The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-04-18

Before we reached Honolulu he seemed
all right, and after that all wrong. ]
kept studying over the whole matter
while we were in tne DoldTums, and
then | went TO him with the two follow
ing propositions:
Proposition I.--Your contract with lis
for a quarter share of the treasure is
locked up IN a San Francisco bank, and
amply protects your portion of all the
. treasure you may unearth. Your claim,
therefore, that we may cheat you is
baseless, and IS useless as an excuse for
not taking us to the island Proposition
You say you are afraid of the curse
and the ghosts hanging about the treas
ure. Now, | propose that you give us
the location of this island, its longitude
and latitude, and then remain here in
Tahiti, where you will be safe and well
cared for at our expense We will sail
to the island, defy the ghosts, lift all the
treasure we may find, and take 1T to San
francisco, where we will land it as quiet
ly as possible ana then send for you.
Brown wouldn't listen to these pro-
positions. That settled him with me-
Brown, interviewed concerning the
voyage, spoke. as follows: T his treas
uress a big thing, he said, and expert
SIiCC has taught HE tlldl L nave got 10
protect myself in it. Since the very
first day that plumber was raised there's
been nothing but plotting, fighting, and
blood-letting over it. It's cursed for
sure. Everytine / have seen it, or tried
to get at it, I've butted into no end of
trouble-and all kinds of trouble. That's
why I'm so dead sure that the ghosts
of all the people who have ever had a
hand in it are still fighting over it and
ready to bring misfortune upon every
bod that comes nigh it.
why shouldn't / be suspicious of the
passengers on this last trip after the
way they acted at Honolulu? They chip
in few thousands TO get millions and
fall down on paying a few small bills.
They talk about its being a gamble; its
cinch" Certainty. IF it wasn't, do
you suppose I'd go in it on the lay OF
getting nothing but quarter share of
the treasure? No, sir, I'd be playing for
fair wages, or big expenses at least.
Then Luce and the rest acted as If
thew were risfing everything and /
nothing. Wasn't I, thought Mind this
treasures all / have got in sight I'm
too old to follow the sea now: / m broke.
and I'm getting along in life. This is
my last play 70 get enough plumber to
keep me going in my old age. If I'm
tricked out of it I'm done for good and
all-and that's why IN suspicious. May
be it's my past experience. Maybe it's
because / was always mixed up with
such rough hands in this treasure bust
ness Anyway. I've got suspieions-bad
and I can't shake 'em off. I amt go
ing to be triclled out of my share of the
plumber when It's dug up this time-not
much On the Herman. this last voy-
age, there were lawyer sharks and other
kinds of sharks. They all talked fair
and above-board, maybe: but--well, a.
sharks shark in whatever water you
find HIM. No, sir, next time / go after
that treasure-and | am going-it'lf be
with crowd that means business, and
III have a guarantee that tveryt1ing's
ship-shaDe and battened down fast be-
fore we make sail Wide World Maya
zine