Spake As a Dragon Read online

  “Father, you are making no sense. I have no idea what you are up to, but I will do as you ask.”

  A couple of minutes later Luke has climbed the ladder and is in the bell tower standing next to the two bells. One is pretty large the other a shade smaller, yelling back down to Robert and Elder Lindley, “Okay, I’m here, now what?”

  “Turn the large wheel next to the bell, if it turns the bell will ring. If it is rusted shut swing the clapper by hand.”

  From the Meetinghouse floor, the two men look up into the steeple awaiting the sound of the bell. A dull, dead sound is heard coming from the top of the tower, Robert said later it reminded him of someone thumping on a ripe watermelon.

  Yelling back down Luke hollers, “Father, the bells will not ring, you reckon they are cracked and broken? I don’t see any cracks.”

  Shouting back up into the belfry, “Luke, what does the headstock look like? Is it secure or is it rotten?”

  “I don’t know Father, what is the headstock?”

  “Luke, it is the large piece of wood that holds the bell.”

  Responding back, “Father, these things holding the bells are large metal bars, they are not wooden.”

  Turning to Elder Lindley, “Something is not right Elder, the bells are not cracked, but they will not ring. The wooden headstocks are made of metal not wood. I have an idea.”

  “Luke are the bells made of brass?”

  “I don’t know Father, they are painted black.”

  “Black! Bells aren’t supposed to be painted. Luke use your pocketknife and scrape off a small spot of the black paint and tell me what you see.”

  Moving over to the large bell Luke removes his pocketknife, flips open a blade and scrapes the black paint along the edge of the bell, “This can’t be Father,” Luke yells. “It looks like...like...”

  “What Luke? What does it look like?”

  “Gold! Father it is gold!”

  “Luke test the headstocks too.”

  “Gold! The metal headstocks seem to be made of gold too!”

  Grinning, Robert looks to Elder Lindley, “Well I guess we have found the gold Elder Lindley. It appeared when the soldiers pulled out that morning during the Battle of Scarburg Mill they left the gold bars and burned the wagons. Later, the bars were melted and turned into the bells in your belfry. Now we understand why the bells never rang again, they couldn’t, they are made of pure gold!”

  “What now Father?” Luke yells from the belfry.

  “Good job Luke, now get yourself back down we’ve got to get over to the Masonic Lodge.”

  TWELVE-POUND CANNONBALLS

  Masonic Lodge Number One is located just a short distance from the Meetinghouse. Robert and Luke mount up and spur their horses followed closely behind by Elder Lindley in his buggy. He said he was coming too he wasn’t going to miss the excitement.

  Luke has been instructed to go to Lonnie Turney’s house and ask him to meet with Robert and Elder Lindley at the Lodge.

  Stopping in front of the Lodge to await the arrival of the official for the Masonic Lodge. Robert lights the two lanterns on either side of the entrance doors so they can see a little better. The wait is not long. Up rides Luke followed closely by Mr. Turney. Dismounting, Turney like Elder Lindley could not understand why Robert would want back into the Masonic Lodge, especially this late at night.

  “I’ve got the keys right here Robert, but I don’t understand what you expect to find inside. We have already searched the Lodge pretty good, I think.”

  “You’re right Lonnie, we’re not going inside. I wanted you here to see what I think we will find on your Lodge’s property. No need to explain I’ll just show you all, but first I want to thank you for coming down to meet us.”

  “You’re welcome Robert, glad to help.”

  “Lonnie during the late War I know you were in the Artillery, I believe you were what we in the Infantry called a ‘cannon cocker’, your job took you right out there at the beginning of every action while engaging the enemy. Seen a lot of battles just like most of us, right?”

  “Yeah, more than I wanted to, believe you me!”

  “Lonnie I’m saying this to establish the fact that you know all about cannons and cannonballs. I reckon you have handled a few of those balls in your time, is this correct?”

