Franklin High School - Molecule Yearbook (Franklin, VT)

Page 29 text:

14. As he trudged along to the grocery store, Lem sighed to himself, Sh, dearjif I could only have a coujble of swigs. Ding bust it; Hank won't say anything so long sis I don't gat drunk and tell about that strike.I know what I 11 do. 1111 get me a couple of bottles and give one Hank back at camp. Then he won't feel so bad. ‘Then into the store he went to pur- chase his goods under the suspicious eyes gf the storekeeper. .rfhen he 'was ready to pay for the goods he had bought , the only money he had was a little poke of the new gold dust they had panned the evening before. That was the very thing that proved the storekeeper's suspicions, but he said only this: Mighty fine dust you got there, Lem. Looks as if it had just come out. No , hastily replied Lem. Keeping it in that thar poke makes it stay nice and shiny. I suppose so , said the merchant, with a meaning look at the group about them. 'Well , Lem , he said, that will be exactly thirty-five dollars. Lem handed over the dust and turned around to talk to a friend. In doing so , he did not nfi tice the storekeeper slyly stick his hand under the counter and then bring it out again with faint traces of water on it. Nor did he see him put one finger into the little leather sack and bring it out again fairly shining with gold dust. After doing this he carefully wiped it off on a Jiowel under the counter. As soon as Lem had gone,the storekeeper called to him a sneaky eyed mad and whispered.casually but importantly in his ear. Then with a knowing grin and nod, the man turned and followed leisurely after Lem. Next, we might have discovered Lem coming out of the saloon with a big box under his arm and feeling, silently of course, very important. He then went to his mules, tied on the goods,and started back toward the valley, humming a little tune under his breath. Unthinkingly, he went straight to the valley without once looking behind. If he had looked be- hind he would have,the same sneaky eyed person he had met in the store, carefully following him. As he arrived in hamp, he spied Hank vigorously panning the bottom of the brook, and shouted, How much have you made while I've been gone? Oh , answered Hank carelessly, about eight hundred. Not b d; not bad , said Lem. Are you satisfied now that this is the mother source of the Silver Knife? SJiet your dum trap and unpack them things. I'm plumb out of chawing terbaccer', growled Hank. As they went about unpacking the purchases , the man who had followed Lem so closely gasped when he saw the pile of dust. Then arising hurriedly but silently,he started back to town , thinking to himself, Gee, wait 'til the boss hears about this.