Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1894-01-06


sHe's trying to show off his boat
sailing" said the. skipper, contempt
uously, as, at the sight Of the small
boat, Brad hauled his wind and
headed directly for them.
'sSay, you two fellows, got any fish
to Sell?" shouted Brad, in his most
patroniZing tone and manner as soon
as the Spray came within hail of
them
Jack bit his lip without replying.
Suddenly old Maxwell sprang to his
feet.
"Luff-luff, you laundering fool
do you want to run US DOWN." he
roar d.
But thu warning came too late
The catboat's sharp stem crashed
tn ough the side of the smaller skiff,
whose occupants managed to scram-
BILE aboard the Spray, amid a chorus
OF screams from the young ladies OF
the party.
"pll be even with you yet for sink
ing my boat, young fellow" wrath
fully exclaimed Uncle Sol, tuning to
Brad, who looked rather ashamed for
a moment.
why didn't you keep your old
boat out Of the way" growIed Brad.
Jacks eyes flashed with ind 'gna-
ton, but nothing more was said or
done TIL the Spray arrived at the
wharf
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.
''Now's the time some of Cap'n
Kidd's buried gold would come in
handy, eh, Jack?" remarked the old
man, ruefully, on the following
evening, as the two sat in the
little porch in front Of the house,
looking out over the harbor and the
sea, which were bathed in the sheen
of moonlight
"Some of the old squire's would,
too," remarked Jack, who was feel
ing very heavy hearted.
1t was not alone the loss of the
fortune which should have been his
He had felt deep affection for eccen-
trio Squire BelcherS, and it hurt Jack
more than he cared to own that his
adopted father had left no word or
message even to show that he re-
turned bis regard.
Uncle Sol made no answer. Like
many of his kind he was inclined to
superstition. 1t was the full of the
moon, and according to an old legend
Il was at such time that the marks
on Kidd's Ledge, locating the place
where pot of gold was buried, was
visible.
The skipper was thinking of this
as, making some careless excuse, he
rose, and strolling down to the shore
took his way among the shadows of
the beetling lodges, leaving Jack
plunged in gloomy meditationS
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, Uncle Sol peered eau
tiously out Two persons, whose
backs were toward him. were bend
ing over the sand at the foot of
Kidd's Ledge apparently digging
with all their might at the base of
the rock
by the big horn spoon! some.
body's found the place where the
treasures buried and is digging for
it," muttered the old skipper, ex-
citedlY.
The evening was calm and still,
with only the gentle swash of the
sea waves on the beach to break the
silence. Hesitating moment,
Uncle Sol stole along TO the further
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 risk, Bradford" were
the first ineligible words that
reached the shippers ear.
mo great risk about it," coolly re-
turned the other. mo one knew
that Uncle Josh had made a will, and
as happened to find it in the tin
trunk with some other papers, I
slipped it away and buried it here"
"Why here?" asked Mr.. Belchers,
who did not seem SO much shocked as
might have been expected. /
II knew the house would be ran
sacked, and / didn't want to carry it |
home" waT the surely reply
The skipper, who had listened with !
an amazement too deep for words,
felt his heart almost stop beating as
The whole truth of the matter flashed !
across his mind.
Dragging himself still further for
ward, Uncle Sol GRAINED his neck un-
til he could see what was going on
below. Brad had disinterred small !;
square trunk Of Japanned tin, which !
stood open on the sands. His father |
had taken out one of the papers, and j
lighting a match was reading the |
heading.
Last will and testament of Joshua |
Belchers, Esquire" he read aloud. !
"Hum, well L hardly know what to |
do about this"
1t occurred to Uncle Sol that an |