The sea coast echo., 1902-11-29
use | need the money .

While Ersklne was talking pecu
liar smile had come to Gordon's lips
Hc walked home very thoughtfulls
that night, In the morning he called
on Old Kentucky and unfolded to him
a plan which made sam show hlf
stoothless gums In great wonder, and
after some persuasion, nod his silyery
head In assent.
II was few days after this secret
conference that Washington came to
Erskine and with very mysterious
air showed him an old rusty dagger
Ersklnes curiosity was uroused. he
asked the darky where he had found
1t. And then Sam, in low and hush.
ed voice, as II fearing to be overheard
eonflded how on the day before he had
taken stroll out along the Leach.
Getting tired. he had seated himself
ON one OF the spndhills and there In
the shrubbery had found the antique
weapon.
But what makes you think It Is
Lafitte's dagger?" Erskine asked, In
some wonder at the darly's acumen.
The latter grinned then pointed to
the initials y. L." on the blade. Frs.
kline was convinced. 1t was clear
case, he thought. and visions OF
wealth began to pas1 In review before
him. He warned Sam not to say o
word to anybody about 1t. especially
not TO Bruce Then he went to the
.i,,..
miners outfit.
That night about IL o'clock q typi-
cal farmers wagon might have been
observed huyrying along tho wet beach.
In the wagon were Erssine, his dog,
Sam Houston, and Old Kentucky. II
was a typical Southern summer night.
Far up in the dark blue sky the full
moon was lighting up the barren land
scapa and converting the small rows
OF rumbling waves In the Gulf into a
mass of ripping silver.
After two hours ride tho treasure
hunters finally reached their destina.
tion. II was the most miserable place
on the Island. nothing but sand and
shrubbery. fed on sa.. breezes. Frs
kline felt sensation OF uneaslness
creep over him as he crawled out of
the wagon, laden with the mining i'm.
plements.
You had better keep lookout here
on the beach, he SAID TO Sam, while
| do the digging"
And then Erksine set to work. For
an hour he toiled az he had never
toiled before or after Near time, Sam,
with chuckle, was reginnlng to fall
asleep. when an exclamation OF tri-
umph suddenly aroused him.
"oh, Kentucky" he he,rd ErskIne :
excited voice call out. in a suppressed
sort of way. Il have IT, Look!"
And John ErsltInc pointed to the
bottom OF the deep hole his Industry
had created
Sure enough! There, deep down.
mouldering In the n DIST AMI, reposed
by 6 iron box suc.l az a pirate
might have used In which TO preserve
his predatory wealth. Erskine's face
was study, He trembled. as II con
vulsed with fever Then he took the
spade and began TO pound the box.
suddenly, with bang, the lid opened
and revealed pile OF rocks, scraps of
iron and pieces of metal. On top of
all was a sheet OF paper. With an
oath Erskine seized 1t and read:
Gentlemen; am sorry that have
to disappoint you Yes, II Is true, |
buried my treasure here when called
away. Last night, however. there was
big poker game down in Hades. Ju.
Illus Caesar, Alexander the Grea., my
old friend Nap, and your obeulent con.
stituted the party You will remem.
Der the three first mentioned indIyid.
ils were considered pretty slick In
their days. Well, can inform you
that they have not forgotten them as
yet. Result. | went broke. and as the
do not accept checks here II became
necessary for me to collect my old
treasure. Hopln.; that by this | did
not Inconvenience you, remain, yours
truly, Jean lafitte."
1t would be impossible to describe
the emotions of John Ersllne. He
seemed for n moment Dereft of rea-
son. When he recovered and he and
Sam we're entering the wagon, another
thing occurred. The little figure Of
Gordon became suddenly silhouetted
by the moon. as he emerred from some
mysterious hiding place, his face CON
vulsod with laughter. His appearance
caused a light to dawn upon Erskine
that did not tend to mollify him. But
since that memorable night Bruce
Gordon has been the undisputed lead.
er OF the Sons of Rest.--New York
Sun.