The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-05-29

CHAPTER ".
NECIL MILFORD had at least
~ one strong quality-indomita-
BILE energy and perseverance. All
was not vet lost: if need were, he
would hunt for John Cams tomb in
the very submerged ruins Of Old
Port Royal. He looked up once more
at the puzzled negro, and tried to bear
this bitter downfall of all his hopes
with manful resignation.
At that very moment. tall and
commanding-looking man, of about
sixty, with white hair but erect figure,
walked slowly from the cocoa-nut
grove on the sand-spit into the dense
and tangled precincts of the ceme-
terry. He was a brown man, mu
latto apparently, but his look and
bearing showed him at once to be
person of education and distinction
in his own fashion. The old sexton
rose up respectfully as the stranger
approached, and said to him in very
different tone from that in which he
had addressed Cecil Milford, "Marn
in, sab; marnin, Mr.. Barclay. Dis
here buckra gentleman from Englan',
him come 'quiring in de cemetry
after de grade of pusson dat died be-
fore de great earthquake. What for
him come here like-a-dat on fools
errand, eh, sab? What for him not
larn before him come dat Port Royal
all gone drowned in de year 1922"
The newcomer raised his hat
slightly to Cecil Milford, and spoke
at once in the grave gentle voice of
an educated and cultivated mulatto.
"You wanted some antiquarian infor-
nation about the island, sir; some
facts about some one who died be-
fore the Port Royal earthquake? You
have luckily stumbled across the
right man to help you; for think if
anything can be recovered about
anybody in Jamaica, l can aid you
in recovering it. Whose grave did
you want to see?"
Cecil hardly waited to thank the
polite stranger, but blurted out at
once, "The grave of John Cam, who
died in 1862"
The stranger smiled quietly.
"What! John Cam, the famous buc-
caneer?" he said with evident delight.
"Are you interested in John Cann?"
81 am" Cecil answered hastily.
"Do you know anything about him."
II know all about him." the tall
mulatto replied "All about him in
every way. He was not buried at
Port Royal at all. He intended to
be, and gave orders to that effect;
but his servants had him buried
quietly elsewhere on account of some
dispute with the Governor of the time
being, about some paper which he
desired to have placed in his coffin"
"Where, where7" Cecil Milford
gasped out eagerly, clutching at this
fresh straw with all the anxiety of a
drowning man.
cat Spanish Town." the stranger
answered calmly. 81 know his grave
there we'll to the present day. If you
are interested in Jamaican antiqui-
ties, and would like to come over and
see it, | shall be happy to show you
the tomb. That is my name" And
he handed Cecil Milford his card,
with all the courteous dignity OF a
born gentleman. Ceciltook the card
and read the name on it: THE Hon.
Charles Barclay, Leigh Caymanas,
Spanish Town" How his heart
bounded again that minutel Proof
was accumulating on proof, and luck
on luck After all, he had tracked
down John CAMS grave; and the
paper was really there, buried in his
coffin. He took the handkerchief from
his pocket and wiped his damp brow
with a feeling Of unspeakable relief.
Ethel was saved, and they might still
enjoy John Cams treasure.