The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-06-08
TREASURE TROyE.

TREASURE IRONE.
81 dreamed about that berried treas
ure agin las night, Jack" said old
Skipper Maxwell, resting his oars bit
to draw his sleeve across his weather
beaten face, which was moist with pers-
piration.
Don't doubt it a bit, Uncle Sol, :"
laughed JacBdBelchers, who sat in the
stern sheets of the Whitehall boat, sand
papering some mackerel jigs to prop
er degree of brightness.
"Oh, you can laugh" responded the
old fisherman. locally known in Bar
mouth as Uncle Sol; "but there's more
in dreams than folks think for, an
every body in yarmouth knows that
Cap'n Kidd hid MORN one chist full of
gold along on this here shore"
II know people sag so," returned
Jack. lightly, but Uncle Sol, unheeding
the emphasized word, resumed his
rowing and went on:
IF you'n /, now, could only be lucky
enough to find it, Jack, think of the
good the money'd do us! wouldn't
have to fish for livin', an you could
go ahead an finish your schoolin' jest
the same's though Squire Belchers had
left you his property, as folks always
cal'lated he would do"
Jacks bright face clouded a little
Il never shall understand why my
adopted father did not make will be-
fore he died." he responded; never,
for he spoke of doing SO very freely
the last time | was home on vaca-
ton.
you don't s'pose, Jack" said Skip
per Maxwell, n,involuntarily lowering his
voice. "that Squire Belchers might a
made one after all, and that air scaly
brother of his-Lawyer Belchers-got
holt of it an hid it away"
Nonsense" rather sharply inter-
rupted Jack. Lawyer Belchers is too
shrewd to commit crime that would
send him to states prison; no, that
sort of thing is done in stories a great
deal oftener than in real life"
I'D believe anything that's bad of
Thurston Belchers, or his boy either, u
the skipper returned persistently.
"'Member how mad folks said he was, u
he continued with glance over his
shoulder at a distant sailboat, when
thg spare took you home after your
pa and ma was lost at sea, and made
no bones of tellin' here in yarmouth
how he cal'lated to adopt you, which
he finally did?"
"Yes, l remember something about
it," was his careless reply.
The boat having reached its destina
ton just outside the harbor mouth
Skipper Maxwell drew in his oars and
dropped the killock. A bucketful ot
chopped CLAIMS was used as bait, and
very soon they were lingering a line ir
either hand, one at the bow and the
other in the stern, awaiting bite.
There they be-" muttered Uncle
Sol, dropping one line and pulling the
other with the swift hand over hanC
motion peculiar to the mackere
catcher.
"Me, too" exclaimed Jack, and fol
few moments the fishermen were
busy enough pulling in mackerel as
fast as their hands could fly.
Struck off agin, observed Skipper
Maxwell, as once more the lines trend
ed downward through the intense
greenish black water. There's the
Spray bearin' down to u.s." he added
and Jack involttntarily frowned.
The Spray was the staunchest ant
handsomest boat in yarmouth harbor
Squire Belchers had her built for hi
adopted son only the year before. Bu
after his death no will was found, 81
his brother Thurston, as next of kin
took out letters of administration ant
coolly limited to Jack that his room il
| the great old-fashioned house, SO Ion!
his home, was better than llis com
pany.
Jack had spoken his mind Try free
| ly both to Mr.. Belchers and bradford
his son young fellow of jacks age
Then, gathering up his clothing, book
and personal items Jack shook the dus
| off his feet, left the old home and too
refuge for a few days with Uncle Sc
Maxwell, who lived in a small one
story house on the edge of the shore.
Rather than be idle while he wa
laying plans for his future actions
| Jack, dressed according to his work
accompanied Uncle Sol down the hal
Dor in his trips for the fresh fish wit
which the latter supplied the two sun
mer hotels, which were just then flu
of visitors.
Bradford, or Brad, Belchers had ;
once taken possession of the Spray, an
it was the sight of the young man in
flannel boating suit steering the swift
ly approaching boat, in which was
gay party, that called the frown
Jacks face.
Hes tryin' to show off his boat sal
in" said the skipper contemptuousl
as at the sight of the small boat Bra
hauled his wind and headed direct
for them.
Say, you two fellows got any fish
sell?" shouted Brad in his most patro
izing tone and manner as soon as tt
Spray came within hail.
Jack bit his lip without replyin
Suddenly Skipper Maxwell sprang
his feet.
"Luff-luff, you laundering fool
you want to run US down? he roare
But the warning came too late II
catboat's sharp stern crashed throus
the side of the smaller skiff, whose o
cupants managed to scramble aboa
the Spray, amid chorus of scream
from the young ladies of the party.
"rll be even with you yet for sinki
my boat young feller." wrathfully e
= claimed Uncle Sol, turning to Bra
who looked rather ashamed for t.
moment.
"Why didn't you keep your old DO
out of the way?" growled Brad.
Jacks eyes flashed with indignatio
but nothing more was said or done t
the Spray arrived at the wharf.
The loss of his boat was serlo
matter for Uncle Sol. And it was
vain that he applied to Brad's faith
for redress. Mr.. Belchers would L
even listen to him.
"Now's the time some O. Cap'n Kid,
buried gold would come in handy, c
Jack?" remarked the old man rueful
on the following evening, as the t.
sat on the little porch in front OF
house, looking out over the harbor a
the sea, which was bathed in the VIC
derful sheen of moonlight.
Some of the old squire's would, to-
returned Jack, who was feeling We