Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-03-09
HIDDEN TREASURE.
Uncle Sol Found u 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 bit
TO draw his sleeve across his weather.
beaten face, which was moist with
perspiration.
Don't doubt II bit, Uncle SOL"
laughed Jack Belchers, who sat In the
stern sheets OF the dory, snndpapering
some mackcrel iigs to n proper degree
of brightness.
IF you'n l, now, could only be lucky
enough to find it, Jack, think of the
good the moncy'd do usl l wouldn't
hev to fish fer a Twin, an you could go
ahead and finish your schoolin' just the
sames though Squire Bclchers had
left you his property, as folks always
calc'lnted he would do"
~ shall never understand why my
adopted father did not make a 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 sposc, Jack" said Skip
per Maxwell, involunturily lowering
his voice, 'that Squire Belchcrs might
"a made one, after all, and that air
scaly brother of his--Lawyer Bclchers
got hold of it an hid it awayP"
Nonsense" rather sharply inter-
rupted Jack. Lawyer Belchcrs is too
shrewd to commit crime that would
send him to state prison. No, that sort
of thing is done in stories great deal
oftencr than in real life"
I'D believe anything that's bad of
Thurston Belchors, or his boy either"
the skipper returned, persistently.
The boat, having reached its destina-
ton Just outside the harbor mouth,
Skipper Maxwell drew in his oars and
dropped the lIilloclS. A buelSetful Of
chopped clans was used as bait, and
very soon they were lingering a line in
either hand, one ut the bow and tho
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 mackercl
catcher.
me, tool" exclaimed Jack, and for
few moments the fishermen we're busy
enough pulling in mnclierel 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-blaclI water. There's the Spray
bearin' down to u.s." he added, and
Jack involuntarily frowned
The Spray was the stanchest 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 har-
Dor in his trips for the fresh fish with
which tho latter supplied the two sum
mer hotels, which were just then full
of visitors.
Bradford, or Brad, Belchers had at
once taken possession Of the Spray,
and it was the sight of the young man
in the flannel boating suit steering the
swiftly approaching boat, in which
was 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 sellP" 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. "LuT-luff, you laundering
fool-do you want to run us DOWN." he
roared,
But the warning came too late The
catboats sharp stem crashed through
the side OF the smaller skiif, whose
occupants managed toscramble aboard
the Spray amid chorus Of screams
from the young ladies of the party.
The loss of his boat was serious
matter for Uncle Sol. And II was in
vain that he applied TO Brads 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,
und, strolling down TO the shore, took
his way along the shadows OF the beet
ling lodges, leaving Jack plunged in
rather gloomy meditatious.
just before reaching Kids ledge,
which was said to DO marked by three
croases cut ia the stone, "a murmur of
voices reached his ear
Itnra.an and erouehing low in tho