The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1893-04-22
HIDDEN TREASURE.
Uncle Sol Found a Fortune, But
Not as He Expected.

Not as He Expected.
81 dreamed about that buried treas
ure again last night, Jack" said old
Skipper Maxwell, resting his oars a, bit
to draw his sleeve across his weather.
beaten face, which was moist with
perspiration. -
Don't doubt it bit, Uncle SOL"
laughed Jack Bclchers, who sat In the
stern sheets Of the dory, sandpapering
some maclerel jigs to o proper degree
of brightness.
"If you'n /, now. could only be lucky
enough to find it. Jack. think OF the
good the money'd do us! ! wouldn't
hev to fish fer livin', an you could go
ahead and finish your schoolin' just the
same's though Squire Belchers had
left you his property, as folks always
calc'lated he would do"
II shall never understand why my
adopted father did not make will be-
fore he died." Jack responded; never,
for he spoke of doing SO very freely
the last time was home on vacation.
"You don't s'posc. jack" said Skip
per Maxwell. involuntarily lowering
his voice. shat Squire Belchers might
"a made one, after all, and that air
scnly brother of his-Lawyer Belchers
got hold of 1t an hid It away?"
"Nonsense," rather sharply inter-
rupted Jack. Lawyer Bclchcrs is too
shrewd to commit crime that would
send him to state prison. No. that sort
of thing is done in stories great deal
oftener than in real life"
.I'd believe anything that's bad Of
Thurston Belchers, or his boy either"
the skipper returned, persistently.
The boat, having reached its dcstina-
ton Just outside the harbor mouth,
Skipper Maxwell drew in his oars and
dropped the kiIlock. A bueketful Of
chopped clans was used as bait, and
very soon they wcro lingering line in
either hand, one ut 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-hand
motion peculiar to the mackcrel
catcher.
| me, too!' exclaimed Jack, and for q
| few moments the fishermen were busy
enough pulling in mackercl as fast as
their hands could fly.
"Struck off again." observed Skipper
Maxwell, as once more the lines tended
downward through the intense green
ish- black water. There's the Spray
bearin' down to us" he added. and
Jack involuntarily frowned.
The Spray was the stanchcst and
handsomest boat in yarmouth harbor.
Squire Belchers had her built for his
adopted son only the year before.
But after his death no will was found,
so his brother Thurston, as next of kin,
took out letters of administration and
coolly limited to Jack that his room in
the great old-fashioned house, SO long
his home, was better than his com
pany.
Rather than be idle when he was
laying plans for his future actions
Jack, dressed according to his work
accompanied Uncle Sol down the hnr
Dor in his trips for the fresh fish with
which the latter supplied the two sum
mcr hotels, which were just then full
of visitors.
Bradford, or Brad, Belchers had a
once taken possession of the Spray
and it was the sight of the young mar
in the flannel boating suit steering thu
swiftly approaching boat, in which
was gay party, which called tn
frown to Jacks face.
"He's tryin' to show OF his boat sail
in" said the skipper, contemptuously
as at the sight of tho small boat Bras
hauled his wind and headed directl,
for them. ~
Say. you two fellows, got any isl
to sell?" shouted Brad, in his mos
patronizing tone and manner, as sool
as the Spray came within hail.
Jack bit his lip without replying
Suddenly Skipper Maxwell sprang Z
his feet. 'Luff-luff, you thunderinI
fool-do you want to run us DOWN" b
roared.
But the warning came too late. Tn
catboat's sharp stem crashed throug
, the side of the smaller skiff, who's
! occupants managed to scramble aboar
the Spray amid a chorus of scream
from the young ladies of the party.
The loss of his boat was a seriou
matter for Uncle Sol And it was |
vain that he applied TO Brad's fathe
for redress. Mr.. Belchers would nc
even listen to him.
II was tho full OF the moon aud, y
l srrdin, "a M old lanaud n waa AZ ana