Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1888-06-07
A HIDDEN TREASURE.

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inn in Indiana and secured lodgings for
the night. He was q sailor, he said, and
was On his way to town twenty miles
distant, where he he'd relatives. He
was a stout built rugged looking fellow
but next morning he was found dead
IN his bed. The aboye facts we're clear
ly established, but certain other fact
could only be surm:sed. Word was
sent to the dead mans relativea, the
cornerer took charge Of the remains,
The deceased had few dollars in mon
ey and a few trinkets, but the relatives
at once claimed that he had been rob-
bed OF valuable papers.
The proprietor OF the inn was YER,
liable Yankee, including hawk bill
nose and the legendary twang, end his
wife q counter cart. IL was known to
be sharper than steel n u horse trade,
and he never put out dollar that he
did not get a big interest but no one
believed he had rilau the dead man 5
baggage. When the relatives were ask
ed about the nature Of the alleged val
uable papers they refused to @n5wor
and this evasion threw doubts on their
allegation. In few weeks tie affair
blew over, and in about three months
the landlord and wife began to te2l
lonesome for the hills of old New
Hampshire. This was an excuse ior
offering all their property for sale, and
six months after the death Of the strang.
cr in the hotel the place passed into
other hands
The next scene opened in New Or
leans. was then employed by Blank
& Blank, wreckers, as general manager
Of the business. We had three vessels
steam pumps, divers and all other nee
essary apparatus. | was called INTO the
office one day, and there found Jonas
Stebbins, TIE hook nosed Yankee who
had sold out his hotel in Indiana. He
had something to say, but he hesitated
to say it. 1t was half an hour before
we could bring him to the point,
and then only after three OF us had
placed our hands on 4 small Bible.
which S,ehbjns had tbouohtfollv pro.
vided for, and sworn never to reveal
his spcrot Vboo ha hrongh+ forth ,vo
letters and man ana we saw that an.
other buried treasure crank had strlck
the citv. Such incidents were not nm
common. IN fine five wears had been
manager We had encountered a fuIl
Ioyan Of thrsc cranl,s and ON tw, oc-
cas;ons the firm had lost heavily bv en-.
torin,- nto,ortorrsh;ns which failed 70
nan ONT As soon as Mr. S,abbins nm.
toldal Sirosa,f he oot the cola sbon,l-
er bpt he wou,d not take It that wav.
"Ioox here he said as he t,]tel his
cho;r hacl, "dr Won t,l,n mo for . fool
"WcI n,rtIy"
-, Won think | want q nartnors},in
IN ito
Don't you?'
Not by jugrull want to hire a
schooner and crew and divers by the
week for so many weeks. All are to
be under my orders, and am to have
all that Is found. Partnership No
sir.c-e What's your lowest figures 9
lie had shown us roughly drawn
Of the Bahama Island. one executed
with pen and ink by some sailor. He
wanted Il schooner to proceed to one Of
the islands, All the APPARATUS he want
ed was graspnels divers. He might
want Us three weeks. but probably not
over two. 1t was finally agreed that
he should hire bv the dav. He beat us
down IS on the FIGURE named, and an
iron clad agreement was drawn up and
signed, and he count out 81 900 IN cold.
A sum sufficient to paw US for three
weeks was deposted with banker,and
we at once began preparations for the