The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1904-06-23

communication with those who love
yod until my prophecy has come TO-
PASS. DO you promise me. my boy7"
Il do, grandfather" said John. who
was deeply affected. You have been
so rood
"Neyer mind. my boy thank God,
not me. Good.by John-God bless
YOU"
The nrst drops OF the storm pat.
tered on the dusty roadway as The
old man raised his hands and gave
John his blessing. Springlng into the
saddle. the boy caught one last
glimpse OF Peter Burt In a brilliant
fash of lightning which glorihed his
heroic figure. his white hair shining
as a halo above his brow.
Il was four o'clock when he halted
AZ 3 small house on the outskirts OF
Plymouth. Years before. with Peter
Burt. he had visited the old sailor
who was spending there his declining
years. After repeated knocking. the
old man opened the door, John hand
ed him the letter and showed the
ring. He read the letter and heartily
greeted his guest.
Enough said. my boy," he de
clared. as he burned the letter. You'll
be as safe here as in Gods pocket
Make yourself comfortable and IN
stow away your horse"
When the old TAI returned he pre-
pared a breakfast which John ate with
relish. and then his host showed him
to a bed which. though hard. seemed
the most delightful place he had
found in years. The sun was low
when John woke. The old sailor did
not betray the slightest curiosity con
corning Johns Journey. and at ten
o'clock his guest babe him farewell
with sincere thanks for his hospital.
ity.
The night ride 10 New Bedford was
made without incident. Il was three
o'clock when John knocked at Cap
tain Horizons door: and, much { bis
surprise. that gruff old mariner was
up and dressed.
Come in, I've been ~expectin' ye!"
he said as he opened the door. Glad
20 meet ye. Joe" be said. turning
10 a sleepyeyed boy. take care OF
this lads horse"
John secured the contents Of the
~saddlc-bags. and an hour later stepped
on beard the Segregansett. Captain
Horton showed him his quarters and
advised him 10 turn in" He did so.
and when he aEoke the heayfng and
g~roaning Of the old whaler told him
that she vas on the open sea.
Not until the -Segregansett had left
the Bermudas did John open the pack
age which had been given % him By
Peter Burt. II contained a long let.
ter from the old man. describing a
spot in the California mountains. OF
which a dying sailor had told him
years before. The poor fellow de-
clRred that he had found a rich de-
post Of gold. and that he was work
ing his way back 10 Boston. hoping
10 Interest the necessary capital. In
Peter Burt's letter was enclosed a
rough mar which The sailor had
sketched when he realized that death
stood in the way OF his dreams o.
wealth.
There was also a parcel with an
outer covering Of Oilsldn. John
u%nwrapped il and disclosed a large.
old-fashioned wallet. which he recog
nized as having belonged 20 his grand.
father. In this wallet he found a
layer Of United States Treasury notes
OF large denominations HIS fingers
tingled as he handled the notes Ten
thousand dollars, Jessie seemed much
nearer rs John looked al those bits Of
paper.
The eel and incidents OF that
eighteen thousand mile tourney
around Cape Horn are worthy Of ex.
tended recital. but are not an essen.
tial part Of this narrative. one bright
afternoon the Segregansett sailed
into the harbor OF Valparaiso. and a
week later John Burt was a passen-
ger ON the steamer Reliance. bound
for San Francisco.
A thousand leagues away. Jessie
Garden treasured the secret OF a sen.
sation strangely akin 20 new born
love. On the walls Of her classroom
was a large map. and she loved 20
look az Il and wonder what spot OF
land or sea held John Burt.
(To b c%ontinued.1