The Grit-advocate., 1903-03-06
Copyright, 1887, BY RosERr BoxHEI's SOFA
Al rGhts raAasved
CHAPTER x.-(continued.)

when you begin an attack on his nesh
an blood he trembles."
well, dye reckon that's certain"
asked Padgett, rubbing his bullet head
to get the idea through.
Know it."
"Why didn't we light on that afore?"
Because the youngster goes under
a nickname. He's Crack-lash here an
Paul Miller in Fresno. That's the
whole. long and short O. it."
We'll, sail in on the capen an see
what ye kin do with him." growled
Ned seating himself on a stone and
twirling his stick in his hand. Il
leave it all t you; take it an see how
yell come out"
Then followed another long con-
sultation among the other three.
1t was not until late that night they
proceeded to carry out their plan. The
old hermit whom they called the cap
tain was taken apart from his fel-
low prisoner and seated on stone.
Ben Allen then proceeded to interro-
gate him.
You are Captain Joseph Miller of
the schooner Eleanor amt ye?" he
asked.
"Those two rogues told you that.
They know it, and it's no use to deny
it,"
You left a wife at home-a wife
and child?"
"Yes"
"Your wife was named Mollie and
your boy baby's name Paul?"
81 don't admit or deny"
after you sailed away so many
years your wife gave you up for dead,
and with her child removed to Fresno,
where she lives now. She never told
her son the sad, uncertain fate of his
father, fearing when he grew up he
would start in search of him, and
she always had superstitious dread
O the forests O Alaska"
The sea captain sat unmoved
throughout the narrative. Ben went
on:
But when Paul Miller grew to be
a man he heard of the fabulous riches
in Alaska and came to find it. He had
amassed quite fortune, when he
was robbed, followed the robbers to
the woods and was captured by them.
Now, the young man yonder is Paul
Miller, your SON.
The stern old captain was unmoved
save slight twitchlng at the cor
ners of his mouth, but he made no
answer. Ben continued:
Though you may have lost the
walrus hide on which the map to the
buried treasure is, yet you know the
spot, and can take us there. You
shall do it or l swear that your son
shall die before your face"
Again Ben Allen was disappointed
The old man was wholly unmoved, as
If he had been talking to stone. The
captors waited about him with half
suppressed breathing. hoping that
something would occur to break his
imperturbability, but they were dis.
appointed
The threat of Morris had only been
to intimidate the prisoner. He was
willing to make any sort of threats,
but not being the hardened criminal
Ned Padgett was he called halt at
the line of murder.
Boys" continued Morris, 81 haven't
given up all hope yet We may be
able to do somethin' with him. Let's
keep up the scare"
Agreed"
I'VE can even get a rope and so
through pretense O. hangin the
youngster."
That's it; go through anything to
make the old rascal tell us where it
is"
With this resolution more firmly
fixed in their minds they once more
returned to where the old captain sat
as unmoved as when they left him.
well, Captain Miller, have you de-
cided to tell us where you cached the
treasurer" asked Ben Allen.
NO" was the immediate answer.
do you want to see your son hang
before your eyes?"
81 have no son.
Don't you know that young man
is your SOM"
The prisoner fixed his great blue
orbs on the speaker and in firm, un.
moved tone answered:
ne is not my son. ! may nave
son living. | once did, but he is not
my son. like the young man, for he
Is noble, brave and honest, but he is
no relation to me-"
They were wholly unprepared for
this answer. The sincerity with which
It was given took everyone aback and
for several moments they stood
aghast and silent. The ex-sea captain,
after a brief silence. continued:
Even if | had the walrus hide I
would not give it to you. Even if I
could now go and unearth that buried
treasure l would not do it."
Why"
For two reasons. First, I will not
compromise with crime. Second, even
II did decide to do so and turn over
ho fn ha W