  “Yes, that is surely the truth.”

  Robert walks over to the old cannon, “Lonnie this pile of cannonballs stacked next to the cannon contains twelve-pound balls, agreed?”

  “Yes, twelve pound balls. I agree Robert. As I said, I have fired many of them at the boys from the North.”

  “Fine, pick up the one on top and bring it over to me.”

  Mr. Turney walked over to the stack placed his hands on the ball and lifts, rather he tries to lift it. He grasps the ball with both hands and expecting a weight of slightly close to twelve pounds he groans, “Uh, something is wrong Robert,” he says straining to lift the heavy cannon ball. “This ball must weigh more than seventy or eighty pounds. I don’t understand.”

  “Luke, take your pocket knife and scrape off a little of that black paint. I believe Elder Lindley and Lonnie would like to see what type of metal makes up that ball.”

  Doing as he was told Luke scratched the ball with his knife blade. Even in the dim light cast by the flickering flames of the two lanterns a glitter could be seen, “Why...why...that is not iron. It looks like it might be go...go...gold!” Exclaimed the flabbergasted Worshipful Master of Lodge Number One.

  “Indeed Lonnie, it is gold. These cannonballs are all solid gold, each weighing between fifty to one hundred pounds. I’m just estimating, but I guess each ball would require three or four bars of gold to make, and a bar of gold weighs between twenty-five to thirty pounds. While imprisoned at Point Lookout, one of my closest friends worked the gold mines in northern Georgia before the War; he said a bar of gold weighed twenty-seven and one-half pound. Luke, how about helping Lonnie count the balls in the stack.”

  “No need Robert, I can tell you a four stack of twelve-pounders contains thirty balls. I’ve stacked too many, and my memory might not be as it once was, but I’ll never forget that number!”

  “Okay, let’s say each ball weighs at a minimum fifty pounds and Lonnie you say there are thirty of them, I don’t need to cipher those numbers the answer is one thousand five hundred pounds.

  “Why, there is almost a ton of gold stacked right here!”

  “Yes Lonnie and it has been here for the past seventy-four years! Hiding in plain sight, and within the past hour Elder Lindley, Luke and myself found the rest of the gold in the Meetinghouse. The gold had been melted and cast into the church’s two bells and two gold headstocks...”

  Interrupting, Lonnie wanted to know the description of a headstock. Robert explains Lonnie grunts and nods his head.

  Continuing, “I have no way of knowing how much those bells and headstocks weigh, but guessing I would say they must weigh at least the same as these cannonballs.”

  “Oh my, that’s another ton and a half of pure gold,” William said rubbing the top cannon ball. “What are we to do now?”

  “While waiting for you to arrive Lonnie I gave this problem some thought. First, for the time being, only the three of us are to know of our find. Even the hint that the gold has been found would stir this town into a frenzy of gold fever.”

  “Yes, yes I agree.”

  “At least,” said Robert, “the mystery of my Pappy John’s bible has now finally been solved!” Bowing his head, “Thank you Grandfather for the 2K168 riddle.”

  THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT

  “Right now the men who searched for the gold are telling their friends and family that my days in the prison has warped my thinking and they are saying no one should listen to me about the gold. That is good for us. Next Elder Lindley we will need to devise a plan to remove the bells and their headstocks from your belfry. To be perfectly honest I have no idea how to do it, but I do know for over forty year
s you have been a master carpenter in these parts. You have built houses, barns, stores, bridges, you have built or supervised the building of almost everything in this valley. Elder Lindley you are the perfect man to come up with a way to remove the items from the belfry and an excuse why they must be removed. The final task is my responsibility. I must contact the Treasury Department of the United States and find out what is to be the disposition of the gold. I know what you all are thinking, I don’t want to give it up either, but it is not ours to keep we must give it back.”

