I am 66 years old, but when I was in elementary school in Mountain View, CA, I read a short story in some reading textbook (probably from the 1950s) that I have thought about ever since. It was a “Western”. I do not remember the story’s title, but there was an illustration showing a rough-looking man in black who was an outlaw and who was being hunted by a sheriff (I think for murder).
The outlaw made it to a place where he had buried what the reader was led to believe was a treasure box. When he was killed, and the authorities opened the box, it was filled with the dead man’s little childhood mementos.
There was an illustration of the open box as well.
It had a profound effect on me, and I would love to be able to read it again.
This is a short story by Fred Gipson, author of “Old Yeller,” probably one of those comprising the collection “Recollection Creek,” a year in the life of a rural town as seen by a young boy.
In my reader, the story is called treasure. It is wonderful.