The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1893-02-16
HIDDEN TREASURE.

-Margarite c. Moore, in N Y. Observer.
HIDDEN TREASURE.
Uncle Sol Found a Fortune, But
Not as He Expected
Il 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 a bit, Uncle Sol,"
laughed Jack Belchers, who sat in the
stern sheets of the dory. sandpapering
some mackerel jigs to a proper degree
of brightness.
IF you'n I, now, could only be lucky
enough to find it. Jack. think of the
good the money'd do US! l wouldn't
hev to fish fer Twin. 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 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 s'pose, Jack" said Skip
per Maxwell, involuntarily lowering
his voice, that Squire Belchers might
"a made one, after all, and that air
scaly brother of his-Lawyer Belchers
got hold 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 state prison. No. that sort
of thing is done in stories a great deal
oftener than in real life.''
''l'd believe anything that's bad of
Thurston Belchers, 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 killock. A bucketful of
chopped clans was used as bait, and
very soon they were lingering line in
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-hand
motion peculiar to the mackerel
catcher.
me, tool" exclaimed Jack. and for a
few moments the fishermen we're busy
enough pulling in mackerel as fast as
their hands could fly.
'Struck of 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 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 the latter supplied the two sum.
mer 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 man
in the flannel boating snit steering the
swiftly approaching boat, in which
was gay party, which called the
frovn to Jacks face.
''He's tryin' to show off his boat sail
I'M" said the skipper, contemptuously,
as at the sight of the small boat Brad
for them.
Say, you two fellows, got any fish
to sell?' shouted Brad, in his most
patrouizing tone and manner, as soon
rs the Spray came within hail.
Jack bit his lip without replying.
Suddenly Skipper Maxwell sprang to
his feet. "Luh-luff, you laundering
fool-do you want to run us down?'' he
Eoared.
catboats sharp stem crashed through
the side of the smaller skiff, whose
occupants managed to scramble aboard
the Spray amid chorus of screams
from the young ladies of the party.
The loss of his boat was q serious
matter for Uncle Sol. And It was in
vain thst he applied to Brad's father
for redress. Mr.. Belchers would not
even listen to him.
1t was the full of the moon and, &C.
corling 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,
mlAing some careless excuse, he rose,
and. ktrolling 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 Kidd's ledge,
which was said to be marked by three
crosses cut in the stone, q 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 tho sand at the foot OF
Kids ledge. apparently digging with
all their might at the base of the rock.
Hesitating q moment Uncle Sol stole
along to the other side of Kids ledge
and softly climbed upward till he
reached the top. Then wormine
himself along to the edge he peeped
over.
what possessed you to run such q
tremendous risk. Bradlord?" were the
hrst Ineligible words that reached the
skipper's ear. .......
No great risk about it," coolly re.
turned the other. mo oAe knew that
IlncSA Insh had nnado = mi and - I