The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-06-22
CAPTAIN KIDD,s TREASURE.

IIH
CAPTAIN RIDD,s TREASURE.
Old johnson Mower was q surly, dis.
contented fellow, who thirty years ago
kept o little inn on one Of the highways
near the south coast Of Long Island. II
was 0 poor place enough, with the
house and all about Il run TO dilapida-
tion and decay; and a very scanty living
did johnson get by the keeping Of this
tavern, with the poor entertainment
that he furnished to man and beast
But the place was well suited to its
tenant, whose life had been dreamed
away with impracticable schemes for
money getting, and who had come here
in hisilast years, partly because IL was
the only chance that opened to him,
but particularly 10 prosecute the busi-
ness OF money digging. He had lately
read several accounts OF the life and
doings Of Captain Kidd, and he had
been Impressed with the fact that these
narratives, while differing widely on
other points, substantially agreed on
these-that Kidd treasure, or the bulk
OF IL, was buried somewhere about the
waters Of New York, and that IL had
never been unearthed. From the mo.
ment that his mind was directed 10 this
subject he became secret enthusiast
about 1t. BE pondered upon II,
dreamed. over II, and had no heart Or
inclination for anything else. He CON
yinced himself without much trouble
that all his ill.luck in life was now to
be recompensed by such stroke Of
good fortune ns would make him o mil.
lionaire. He believed former unBnc.
cessful aearchers after this treasure had
mot gone Systematically to work, as he
meant To do, and certainly had not
looked IN the right places. For numer-
ous reasons perfectly satisfactory to
himself, he Believed that, the south
shore Of Long Island, quite near the
city, was the depository whore the free.
booter's wealth had lain undisturbed
for two centuries and with his mind
convinced in advance, tits not singular
that he. dreamed OF that locality three
nights in succession. That was quite
enough TO determine him, II he had
lhcked the resolution before. He sue.
ceeded in getting. the worthless old
house where We fnd him, living at o
nominal rent, and by the pretense Of
keeping IN inn, whiehftho who put
trust In him found anything but q re.
ality, he managed TO keep soul and
body together, while he secretly prose-
cuted his anxious exploration for the
buried treasure. He had few neigh.
bors; the old house was in lonely,
unattractiye spot and 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 . bench in front
OF the house, was devoting the whole
night and every night to solitary prowl-
ines about the beach and through the
woods with q spade, digging here and
there as his fancy1or his dreams direct
ed him, and constantly neryed mp to
the performance Of this hard, physical
toll by the hope Of finding immense
riches.
But no success had thus far rewarded
the old mans efforts. The summerhad
passed, and September was fast lapsing,
and not o copper, nor coin or ati arti.
Gle Of any value, had he turned npwith
his busy spade. His labor had been 50
constant and so severe for three months
that IL told heavily on him; he had
contracted troublesome cough by
continual exposure to thenight air, and
his rheumatism was aggravated byit
Sill he did not think OF giving up
certainly not before the frost and snow
had locked up the earth 50 thatit would
be impossible for him to dig. He
nourished his enthusiasm, and perse.
yered with astonishing ardor in his
night explorations.
III was 'ht twilight OF ono night toward
the last Of September. that, ps old
Mower sat on the bench, inpatiently
waiting for darkness, two men walked
down the road toward the house, and
paused. They seemed TO be consulting
together but after q moment they
slowiy approached the old man, as he
sat there alone. . 40 tx 4
,,Good evening, sir, said one. "oan
You give us something to eatP'
aYou,ll pay, won't you% asked
johnson.
"oh, certainIy,I didn't mean that
you were to give us o meal, guess
we,fe able to pay-hey, JackY
aI reckon, . replied his companion,
slapping his pocket and causing ..
pleasant chinking OF coin. "What
have you got ."
"Oh, I can give you some bread and
cheese--or crackers and cheese, II you
choose and some sweet cider. Step
right in here, gentlemen /" and the
shabby old landlord hustled about with
vast airs Of Importance.
The strangers looked Of each other,
smiled, laughed, and shook their sides
with merriment. So ila,b. 4
"Champagne and pheasants last
night. and cider and cheese tonight !"
one OF them exclaimed. T" "Hows that,
George7 2"
IPreity rich, was the laughing 70.
ply. "Neyer mind, youknow we're on
business tonight, andionly want some-
thing 10 stay hunger, without much ro'
gard for quality Fetch ON your cheese
and fixings. UnoIo jacob, and ven keep
Hone oil IL from Bpoiltng.p