Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-08-01
CHAPTER XIL-CoNT1NuED.


''One night Mai Sholto lost even more
heavily than usual. was sitting in my
hut when he and Capt. Morstan came
stumbling along on the way to their
quarters. They were bosom friends,
those two, and never far apart. The
major was raving about his losses.
'''It's all up, Morstan,' he was say
ing, as they passed my hut. L shall
have to send in my papers. 1 am
ruined man.
Nonsense, old chap! said the
other, slapping him upon the shoulder.
I've had nasty facer myself, but
That was all I could hear, but it was
enough to set me thinking.
"A couple of days later Maj. Sholto
was strolling on the beach; so I took
the chance of speaking to him.
~ wish to have your advice, MAJOR
said 1.
'''Well Small, what is it?' he said,
taking his cheroot from his lips.
L wanted to ask you, SIR said I.
who is the proper person to whom hid
den treasure should be handed over. I
know where half million worth lies,
and, as cannot use it myself, 1 thought
perhaps the best thing that 1 could do
would be to hand it over to the proper
authorities, and then perhaps they
would get my sentence shortened
'''Half million, Small?' he gasped,
looking hard at me to see If I was in
earnest.
"'Quite that, sir = in Jewels and
pearls. It lies there ready for anyone
And the queer thing about it is that
the real owner is outlawed and cannot
hold property, SO that it belongs to the
first conner
""TO government, Small he STAN
mered-'tO government But he said
it in hating fashion, and I knew in
my heart that I had got him.
"'You think then, sir, that I should
give the information to the governor
generate said l, quietly.
"'Well, we'll, you must not do any,
thing rash, or that you might repent.
Let me hear all about it, Small. Give
me the facts
Il told him the whole story with small
changes so that he could not identify
the places. When / had finished he stood
stock still and full of thought. could
see by the twitch of his lip that there
was struggle going on within him.
"'This is a very important matter,
Small, he said, at last. You must not
say word to anyone about it, and I
shall see you again soon.'
1.-TWO nights later he and his friend
Capt. Morstan came to my hut in the
dead of the night with a lantern.
81 want you just to let Capt Nor
stan hear that story from your own
lips, Small, said he.
II repeated it as had told it before.
'''It rings true, eh?' said he. It's
good enough to act upon?'
''Capt. Morstan nodded.
'''Loolz here, Small, said the major.
'We have been talking it over, my
friend here and I, and we have come to
the conclusion that this secret of yours
is hardly q government matter, after
all, but is s. private concern of your
own, which of course you have the
power of disposing of as you think
best Now. the question is, what price
would you ask for it? We might be in
clined to take it up. and at least look
into it. if we could agree as to terms. ;
He tried to speak in cool, careless
way. but his eyes were shining with
excitement and greed
''Why, as to that, gentlemen an
swered, trying also to be cool, but feel
ing as excited as he did, there is only
one bargain which a man in my posi-
ton can make. 1 shall want you to
help me to my freedom, and to help my
three companions to theirs. We shall
then take you into partnership, and
give you q. fifth share to divide be-
tween YOU