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her where they found the 〃truly gold；〃 and she was to remember
where it was and to tell them。 And they were going to give her a
new dolly and a hunk of gingerbread。 〃But I won'tand I sha'n't！〃
she said passionately。 She was quite pale again。
Johnny was convinced； but thoughtful。 〃Tell 'em；〃 he said
hoarsely； 〃tell 'em a big whopper！ They won't know no better。
They'll never guess where。〃 And he briefly recounted the wild…
goose chase he had given the minister。
〃And get the dolly and the cake；〃 said Florry； her eyes shining
through her tears。
〃In course；〃 said Johnny。 〃They'll get the dolly back； but you kin
have eated the cake first。〃 They looked at each other； and their
eyes danced together over this heaven…sent inspiration。 Then
Johnny took off her shoes and stockings； rubbed her cold feet with
his dirty handkerchief； and said： 〃Now you trot over to your mar！〃
He helped her through the loose picket of the fence and was turning
away when her faint voice again called him。
〃Johnny！〃
He turned back； she was standing on the other side of the fence
holding out her arms to him。 He went to her with shining eyes；
lifted her up； and from her hot but loving little lips took a fatal
kiss。
For only an hour later Mrs。 Fraser found Florry in her bed； tossing
with a high fever and a light head。 She was talking of 〃Johnny〃
and 〃gold；〃 and had a flake of the metal in her tiny fist。 When
Mr。 Staples was sent for； and with the mother and father； hung
anxiously above her bed； to their eager questioning they could only
find out that Florry had been to a high mountain； ever so far away；
and on the top of it there was gold lying around； and a shining
figure was giving it away to the people。
〃And who were the people； Florry dear；〃 said Mr。 Staples
persuasively； 〃anybody ye know here？〃
〃They woz angels；〃 said Florry； with a frightened glance over her
shoulder。
I grieve to say that Mr。 Staples did not look as pleased at the
celestial vision as he might have； and poor Mrs。 Fraser probably
saw that in her child's face which drove other things from her
mind。 Yet Mr。 Staples persisted：
〃And who led you to this beautiful mountain？ Was it Johnny？〃
〃No。〃
〃Who then？〃
Florry opened her eyes on the speaker。 〃I fink it was Dod；〃 she
said； and closed them again。
But here Dr。 Duchesne hurried in； and after a single glance at the
child hustled Mr。 Staples from the room。 For there were grave
complications that puzzled him； Florry seemed easier and quieter
under his kindly voice and touch； but did not speak again；and so；
slowly sinking； passed away that night in a dreamless sleep。 This
was followed by a mad panic at Burnt Spring the next day； and Mrs。
Medliker fled with her two girls to Sacramento； leaving Johnny；
ostensibly strong and active； to keep house until his father's
return。 But Mr。 Medliker's return was again delayed； and in the
epidemic； which had now taken a fast hold of the settlement；
Johnny's secretand indeed the boy himselfwas quite forgotten。
It was only on Mr。 Medliker's arrival it was known that he had been
lying dangerously ill； alone； in the abandoned house。 In his
strange reticence and firmness of purpose he had kept his
sufferings to himself；as he had his other secret；and they were
revealed only in the wasted； hollow figure that feebly opened the
door to his father。
On which intelligence Mr。 Staples was； as usual； promptly on the
spot with his story of Johnny's secret to the father； and his usual
eager questioning to the fast…sinking boy。 〃And now； Johnny；〃 he
said； leaning over the bed； 〃tell us ALL。 There is One from whom
no secrets are hid。 Remember； too； that dear Florry； who is now
with the angels； has already confessed。〃
Perhaps it was because Johnny； even at that moment； hated the man；
perhaps it was because at that moment he loved and believed in
Florry； or perhaps it was only that because at that moment he was
nearer the greater Truth than his questioner； but he said； in a
husky voice； 〃You lie！〃
Staples drew back with a flushed face； but lips that writhed in a
pained and still persistent eagerness。 〃But； Johnny； at least tell
us wherewhwowwow。〃
I am obliged to admit that these undignified accents came from Mr。
Staples' own lips； and were due to the sudden pressure of Mr。
Medliker's arm around his throat。 The teamster was irascible and
prompt through much mule…driving； and his arm was； from the same
reason； strong and sinewy。 Mr。 Staples felt himself garroted and
dragged from the room； and only came to under the stars outside；
with the hoarse voice of Mr。 Medliker in his ears：
〃You're a minister of the gospel； I know； but ef ye say another
word to my Johnny； I'll knock the gospel stuffin' out of ye。 Ye
hear me！ I'VE DRIVEN MULES AFORE！〃
He then strode back into the room。 〃Ye needn't answer； Johnny；
he's gone。〃
But so； too； had Johnny； for he never answered the question in this
world； nor； please God； was he required to in the next。 He lay
still and dead。 The community was scandalized the next day when
Mr。 Medliker sent for a minister from Sacramento to officiate at
his child's funeral； in place of Mr。 Staples； and then the subject
was dropped。
。 。 。 。 。 。
But the influence of Johnny's hidden treasure still remained as a
superstition in the locality。 Prospecting parties were continually
made up to discover the unknown claim； but always from evidence and
data altogether apocryphal。 It was even alleged that a miner had
one night seen the little figures of Johnny and Florry walking over
the hilltop； hand in hand； but that they had vanished among the
stars at the very moment he thought he had discovered their secret。
And then it was forgotten； the prosperous Mr。 Medliker； now the
proprietor of a stage…coach route； moved away to Sacramento；
Medliker's Ranch became a station for changing horses； and； as the
new railway in time superseded even that； sank into a blacksmith's
shop on the outskirts of the new town of Burnt Spring。 And then
one day； six years after； news fell as a bolt from the blue！
It was thus recorded in the county paper： 〃A piece of rare good
fortune； involving； it is said； the development of a lead of
extraordinary value； has lately fallen to the lot of Mr。 John
Silsbee； the popular blacksmith； on the site of the old Medliker
Ranch。 In clearing out the failing water…course known as Burnt
Spring； Mr。 Silsbee came upon a rich ledge or pocket at the actual
source of the spring；a fissure in the ground a few rods from the
road。 The present yield has been estimated to be from eight to ten
thousand dollars。 But the event is considered as one of the most
remarkable instances of the vagaries of 'prospecting' ever known；
as this valuable 'pot…hole' existed undisturbed for EIGHT YEARS not
FIFTY YARDS from the old cabin