Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-11-08

"A@0A winning 1t IHe rest or the feA
lows as much as to say, Watch me. /"
Erskine started in
Say, Bruce he began "I'll bet Won
a cigar to each of the boys that Won
can't prove you're alive
Its co. replied Gordon. without
hesitation. "All | have to do is to saw
that you're fool for making such a
bet"
The laughter of the rest of the fell.
lows at this sally, and their murmur-
ing about solar plexus to some one
undid Erskine for a moment, but ne
speedily recovered, saying, addressing
Gordon:
you win, Baron Munchausen." And
after this Bruce Gordon was known
only as Munchausen, and Erskin&
seemed to have retained his place.
1t was perhaps a week later tina
the Lafitte subject happened to com,
on the tapis. Erskine announced his
faith in the old tradition
Il think there is something in it."
he began. why, Old Kentucky knew
Manuel Lopez, who was Lafitte's valet
He told Kentucky that he believed in
the story himself. If l only had
clew to work on" he wound UP, II
wouldn't mind looking for it myself,
because l need the money"
While Erskine was talking, pecu-
liar smile had come to Gordon's lips.
| He walked home very thoughtfully
that night. In the morning he called
on Old Kentucky and unfolded to him
a plan which made sam show his
toothless gums in great wonder, and,
after some persuasion, nod his silvery
head in assent.
1t was few days after this secret
conference that Washington came to
Erskine, and with a very mysterious
air showed him an old rusty dagger.
Erskine's curiosity was aroused; he
asked the darby where he had found
| it. And then Sam, in low and hush
ed voice, as il fearing to be overheard,
confided how on the day before he had
taken a stroll out along the beach.
| Getting tired, he had seated himself
on one of the sandhills and there in
the shrubbery had found the antique
weapon.
But what makes you think it is
Lafittes dagger" Erskine asked, in
| some wonder at the darky's acumen.
The latter grinned, then pointed to
| the initials ~. L." on the blade. Frs
| kline was convinced. 1t was a clear
case, he thought and visions of
wealth began to pass in review before
him. He warned Sam not to say
word to anybody about it, especially
not to Bruce. Then he went to the
hardware store and bought a regular
| miners outfit.
That night about IL o'clock typi-
| cal farmers wagon might have been
observed hurrying along the wet beach.
In the wagon were Erskine, his dog,
| Sam Houston, and Old Kentucky. It
was typical Southern summer night.
! Far up in the dark blue sky the full
moon was lighting up the barren land
scape and converting the small rows
of rumbling waves in the Gulf into a
mass of ripping silver.
| After two hours ride the treasure
hunters finally reached their destina-
| ton. 1t was the most miserable place
on the island, nothing but sand and
shrubbery, fed on sat- breezes. Frs
kline felt a sensation Of uneasIness
creep over him as he crawled out Of
| the wagon, laden with the mining i'm
Elements.
You had better keep lookout here
on the beach," he sad to Sam, while
do the digging"
And then Erksine set to work. For
an hour he toiled as he had never
toiled before or after. Near time, Sam,
with chuckle, was teginning to fall
asleep, when an exclamation of tri-
umph suddenly aroused him.
"Oh Kentucky" he herd Erskines
excited voice call out, in suppressed
sort of way. Il have it! Look!"
And John Erskine pointed to the
bottom of the deep hole his industry
had created.
Sure enough! There, deep down,
Wondering in the n DIST AMI, reposed
by iron box suc44 as a pirate
might have used in which to preserve
his predatory wealth. Ersline's face
was a study. He trembled as If con-
vulsed with fever Then he took the
spade and began to pound the box.
Suddenly, with a 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: l am sorry that | have
to disappoint you. Yes, it is true,
buried my treasure here when called
away. Last night, however, there was
big poker game down in Hades. Jul
Illus Caesar, Alexander the Grea,, my
old friend Nap, and your obeulent con-
stituted the party. You will remem-
Der the three first mentioned individ-
uals were considered pretty slick in
their days Well, / can inform you
that they have Lot forgotten them as
yet. Result, went broke, and as the
do not accept checks here it became
necessary for me to collect my old
treasure Hopin; that by this l dld
not inconvenience you, l remain, yours