Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-04-30
TREASURE AND LADY,

an idle man, had taken to dropping in
quite often of morning at Doris gar
den. Sometimes she LAID on him the
task of beguiling the hours before
lunch with stories; sometimes, more
greatly condescending, she would tell
him heT own pretty secrets, while he
lounged ut ease and Iazily looked down
upon the harbor and the quiet bay that
lies beyond it.
Or this particular morning Doris had
demanded a tale, and he had promised
obedience. But he did not desire to
attempt a story, having no magma
ton at all, and memory only for GER
tain private sorrows of his own. His
opening was therefore an unworthy
suhterfuge. "Once upon a time
: Say, Doris, wouldn't you like
to come out with me on a real hunt for
buried treasurer"
Is there any," asked Doris doubt
fully.
well, if it come; to that" he be-
gan. But I should think we stand a
very good chance. Don't you know
that the SpaniaIds landed here long
depend the village folk had their
treasure when they fed, and three of
them were killed. 1t is quite likely
that to this day their plate and money
lie hidden somewhere close at hand"
But it would be no good finding it,"
said Doris. eve would have to give it
up to the government Gardner told
What iC
Government" said the visitor It's
you and me, and-a-everybody else"
Then we should get some of the
treasurer"
1t was the visitors turn to be doubt
full. Some of it, I suppose" he an
swered AT any rate, we should have
the fun of finding it."
Doris hesitated, celebrating THAT
would be nice" she admitted. would
we get so much as a pound?
AT least that" said the visitor.
Then | think I'll come. Ellen's
mother is very poor and she wants to
buy mangle. But she's a pound
short in her money, and in these hard
times you can't get trust-not like you
used to when EIlen's mother was
young. There's so many rogues about
that even honest folk must pay cash.
Ellens mother told me could give her
the pound
The visitor groaned within himself,
foreseeing that he would be altogether
out of favor if the expedition ended
fruitlessly. Yet there was nothing for
it but to go ahead Are you ready to
start at once?" he asked.
"Quite ready" said Doris. "NOw.
don't forget your pipe. Where are we
going?"
That was more than the visitor
knew. Wen just look about until we
find likely place" he said, holding the
gate open. cor would you rather go
into town and get some chocolates?"
chocolates" exclaimed Doris, scorn-
fully. Then, returning to the subject
which was of Importance, Did you
ever go on a treasure hunt, really?"
Not exactly" answered her slave.
That is, once knew man who did"
You're not going to keep your prom
Use and tell me stery?'
It's not much of a story" he an
swered. "A man | know got hold
somehow of a map of an island lying
thousands of miles away-out there
where the sun sets-with a mark on it
showing where the pirates had hidden
boxes and boxes of gold, silver and
other jewels long ago. So he got a
boat and sailed away to that island
he and two or three friends. You
would have seen him pass if you had
been watching in your garden. Per
haps you did; but of course you
wouldn't know"
Il remember a boat" said Doris. 1T
went right out toward the sunset. 1t
was long time ago; before you came.
Perhaps that was his boat"
"Perhapsr answered the visitor.
AT any rate, they sailed away into the
west, thousands and thousands OF
miles Storms came and their boat,
which was quite a small one, was often
on the verge of being wrec!,ed. But at
last they came to an island and found
a quiet harbor. There was not a liv-
ing soul on the isIand-only goats and
sea gulls."
L love sea gullsr' cried Doris. Il
should like to be a treasure hunter all
the time.
II don't know about that" said her
companion. Il don't know that it is
quite the best thing for a man. 1t is
wiser just to be content. Mere bread
and butter would not be interesting all
the time, but one grows usd TO things
and one wouldn't miss it much, [ sup
pose, if some day it were lacking
Whereas, after a week of birthday
cake-but l was forgetting my friends
story For a whole week after reach
ing the island they hunted for tht
place that was marked with cross or
the map. Then they found it"
Just three golden coins and a few
small silver ones! Someone else haC
heard of the cave and got boat ant
came and plundered it. These few
coins had dropped out of the grea
boxes they carried down to their boat
My friend was very much disap
appointed"
We'll" said Doris emphatically, .
should think he was. l hope that won
happen to us. Have you seen likel
place YETI"
The visitor perceived that all tn
temporising in the world would be G
no avail Above the road they ha