The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1893-02-03


swiftly approaching boat, in which
was a gay party, which called the
frown to Jacks face
Hes tryin' to show off his boat sail
in" said the skipper, contemptuously,
as at the sight of the small boat Brad
hauled his wind and headed directly
for them.
Say, you two fellows, got any fish
to sell?n shouted Brad, in his most
patronizing tone and manner, as soon
as the Spray came within hail
Jack bit his lip without replying
Suddenly Skipper Maxwell sprang to
his feet. 'Lutf-luff, you laundering
fool-do you want to run US down" he
roared
But the warning came too late. The
catboat's sharp stem crashed through
the side of the smaller llitf, whose
occupants managed to scramble aboard
the Spray amid a chorus of screams
from the young ladies of the party.
The loss of his boat was a serious
matter for Uncle Sol. And it was in
vain that he applied to Brad's father
for redress. Mr.. Belchers would not
even listen to him.
1t was the full of the moon and. ac
cording to an old legend, it was at such
a time that the marks on kidd's ledge
locating the burying place OF pot OF
gold were visible.
The skipper was thinking of this as,
making some careless excuse, he rose,
and. strolling down to the shore, took
l, 4 q
ling lodges, leaving Jack plunged in
rather gloomy mcditations.
Just before reaching kidd's ledge,
which was said to be marked by three
| crosses cut in the stone, murmur of
voices reached his ear
Stopping and crouching low in the
shadow of a great bowlder, / ncle Sol
peercd cautiously out. Two persons
whose backs were toward him. were
bending over the sand at the foot of
kidd's ledge, apparently digging with
all their might at the base Of the rock.
IIesitating moment Uncle Sol stole
along to the other side Of kidd's ledge
and softly climbed upward till he
reached the top. Then worming
himself along to the edge he peeped
( over.
what possessed You to run such
tremendous Iisk. Bradford?" were the
| first Ineligible words that reached the
sllipper's ear.
mo great risk about it, coolly re-
turned the other .No one knew that
! Uncle Josh had made will, and as
happened to find it in the tin trunk
with some other papers l slipped it
away and buried it here"
why here9" asked Mr.. Relchers,
who did not seem SO much shocked as
might have been expected
Il knew the house would be ran
sacked, and didn't want to carry it
home was the surlv reply.
The skipper, who had listened with
amazement too deep for words, felt his
heart almost stop beating rs the whole
truth of the matter flashed across his
mind.
Dragging himself still farther for
ward. Uncle Sol craned his neck until
he could see what was going on below.
Brad had disinterred small square
trunk of Japanned tin, which stood
open on the sand. His father had
taken out one of the papers and, light
ing match, was reading the heading.
Last will and testament of Joshua
Bclchcrs, ESQ., he read aloud. Hum,
well. | hardly know what TO do about
this
1t occurred to Uncle Sol that an hon
st~man would know without studying
such question for moment.
Burn it, of course" tersely respond
ed Brad
"If l did," said his father, solemnly,
sit would only be to-er-save you
| from the consequences of what you
have done.
Cannon sneered Brad. 'Iou
know you're as anxious to hold onto
the property as | am. Burn it, say.
Mr.. Belchers pretended to hesitate.
Then drawing another match from his
pocket. he struck it on the rock as the
two stood close together
Uncle Sol opened his mouth to yell,
when suddenly he overbalanced him
self and down he went, the yell escap-
ing as he pitched forward. Falling
down the steep and slippery ledge, he
struck heavily on Mr.. Belcher's head
ana Drdu ) SiOulteIS, hioNihS tiiCAh
both to the sand.
Neither of them stopped here. Two
more frightened individuals never
scrambled from a recum bent posture
and took to their heels without as
much as casting glance behind.
"Ye couldn't see 'em for the sand
they kicked up behind 'em," chuck
Enplv obSeryad Uncle Sol as ten min
utes later he displayed to Jacks aston