  Lonnie looked sadly at Robert, “Robert, as you well know this is a poor town. Most folks around do not have two half-dimes to rub together. This terrible War has left us almost destitute and penniless. This gold could change our lives for the good.”

  “Please, fellows I know how much could be done with this gold. Much of it could be used by a lot of needy people as you say. My son Matthew and his father-in-law Mark Holmes need cash to buy supplies to prepare artificial legs for the cripples of the War. No better use could be made of some of the gold money. I could rebuild Scarlett. Nate and Sary could build a home to live in peacefully for the rest of their lives. Luke and Catherine could be helped too. I know Lonnie, I could go on and on about the good deeds the money would do for my family, and the same goes for yours and Elder Lindleys, but again it does not belong to us. If we didn’t know to whom it belongs, it might be different, but we know the owner is the United States Treasury.”

  GETTING RID OF THE GOLD

  Robert stands at the counter of the Western Union office in Scarlettsville, with pen and paper in hand. What is he to say? And to who is he supposed to send the message?

  The clerk approaches, “Can I help mister? I can write it out if you need me to.”

  “Nah, I can read and write, I just don’t know what to say or who I am supposed to send the message to.”

  “Can you give me a hint, maybe I can help you compose your message.”

  This caused Robert to think – if I send this out, this clerk is going to spread word all over town about the gold. This is a bad idea. Looking up from the message pad Robert said to the clerk, “You know I believe I will wait until later.” He replaced the pen in its holder and walked out of the telegraph office. What to do? What to do? He thought.

  Columbia! Columbia that’s it. I need to go to the state capitol and talk with those people. They will know what to do with the gold. He thought sticking his foot into the stirrup of his saddle.

  A quick trip back to Scarlett, Robert picks up Luke, and they head to the South Carolina capitol of Columbia. From Scarlett, the capital is only a forty-five mile trip. The road from Scarlettsville to Columbia was first class; therefore, the two men should make good time arriving there sometime today.

  The two Scarburg men walk their horses down Assembly Street. They had been told on the edge of town the South Carolina State House is located on the corner of Assembly and Gervais Streets.

  As Robert and Luke move toward the State House, they are amazed at the total destruction the War had leveled on the city. Most of the buildings along the grand avenue they traveled are burnt and destroyed. Luke surveying the ruins from the back of his horse commented, “Those Yankees!”

  Robert responded, “No, those Damn Yankees!” Robert figured after the War the State House would be controlled and entirely run by Unionist. Anyone who held office prior to the War, did not, or could not hold any position within the state of South Carolina’s government now.

  “I’ve changed my mind, we’re not going to the State House. If we turn the gold over to these rascals, it will never make it back to Washington. They will find a way to use it for themselves. No, we are heading the nearest telegraph office. A message sent from here will do us no harm, the clerk will not know where we are from.”

  They trace the telegraph wires running along Assembly to the Western Union office. Robert dismounts, enters the room, approaches the counter in the telegraph office and motions for the clerk. The clerk asked if he could be of help. Robert responds, “Yes, I want to send a telegram.”

  “Jot’er down on this pad and I’ll send’er off mister, or do you druther I jest tap it out.”

  “Okay, tapping it out will be fine.”

  The clerk returns to his telegraph key and keys in his station code. Turning to Robert, “Okay Mister, I’m ready. Whom do we send this to?”

  “Send it to the President of the United States, Washington, D.C.”

  “What? Did you say the President of the United States?”

  “Yes! Something wrong with your hearing?”

  Shaking his head the clerk began to key in the address. “Okay, what do you want to say to the President?”

  ‘Sir have found large quantity of money belonging U.S. government. (stop) Believe from Revolutionary War (stop) Request disposition instructions. (stop) Awaiting reply. R. Smith. (stop)’ The telegraph operator keyed the message leaned back in his chair to think about what he had just done. He wanted desperately to ask Robert about the money, but he had been taught the operator’s job was to send and receive messages; they are not to become involved in the subject of the transmissions. Rather than asking a question the operator directed Robert and Luke to a bench to await an answer.

