St. Landry democrat., 1889-05-11
REGINALD
A FISHERMAN'S LUCK.
/ A CURIOUS TALE OF ADVENTURE IN SOUTHWEST
LOUISIANA, THE GULF OF MEXICO AND
THE NORTH.
BY JUNIUs L. HEMPsTEAD.
Written for The american.

Written for The american.
Uncle Paul was growing more feeble,
but his love for Beulah was increasing
with his years. His childish talk was art
lessly pathetic; his brain seemed to realize
instincJively that something had happened,
that his little pet was suffering, He Wonlo
gaze into her fsce as faithful dog that
looks upon the eyes of bis loved master,
and with dumb, pleading look that seems
to say, 81 wish l could do something LOT
you"
Carlos and Inez are reading and reread-
ing the papers Lopez de Savoy had left
them. For two years they had been dong
the same thing, but nature had securely
hidden the treasure. The trees had grown;
all the land marks had changed with them
With dispirited hearts, they had almost
surrendered all hopes.
They began to study the history of the
old man, had learned to understand Eng
lish enough to listen to his rambling
speeches, that were the outpourings OF
remorse that stained his life. They watched
his every move and as they are seated he
passes slowly into the woods to where his
cabin stands They follow him. The old
: man has seated Beulah on the gangway, as
he passes around the old house TO dlsap-
pear in the thicket. Sharp eyes were
watching the old man. He seems to have
fondness for the cutlass, as he draws II
it from it's hiding place and speaks to
it as if the senseiess thing was a httle
child. When he was gone, Carlos ana
.Inez hastily sought the spot, to bring forth
the weapon from it's place of concealment.
They dug every foot Of ground in ten
square yards, but nothing rewarded their
search.
They gazed long and curiously at the
polished blade that shone like mirror.
How had the old man managed to f'eep 1t
SO bright? They read the name upon the
handle; an expression of joy escaped, for
it was the name of the vessel that the
papers spoke about.
ssInez, that old man knows where the
money IS, and the secret will die with him.
1t is useless to depend upon the papers;
they amount to nothing. We will watch
the old man. 1t is our only chance"
They replaced the sword and retired.
When Uncle Paul discovered that the
ground had been dug all around his
sword, cunning CLEAN of reason shot
from his eyes as he slowly hobbled back
to the house.
At midnight he stole forth to rescue his
sword from the enemy, but his steps were
logged. When he had reached the spot,
he was confronted by Carlos, who held
lantern to the old mans face.
"Come, Uncle Paul, you know where
the money is, and am going to choke the
breath out of you until you find it. You
cannot play off mad on me.
The old man looked at him with half
crazy look.
esNone of that. want you to lead me
to the spot"
He seized the old man by the throat, and
with his grip constantly tightening, he
fiercely demanded the secret.
"Spare him, Carlos; you will be muir
derer he is very feeble"
'sLet me alone, Inez."
az will not, Carlos, you shall not kill
the old man. ALI the money in the world
will not wash the blood from your hands,
let him loose, or will scream"
The victim by sign acknowledged that
he was willing to tell.
esDid / not tell you, Inez, quickly, bring
some water, he has tainted. Oh don't
let him die. l choked him too hard"
.aYou are murderer, Carlos, and the
money will be curse, you can have it all,
| would not touch piece of it for my
life, for it is blood money"
1.-THE pirate is coming around all right,
we will get the treasure, and he will live. T"
Uncle Paul, with frightened look,
went a score of steps from where the
sword was buried, and pointed to spot at
the foot of a huge tree.
While he stood by to see the Spaniard
throw spade after spade full of dirt, as he
struck the ground now and then to hear
4 hollow sound, frantically he redoubled
his efforts
Uncle Paul stepped back few PAGES to
seat himself near.
The chest was reached, Carlos is insane
with Joy, The old man stood sullenly by,
when he had dug the earth clear from the
lid. he priced it open with his spade, their
ewes were greedily fixed upon The work
before them.
THE aged form towers above them like
an oak. the flash of the cutlass blade
cleaned in the dull glare of the lantern as
Il whistled through the air, and Carlos
head fell into the hole, another stroke and
Inez trunkless body tumbled backwards,
the old man was avenged.
He nlaced the bodies in the chest that
contained nothing but some moth eaten
clothes, replaced the lid and filled up the
hole. replaced the sod, buried his sword
IN smother place, and feebly staggered
home.
Beulah went to the old mans couch
next morning, to spring back in horror,
his hands were all covered with blood.
s.Oh Uncle Paul, what have You been
do;ng to hurt yourself in such manner"
81 killed Ned, Beulah, he will not
whistle upon the maintop rigging any
more. as
and face. made him change his clothes,
and soon discovered the purple streaks
ronnd the swollen throat.
s.Why Uncle Paul, who has been chok-
;nr vou YOUR throat is quite purple
Ned did it, Beulah, Ned did it,
That was all that she could get from the
feeble nps, it was the old mans death, be
never rose from his bed, they were all
s ~ At the BIO tom Of the ladder, their
s s. an, had disappeared. Beulah Lad har
hands full nursing her mother and Uncle
p ,s who was sinking very fast.
She was sitting alone In one corner cry,
inc 5i bitterly, how Clark and hopeless seemd