Part 38 (1/2)

”The curse still pursues me. I have not written to conclude this letter since the night I started it, as hard luck again is my lot.

”I filed the claim and showed the ore but different laws prevail in Colorado, and I found I must register the nearest survey corners and sections to my mine to obtain a legal owners.h.i.+p; however my plans and specifications were sufficient to protect me from claim-jumpers.

”That afternoon, a storm came over the mountains and lasted three days.

It blew, and poured, and snowed, until it seemed as if all the furies in Hades were let loose. Then it cleared again and I started out with my dog and horse to visit my mine and make satisfactory corners and plans for filing.

”A great land-slide had occurred during that storm and the entire mountain-side was changed. Canyons, cliffs, and mine are gone. Wiped away as if they had never existed. Of course, I know the gold is still there but buried under tons of earth and trash. It will take longer and cost more to unearth, that is all.

”But I will have to locate the place anew as I have no bearings to work from, so I propose starting from Top Notch Trail and have Patsy help me find it on the down-side, as near as I can remember from the camping-spot of that night where I first wrote this letter:

”I am reserving this until I find the mine, then I will mail it at once. Now that I have definite grounds to work on, my enthusiasm is equal to carry me through any difficulties in my pathway.”

”Oh, father, how sad!” wept Polly, handing the letter to Anne, to read to the other two girls.

”We know the rest, Polly. And that is why we never had you read this.

Now that we can prove the poor old man was sane, we will try to establish his reputation for all concerned,” said Mr. Brewster.

”Why didn't you try to find his family when he died?” asked Polly, frowning at what she considered an oversight.

”We did. Every newspaper of reputation carried an advertis.e.m.e.nt, but Ah think, now, that the old man a.s.sumed another name than his rightful one. That is why we never had a reply to our ads,” replied Mr. Simms.

Eleanor was elated at the romance of this experience, and turned to Polly, exclaiming:

”Oh, Poll! S'posing we meet Montresor's son some day, and you fall in love with him without knowing who he is! Then it will all come out when he visits your parents to ask for you, and he will get his share of the mine, anyway!”

Anne laughed heartily at such nonsense but Polly rather favored such an ending, so her mother and father quickly interrupted the romance by saying:

”Come, come, sign papers and wind up this affair!”

Mr. Simms said the a.s.say was more than satisfactory, and ”Choko's Find”

was filed as the discovery of ”Marybelle Brewster, daughter of Sam and Mary Brewster of Pebbly Pit.”

”Who's Marybelle Brewster?” wondered Eleanor, surprised.

”It's me, but no one knows it!” laughed Polly.

”Sam, when do you reckon you-all ought to go back to the mine and investigate?” said Mr. Simms.

”We-all plan to ride there early in the morning. Will you-all try to come with us?”

”Ah'd like it first-rate. Ah haven't had my regular fis.h.i.+ng trip this year and this will answer,” replied Simms, eagerly.

”Then be sh.o.r.e to meet us at seven or eight o'clock at the Pine Tree just by the corduroy roadway,” said Mr. Brewster.

”Sam, better get away before that! We won't be the only riders along Top Notch trail the moment this 'find' gets wind!” warned Simms.

”He's right, Sam! Let's start from the farm at day-break and meet Mr.

Simms at five or six,” advised Mrs. Brewster.