The morning times., 1896-02-24
The Treasure
Hnd th6 Lady,
6PHE Visitor. being for the lime an
idle man, had taken to dropping
in quite often or a morning al

III ease anu ldLAA toOhtd dONA ePch NaIN
harbor and the quiet bay that lies be-
yond it.
On this particular morning Doris had
demard I'd a tale aud he had promised
obedience. But he did not desire 10 attempt
a story, having no imagination at all. and
memory only for certain private sor-
rows of his own His opening was there
fore an unworthy subterfuge.
'once upon a time. = Say, Doris,
wouldn't YOU like-to come out with me on
o real hunt for buried treasure"
lis there any?'' asked Doris, doubtfuIly.
We'll. If ID comes TO that he began.
t'But / should think we stand a very good
chance. Don't you know that the Spaniar rds
landed here long ago and burnt the place?
You may depend the village folk hid their
treasure when they fled, and three OF them
were killed. 1t is quite likely that to this
DAY their plate and money lie hidden some
where close at hand
But it would be no good finding it,"
said Doris. we would have 10 give it
up TO COVER ment. Gardener told me.
What is government"
government" said the Visitor. ITS
you and me and-a- everybody else
Then we should get some OF the treas
ure?''
II was the Visitors turn 10 be doubtful.
''Some OF it, ] suppose" he answered.
"At any rate. we should have the fun of
finding it
Doris hesitated. deliberating. That
would be nice'' she admitted. should
we get SO much as pound?'
AT least that" said the Visitor.
Then think In come. Enen's mother
But she's pound short in her money, and
Ga these hard times you can't get trust,
not like you used 10 when Elien's mother
was young. Thre's SO many rogues about
that even honest folks must pay cash.
Ellen's mother told me could give her the
pound-"
The Visitor groaned within himself, fore
seeing that he would be altogether out of
favor if The expedition ended fruiilessiy.
Yet there was nothing for il but TO go
ahead, Are you ready to start al onCe?"
he asked.
Quite ready said Doris ''Now, don't
forget your pipe. Where are we going?''
That was more Than the Visitor knew.
sWe'u just look about until we find a
likely place" he said. holding the gate
open. ''Or would You rather go into the
.-Chocolatesr' exclaimed Doris. scorn-
fully Then, returning 10 the subject which
was of importance. Did you ever go on
@ treasure hunt, reaily?"
Not exactly" answered her Save.
s'That is. once knew man who did"
You're not going TO keep your promise
and tell me story?''
Its not much of a story he an
e--r-arod man I tugrr pnf 1snrd GCDAp-
how OF map OF an island lying thou
sands OF Mites away-out there where the
sun sets-wiih mark on it showing
where pirate had hidden boxes and boxes
of gold, silver and Jewels long ago. So
he got q Eoat and sailed away to that
island, be and two or three friends. You
would have seen him pass if you had been
watching in your eanlen. Perhaps you did;
but of course you wouldn't know"
Il remember a boat" said Doris ut
went right up toward the sunset. 1t was
long time ago; before you came. Per
haps that was his boat
'Perhapsl'' answered the Visitor 'Ai
any rate, they sailed away into the west
thousands and thousands of miles. Storms
came and their boat (Which was quite q
small one) was often on the verge of being
wrecked. But at last they came TO the
island. and found q quiet harbor. There
was not a living soul on the island: only
goats and sea-gulls.'
Il love sea-guIis!' cried Doris. Il
Should like a be a treasure hunter all the
time"
81 don't know abont that" said her
companion. Il don't know that il is
quite the best thing for man. It's
wiser Just to be content. Mere bread
and butter would not be interesting al
the time, but one grows used TO things
and one wouldn't miss it much, ! sup
pose, if some day il were lacking. Whereas
after a week Of birthday cake But
/ was forgetting my friends story. Fol
@ whole week after reaching The island
they hunted for the place that was
marked with a cross on the map. Then
they found il. ~
sand did he get the treasurer"
"Just three golden coins and few
small silver onesi Some one else haC
heard of the cave and got boat and
came and plundered it. These few coin,
had dropped out of The great boxes they car
ried down to their boat. My friend wal
very much disappointed"
Well said Doris, emphaticany. "a
should think he was. hope that wonT
happen to us. Have you seen likely place
YETI"
The Visitor perceived that all the temper
izing in the world would be of no avail
Above the road they had been following
the land rises very Steeply, and in ent
place the hillside has been quarried. NJ
one works there now. nor has done fol
many a long year. Bramble and braken
willow herb and yellow ragwort fill tht
place, and in autumn it echoes from da WI
TO dusk with the voices of the children
who come in companies TO gather its black
berries. There are also butterflies, birds
and other things about which man ma,
converse, il il be necessary TO talk. anC
tn fluent conversation lay the Visitors
hope OF salvation.
Il think we might have look at tht
quarry" he saiil 1t is just the sort o
place that / should choose if had Ireasur.
60 hide
So they walked on rapidly. Doris wal
SO set on the quest that she did not want q
talk. Her companion had his own trouble.
90 consider ard was glad OF the respite
They reached the quarry and stood at TIA,
Roadside, locking into it curiousiy. 1t wa
a Dew place altogether 20 Doris. now shi
had realized that it might possibly be thl
bold of hidden treasure. She did not oh
serve for a moment the sudden chang
which had come over her companion Blu
.---ssr'i~ she was aware OF the silencs