The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-09-08
CAPTAIN KIDo's TREASURE.

Oiu OOubSOu AiONNi WAC q his
coutented fellow, who thirty years age
kept little inn on one of tho highways
near the south cost Of Long Island. Il
was poor place enough, with the house
and all about it run to dilapidation and
decay aud very scanty living die
johnson get by the keeping Of this tavern
with the poor entertainment that he fur
nished to man and beast. But the place
was well suited to its tenant, whose life
had been dreamed away with impractical
BILE schemes for money getting, and who
had come here in his last years,partly be.
cause it was the only chance that opened
to him, but particularly to prosecute the
business of morey digging, He had late.
doings Of Captain Kidd, and had been i'm.
pressed with the fact that these narrative;
while differing widely on other points
substantially agreed on thesc-.that Kidd's
treasures, or the bulk of it, was buried
somewhere about the waters Of New York
and that it had never been unearthcd
From the moment that his mind was di.
rected to this subject he became a secre,
enthusiast about it. He pondered upon
it, dreamed over it, and had no heart OF
inclination for anything else. He con.
vinced himself without much trouble that
all his illluck in life was now to be rec.
ompepsed by such a stroke of good for.
tune as would make him millionaire
Jo holiovod forpor upeucooasC,,l soa rob ore
after this treasure had not gone systcmat-
ically to work, as he meant to do, and
certainly had not looked in the right
places. For numerous reasons satsfac.
tory to himself, he believed that the south
shore Of Long Island, quite near the city,
was the depository where the freebooter
wealth had lain undisturbed for two cen.
turies and with his mind convinced in
advance, it is not singular that he dream
ed of that locality three nights in success.
sion. That was quite enough to deter.
mine MIN, if he had lacked the resolution
before. He succeeded in getting the
worthless old house where we fad him
living at nominal rent, and by the pre-.
tense of keeping an inn, which those who
put trust in him, found anything but a
reality,he managed to keep soul and body
together, while he secretly prosecuted his
anxious exploration for the buried treas
urer' He had few neighbors; the old
house was in lonely, unattractive spot
aud those who knew anything about him
or saw anything Of him, never imagined
that the poor old object, who slept and
nodded most Of the day in the sun, on a
bench in front Of the house, was devotlng
the whole night and every night to soil.
tary prowling about the beach and through
the woods with spade, digging here and
there as his fancy or dreams directed him,
aud constantly nerved up to the perform
auce OF this hard, physical toll by the
hope Of finding immense riches.
But no success had thus far rewarded
the old mans efforts The summer had
passed, and September was fast apsing
and not copper, nor a coin or an article
Of any value, had he turned up with his
busy sDade. His laoors had beeu so con.
stant aud severe for three months ihat il
told heavily on him he had contracted a
troublesome cough by continual exposure
to the night air, and his rheumatism was
aggravated by it, Still he did not think
of giving up certainly not before the
frost aud snow had locked up the c1rth SO
that it would be impossible for him to dig
He uourished his enthusiasm. and pcrse.
vered with astonishing ardor in his night
explorations
1t was at twilight Of one night toward
the last OF September thai, as old Now.
er sat on the bench, impatently waiting
for darkness, two men walked down the
road toward the house, and paused. They
seemed to be consulting together but af
ter moment they slowly approached the
old man as he sat there alone,
Good evening, sir said one. Car
you give us something to eat ?
You'll pay won't you?' asked John.
son.
oh, certainly, didn't mean that you
were to give us meal. l guess we're
able to pay-hey, Jack 2
Il reckon, replied his companion, slap
ping his pocket and causing pleasan
chinking of coin. What have you got I?
oh, l can give you some bread and
cbeese-or crackers and cheese if you
choose-and some sweet cider. Ster
right in here, gentlemen ) and the shabby
old landlord hustled about with vast cir!
ofimportanse.
The strangers looked at each other
smiled, laughed, and shook thair side,
with merrsment.
champagne und pheasants last night
cider and cheese tonight = one OF then
exclaimed. 'How's that George7'
Pretty rich, was the laughing reply
Never mind; you know we're on busi
ness tonight, and only want something t.
stay hunger, without much regard to fo
quality, Fetch on your cheese and fix
ings, Uncle Jacob, well! keep somc o
it from spoiling,
johnson set out the rickety table il
the room within,that answered tor dining
room and parlor, though looking ittl
enough like either, then placed his hum
bic victuals upon it, grumbling all th,
time at the insolence of his guests, whicl
he thought not best to resent openly. II
had observed them closely during his con
versation, and saw that they were cit,
men, rather young, with immense blacl
moustaches, stylish clothes, aud show
rings and breastpins, When the host an
nounced the repsst as ready, one of then
said:
We'll, We'll attend to it. We shan
want you for a few minutes
johnson could not misunderstood 5
broad hint, and accordingly withdrew
but not very far. These were guests o
an unusual kind, and seemed to hay
plenty of money. They were evidentl
from New York and what business coul
they have in this unfrequented place ? h
old mans occupation had made him Il
and watchful, and his curiosity was :
much excited hy tho annearaDoa Of "a;