  The folks in Washington must operate efficiently; an answer was received almost immediately:

  ‘R. Smith (stop)

  Columbia, SC (stop)

  What type money? (stop) How much money? (stop)

  J. Worthy (stop)

  Office Secretary of Treasury’ (stop)

  “Sir, do you wish to make a reply?”

  “Yes, send this:

  ‘Type – gold. Amount – One and one-half tons.’

  The operator sat with his mouth open. “Send the response,” said Robert.

  Within minutes another telegraph message was received, the sender was the same as before the message read:

  ‘Thanks for considering Treasury. (stop).

  We do not buy output from mining operations. (stop)

  Take gold ore to nearest assay office. (stop)

  “Hmm...send them this reply:

  ‘Not ore. Refined 24 karat gold. Repeat have – 1-1/2 TONs. Relieve Gold from Revolutionary War period. Request disposition.’

  The operator had gone as far as his regulations require, but he could not resist, “Mister, do you realize you are saying to Washington that you have twenty-five hundred pounds of pure gold?”

  “Yeah,” Said Robert, “We thought it was a lot too.”

  “How much exactly is that much gold worth?” The Western Union operator asked.

  “I don’t rightly know. Hand me that pad and a pen. Now let’s see: 3,000 times 16 ounces is 48,000 ounces. Gold is selling today, I guess around 30 dollars an ounce,” Quickly to the calculations, “Let’s see that would be close to a 1.4 million dollars. Humm, I guess it is a lot. Wait a second, gold is measured in Troy ounces, and a Troy pound of gold is only 12 ounces, so now we have,” Robert figured, “Just a tad over one million dollars, or $1,080,000 dollars.”

  The key on the telegraph machine began clicking; a new message was coming in from Washington:

  ‘Understand. (stop)

  We have no procedure to accept proceeds from Revolutionary War time period. (stop)

  Money’s found belong to finder. (stop)

  “Okay, mister operator send this final message back to Washington:

  ‘Understand U.S. will not accept. Finders awarded custody?’ (stop)

  A couple of minutes later a response was received, it simply read:

  ‘Correct, finders awarded custody of gold. Thank you for inquiry.’ (stop)_

  J. Worthy (stop)

  Office Secretary of Treasury (stop)

  Washington, D.C. (stop)

  The telegraph operator was almost in a state of shock – the gold was theirs – it belonged to Mr. R. Smith. The Government said so. He turns to Robert, “Is there anything more I can do for you Mr. Smith?”

 
; “Yeah, just one – could you please put that final response on one of your official yellow telegraph papers.”

  Standing on the sidewalk outside the telegraph office Robert could not speak; finally, Luke said, “Father, it is ours! It really is ours – officially. The Government did not want it! What about that?”

  Robert sat down on the edge on the wooden sidewalk, leaned back against one of the posts and re-reads the telegraph, “Yeap, that’s what this official telegraph paper says. Now we just have to figure out how to divide it up fairly.”

  “What do you mean ‘divide’ Father – the gold belongs to us, we found it!”

  “Well, we did find it Son, but remember the bells and headstocks were found on the Meetinghouse property and the cannonballs were found stacked on the Masonic Lodge grounds.”

  “I agree about where the gold was found, but it had been lying there for over seventy years, without us figuring out the mystery it would still be there for the next seventy years!”

  “I know Luke, but fair is fair. We’ll just have to figure it all out. Just think – over a million dollars! Let’s go home.”

  GOOD AND BAD NEWS

  Back at Scarlett Robert and Luke gathered the family together. All the Scarburgs, all the Holmes, Nate’s family, and Elsa were all crowded together in the parlor anxiously awaiting Robert to tell how the trip to Columbia went.

  After everyone settled down, Robert begins, “Now Luke and I have some good news and bad. Which do y’all want to hear first?”