The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-05-15

with him now than they had stood
that very morning, before he lighted
upon John Cams lastletter. He had
not discovered the actual hiding place
of the hoard, to be sure, but he now
knew on John Cams own indispu-
table authority, first, that there really
was a hidden treasure; second, that
the hiding place was really in Eng
land; and, third, that full particulars
as to the spot where it was buried
might be found in John Cams own
coffin at Port Royal, Jamaica. 1t was
a risky and difficult thing to open a
coffin, no doubt; but it was not i'm
possible. No, not impossible. On
the whole, putting one thing with an
other, in spite of his terrible CALLING
disappointment, he was really nearer
to the recovery of the treasure now
than he had ever been in his life be-
fore. Till today, the final clue was
missing; today, it had been found. 1t
was difficult and dangerous clue to
follow, but still it had been found.
And yet, setting aside the question
of desecrating grave, how all but
impossible it was for him to get to
jamaica His small funds had long
been exhausted in prosecuting the
research, and he had nothing on
earth to live upon now but his
wretched salary. Even if he could
get three or six months leave from
the Colonial Office, which was highly
improbable, how could he ever raise
the necessary money for his passage
out and home, as we'll as for the deli
cate and doubtful operation of search
ing for documents in John CAMS cof-
fin? TWAS tantalizing, it was horrible,
it was uncomfortable; but here with
the secret actually Turing him on to
discover it, he was to be foiled and
baffied at the last moment by mere
paltry, petty, foolish consideration of
two hundred pounds! Two hundred
pounds! How utterly ludicrous!
Why, John Cams treasure would
make him man of fabulous wealth
for whole lifetime, and he was to
be prevented from realizing it by
wretched matter of two hundred
pounds! He would do anything to
get it-for loan, mere loan; to be
repaid with cent per cent interest;
but where in the world, where in the
world, was he ever to get it from?
And then, quick as lightning, the
true solution of the whole difficulty
flashed at once across his excited
brain. He could borrow all the
money if he choose from Ethel!
Poor little Ethel; she hadn't much of
her own; but she had just enough to
live very quietly upon with her Aunt
Emily; and, thank heaven, it wasn't
tied up with any of those bothering,
meddling three-per cent-loving trus-
tees!
She had her little all at her own
disposal, and he could surely get
two or three hundred pounds from
her to secure for them both the
boundless buried wealth of John
Cams treasure.
Should he make her a confidante
outright, and tell her what it was he
wanted the money for9 No, that
would be impossible, for though she
had heard all about John Cam over
and over again, she had not faith
enough in the treasure-women are
so unpractical-to hazard her little
scrap of money on it; of that he felt
certain. She would go and ask old
Mr.. Cartwright's opinion; and old
Mr.. Cartwright was one of those
penny-wise, purblind, unimaginative
old gentlemen who will never believe
in anything until they've seen it.
Yet here was John CAMS money 60
ing a-begging, so to speak, and only
waiting for him and Ethel to come
and enjoy it. Cecil had no patience
with those stupid, stick -in-the- mud,
timid people who can see no farther
than their own noses. For Ethel's
own sake he would borrow two or
three hundred pounds from her, one
way or another, and she would easily
forgive him the harmless little decep-
ton when he paid her back hun
dredfold out of John Cams bound
less treasure.
CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.