P M
... S.3 P M
..
... sis p
... l .t; a a
... 'J05Aa
...U.W p a
... s.Ki p a
... 3.3 p a
...10 2fiA
... -4, -ip a
No. snit 10 srrtve In Chlrstro t 10 a. . snd leart
ClileiWD H,t 4.15 p. M. iliiily (SunilKV exrepteil ).
Ni. 11 nd Vi run rttilly. lnelutlms Sundays.
No. rarrls pssseiori rs from (i. ii.'seo to (I'taws.
No ' i-srrtH- pswnirert heteen .loliet ana Ls
Ssl.e, and No. :l between I. Salle and .Toilet.
No, it and 28 carry nmwniw lietween nine lslsM
snd La Salle. lv. K. ( ini.K (len'l Manager.
K St. .lout. It. K. PRifrTViiAS
Oen'l TWt. A Pss Agt. Aunt at uttawt.
Chicairo, Alton 4 St. Lotus Eailroad
Oa and after M iv . isxs. trains m tlie C. A. R.
it. p'asK Juliet nt follo:
liOINO NORTH.
K. C. and St. U Expreso
LtKhtnlni Expreiw
Juliet Aeoinini-tatlon
Denver Fx ir.ss
KxpreM UU
. 5.15 a a
. 5.50 a a
. 7. is a a
.li' p a
. i.JOfa
ColN'O SoiTK.
Epr Mail "ij
IVnver Kxprew '
Juliet Accomnn-latlon " " J
Lli-htninir Kxprew ' "
K. C. ntM. L Kxpre
Untuning F.xpresA. Ienver Kxpiea-, and K ana Ci:.
n.l st I. mis Kxpr.-s .run- run iln-.ty: Fxpreaa -tia.j
nd.loii.'t A mm.tail..ii run d.uly. exr.pt 7-
Kan-a- ( In ami St. I,.m. Kvpre-a . th rnn,
thr,meh without cVanise -f cars. Mormm: train to sr
Init. lew free chair . sr.. and eveiiuu- train throng
Iwpera to St Louis and t-pnuitrtHd. w ApAMS
rcket .Vtfeni C. A. lUllroad.
Illinois Central Eailroad.
OOIHO NORTH. FRO tA HALLt.
H-en-rer ""y.'.'.'.M .nl'.m.
p-uwrnff , M
rr..Hiiii'.lati.n ,.. . '
Kr-wht I-.; M"
Kreiit'it irtip' '
Freialit .' p. a.
woiso wvm, raoa la -alle.
rmeng"T ' " J- "
r. met ; ;'
preutnt . - T-
rn.:h-it.iHna further)
8. F. M.tt.
Tieaei Avml
I'rciXB' -Msedt,