Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-04-01

| OIuiIe DtlCiisls, dHu IL AuIC y DIN AioI 2
than he cared to own that his adopted
father had left no word or message even
to show than be returned his regard.
Uncle Sol made no answer. Like many
of his kind he was inclined TO supersti =
ton. It was the full of the moon, and,
according 10 an old legend. it was at such
a time that the marks on Kids Ledge
locating the burying place of pot Of gold
were visible.
The skipper was thinking of this as,
making some careless excuse, be rose, and
stroIling down to the shore took his way
along the shadows of the beetling lodges,
leaving Jack plunged in rather gloomy
meditatiOns.
Just before reaching Kids Ledge,
which was said to be marked by three
crosses cut In the stone, a murmur Of
voices reached his ear. Stopping and
crouching low In the shadow Of great
| bowlder, Uncle Sol peered cautiously out.
| Two persons, whose backs were toward
him, were bending over the sand at the
! foot of Kidd's Ledgc-apparently digging
with all their might at the base of the
rock.
| By the big horn spoon!" muttered the
old skipper excitedly, somebody's found
the place where the treasurer berried and
is diggin' for it!''
| The evening was calm and still, with
only the gentle swash of the sea waves on
| the beach TO break the silence. Hesitat-
ing moment, Uncle Sol stole along TO the
other tide of Kids Ledge, and softly
| climbed upward till he reached the top
Then worning himself along to the edge
he peeped over.
| What possessed you to run such ire
mendous risk, Bradford?' were the first
! ineligible words that reached the skip
| pers ears.
No great risk about it, - coolIy return
the other. mo one knew that Uncle
Josh had made will, and as | happened
to find it in the tin trunk with some other
papers, / slipped 1t away and buried it
| here
why here?" asked NJ. BeIchers, who
did not seem SO much shocked as might
have been expected.
| Il knew the house would be ransacked,
and | didn't want to carry it home, " was
Inc surly reply.
| The skipper, who had listened with an
amazement too deep for words, felt his
| heart almost stop beating as the whole
truth of the matter flashed across his
mind.
| Dragging himself still farther forward,
! Uncle Sol craned his neck until he could
see what was going on below. Brad had
disinterred a small trunk of japanned tin,
which stood open on the sand. His father
| had taken out one of the papers and,
| lighting a match, was reading the head
! ing.
Last will and testament Of Joshua
! Belchers, Esquire" he read aloud. Hum,
well, | hardly know what to do about
! this"
It occurred to Uncle Sol that an honest
man would know without studying such 4
! question for a moment.
burn it. Of course" tersely responded
Brad.
IF did, said bis father, soemnly,
1T would only be to-er-saye you from
the consequences of what you have
DONE
Cannon, sneered Brad. 'You know
erSy as | am-burn it, | sayI'
Mr.. Belchers pretenGed to hesitate
| Then, drawing another match from his
pocket, he struck it on the rocks, as the
two stood close together Uncle Sol open
ed his mouth to yell. when suddenly he
overbalanced himself, and down he went,
the yell escaping as he pitched forward.
! Rolling down the steep and slippery ledge,
he struck heavily on Mr. Betcher's head
and Brad s shoulders, throwing them both
to the sand
Neither of them stopped there Two more
frightened individuals never scrambled
from a recumbent posture and took to
their heels without so much as casting a
glance behind.
Eye couldn't see 'em fer the sand they
kicked up behind EN-" chucklingIy OBJ
served Uncle Sol as ten minutes later he
! displayed to Jacks astonished eyes the
tin trunk containing the missing will and
| told his story with great gusto.
1t is almost needless to say that the re-
covered will was entirely in Jacks favor.
! Everything was left to him without reser-
vatlOn, Lawyer Titcomb being appointed
trustee to hold the property til Jack
came of age.
Il knowed I'd git even with them two
critters, only | didn't think it would be
so soon, said Uncle So; an now, Jack.
don t loose q minute, but hurry up to law
| yeC TitComb's and enter a complaint
| again EN- for larcenizin' a mans will
with intent to defraud, or whatever you
| call it"
What for?" TRANQUILITY interrupted
Jack
Sos to have 'em both put in states
prism, of course" returned Uncle Sol,
with a bewildered stare.
! ''I'll think about it Uncle SOL" said
zach, quietly. And then, taking the tin
trunk, he made his way up town. But in
stead of stopping at Lawyer Titcombs he
kept on till he reached the old homestead
/ where Mr.. BelChers and Bradford had
taken up their abpde.
| The lawyer and his son, having recover
ed from their fright, were about to return
to the store, when Jack appeared At the
sight of the trunk the two grew pale as
ashes
Il will trouble you both to leave my
premises, > coolly observed Jack. ~ hap.
pen to have here the will which you, Brad
stole and hid away, and you, Mr.. Belch-
ers,' turning to the lawyer, intended to
| burn"
What could be said to such an accusa-
ton? Mr.. Belcher stammered something
about mistake and hurriedly departed.
II suppose now you've got the whip
handle you'll pay US off in--in our own
coin, doggedly remarked Brad, who had
fingered behind.
Nv hat do you mean?" asked Jack.
livingstone US into states prison"
Il shall do nothing of the kind, " firmly
returned Jack, though you both richly
deserve it. No one but Unce Sol Maxwell
and | know what you have done, and |
don t intend any one shall"
You d orter had your revenge again
EN-, Jack, grumbled Uncle SOL who no
! Ssh