Dusty Books, Frontier LibrarianR.T. Carr, Editor Chapter 17A deal with Dittmer the Blacksmith... Rethinking his future conduct... Following all the clues to unexpected loot... $1000 bills!... An exhausted rest... On the way home I had lots to think over. I was worried over why Dennison thought I'd have to start showing iron on my hip. Was it a joke, or a desperate situation, or was he reminding me of the visage I had created versus the real me? I did decide to keep things as close to the vest as possible, just like Dennison had. Putting everything in its proper place, I had locked up and left. I decided I might need a horse and a mule again, since I needed some sort of cover for my activities. It was public information that I had inherited some land, and some cash, but that was all the specifics anyone would get unless I told them. I would tell them I was out prospecting once in a while. I'd just be another old fool with gold fever, and wouldn't cause too much attention. If I suddenly was armed, I could state that it was to keep up appearances concerning the dime novel. I decided to see my old friend at the Stable and see about buying my horse and mule from him. Klaus Dittmer would help me get the right pair, and would not ask too many questions. He already thought of me as a bumbling old coot who talked a blue streak, but he would humor me if I met his price after a little haggling. I mulled it all over as I went back to the barn. I would board my animals in town and could take off when I wished, eventually moving out there to the cabin to stay. I just realized I have been remiss, and I can't tell you why. It seems funny to me that I have not mentioned Babe as yet. I guess I've been so full of my stories that I didn't make space for him at all. He has been my employee for the last 5 years, and that makes it understandable since until now I have not been recounting new events. He is a simple fellow, who has learned to read under my tutelage. He is a bit of a kid, though mature in years to about 30. He cleans like lightning and has been a real asset to me. His physical aspect is running a bit towards the thin, though he proved to be wiry and strong, and good with a bit of construction and repair. In general he is a handy fellow, who in his own simple way is content in life, and he doesn't even need to tell outlandish stories to make himself feel more important, as yours truly readily admits that he must! I vowed to become more secluded and less public with my lifestyle. Oh how I wish that vow could have been kept. But that is a story for a bit later. To the outside world I would be thought of as even more eccentric than usual, a man deeply affected by the death of his friend, who still held dreams of prospecting glory. I would appear to be a somewhat dottery old party, an impression I would not bother to correct, since a might of it would be true, perhaps more than I am prepared to admit. I felt I would be left largely to my own devices, since no one pays attention to an old geezer, as long as he does not become a public spectacle, at least up to a certain degree, or create any possible threat to the public good. By inclination I already had a few of those things already in my nature, but I vowed to gently fade into the background where ever possible. At least that is what I vowed! Returning the rig I put Klaus on notice about finding me an acceptable mount and pack mule. When I told him my intention to at least for a while board the animals, I could see visions of steady dollar signs in his eyes. I could also tell he was biting his lip not to tell me that I had lost my already dwindling senses. But he couldn't argue with cold hard cash. I plunked him down a deposit as well as paying for the rig for the next day, expressing my confidence in his ability to not find me a pair of old nags. A few $20 gold pieces settle just about as many conflicts of conscience as they might create in a different situation. I was out early the next day, passing the charming little Catholic Church with bottles set in the walls instead of stained glass windows, asking in silent prayer for a bit of a hand from the Almighty. I drove the rig slowly out to the cabin, not attracting any attention, real or imagined. As I passed that area I went by the day before that looked as if
water would gather there in season, I noticed a bottleneck sticking out of
the sand. It seemed an unusual place for a bottle, so I went to the
cabin and I tied
up the rig to the little porch and ambled
back to the site. I had thought to stop in town and buy a few miners
supplies,
including a stout shovel. I turned over the bottle on the first shovel
full with my spade and found a note glued securely to the outside of it:
The water inside is the water without. Next part is found in all of my clothes D. The valve to the well was just below the surface, an artesian spring that must have been capped at some considerable expense. (Editor's Note: This spring is still producing water just over the hill from the site of the new power generation plant. The water is thought to have health giving properties by the locals, who come and collect bottles full to drink as an elixir. It is a city asset now that is guarded jealously by the city fathers. RTC) This was a most happy discovery, since after a while I would be able to keep my animals on the property. I could commission Babe to build some sort of shelter for them, as soon as it was practical. I now had the problem of the clothing to solve. The undertaker buried Dennison in the clothes he died in, except his boots. I was there when we collected his effects, and found nothing of great interest. I had brought these things out with me in an old soap box in the buggy, so I had them if I needed them. Most useful thing I found was a nearly new meal ticket from a local cafe, that I later had a few fine dinners on. Was it providence that made me pack up his stuff, or a simple desire to put all of his things together to try to make sense of it all? I felt confident that I would find things in his clothes he did not design for me to find, since that is a common trait we shared, a 'forgetful filing' system. I was always finding odd coins, reminder notes, and odd bits I had picked up and absent-mindedly left there to find later. This was to prove true, along with what I was supposed to find, I found 3 pocket watches, $3.00 in small coin, 12 silver dollars, and a $5 Gold Piece. My idea was to put everything on the cot that he could wear. After doing this I sat, which is an ever favorite occupation, particularly after digging to well caps for an hour, and then filling the sand back in to hide it again. I had brought bread, cheese and Sarsparilla (sic) and made my lunch as I went through the clothes. There was not much there: 2 jackets from the hooks, as well as 5
odd hats on pegs on the walls. In the trunk at the end of his bed I found
3 pairs of denim jeans, 2 pair of workpants, 3 vests, one obviously gotten
in trade from a flashy gambler or someone with little or no personal
taste. Three pairs of boots I retrieved from under the bed, and I did
find a
nightshirt in the trunk as well. I checked the most obvious places first,
finding a pattern almost immediately. Anything that had a pocket had a
little folded green piece of paper: a folded $1000 bill! There were 16
that I found on my first go round, one of them on an inside hat band of a
rather classy top hat. In the flashy vest I found a hint:
There are 17 in this place, did you find
them all? Look into the Magician's case D. The 17th bill all but stumped me, until I remembered one of the jackets had a holed in the pocket. The 17th bill lay in the lining. I was ready for the next clue. He must have thought I'd do pretty much what I did. The case was all but empty, since I took the clothes out. At first inspection it seemed solid enough. Then I started tapping and found the bottom to be hollow. I ran my fingers along the inside of the case, and there hidden in the design of the lining was a tiny loop of wire, all but invisible. Down inside was an envelope with 5 $100 Bills, U.S. labeled 'Nefarias Gains' and a packet of cash tied with a little white ribbon with 56 $1000 bills! I got a little faint at this, needing to sit once again. I sat collecting my thoughts for some time. I immediately was contemplating bodyguards, much less Dennison's cannon for protection. I now had $73,000 clear from just the cabin, the money and property inherited, my wildest Croesus dreams fulfilled. There was the expected note, though I confess I didn't know how
this could be topped off any further:
Here's a chunk more for your trouble Yes 27 pieces arranged from left to right There's not many more pieces, D. I confess if I had brought a restorative spirit with me, I would have taken a drink. I had a little of the water, finding it fresh and clear, my Sarsparilla already gone with dinner. I vowed to calm down, and try to rest, even though I was very excited. I cleared the cot, putting all the clothes into the open trunk, and vowed to lay down for a brief nap. As excited as I was, it had been a very athletic time for me, having gotten more exercise that I suppose was normal. I fell off into a dreamless sleep, for some time.
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