The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-26
THE TREASURE BOX

4 closed my eyes and just rested Bit.
The next thing II heard was the Fill
pino kid squalling out from the top.
I got up and went on deck ~
i T. What is it?'' said I, sort OF put out
at being disturbed. .-
i He jabbered away and pointed to
the shore. I looked over there and
i saw that the people had got in the
boat and were pulling down the beach.
to haul the boat UP into the bushes.
I could just make out three Of them,
SO I judged that Emilio was on look
That brought me up all standing, for
guessed they'd run up against some
reckoned they were in no danger, as
otherwise they'd have pulled right off
aboard; still, didn't like it for cent
waited and waited, but nothing
came In sight, so after about an hour
went below again, telling the kid up
peel them for him with my jack-knife,
In a little while he sings out again,
and going on deck I saw that all four
OF them had come back to where they
had landed first Off They walked
around a bit, and then went up and
sat down in the shade of the bushes.
That puzzled me some, but I reck-
oned that they were waiting for dark
for some reason before they came off.
the sun was setting then, and as I
judged they'd be hungry when they
came aboard + started to get supper.
The night came down dark and
gloomy, and still. they didn't come
aboard. 1 hated to leave the schooner
unprotected. so pretty soon called
the cub aft and told him to get in the
gig ana pull IN and see what was up.
we could see the island shining in che
starlight, and had no fear of his
clearing out, as he was too homesick
for the Pasig ,-,..~.. -...~,-. ~.
After he'd gone got the blues so
bad that I began to set the supper
taple IN the cabin, and while was do
ing 1t heard the boat come up along
side. Altho I was naturally diving to
know II they had got the loot all right.
| by that time I was too put out with
them to let on. so I just kept on what
I vas going In a dignifed sort of way.
ana wondered why in thunder they
didn't come below. Finally I couldn't
stand 1t any longer and started up to
ten them what thought Of the whole
business.
came up on the jump and then as
the glimmer of the riding light three
rifles were covering me; two showed
almost in my face and one pointed at
my stomach.
Throw up your hands!' said q
sharp voice.
There wasn't anything else much to
90, SO up went my paws, and for a,
minute I stood paralyzed with sur-
prise,
! VINO IN - are your" said I.
Wnen L got my breath back
Never you mind, my man." said the
same voice, which T made out to come
from tall chap dressed in khakis.
you just keep your hands un and
your mouth shut, and you'll save us
both trouble
Somehow suspicioned who the fell
low was, altho where he came from
oeat me, SO chirped out:
49, t you're Lieutenant Durand,
l.. aIl-We,re calculating to give you
snappy laugh. ~ -
"Ho!' said he, my share! That's
damn good-why, you bloomin' pirate.
WHAT'S the matter with it all being NV
snare? What business have you got
proWl1n' around my loot, anyway?"
! On, L don't know" said 7 'it,s
pretty much the same business with
you and the padre and the presidents
and the rest Of the crowd have been
promoting" "ee14
The little fellow who corded me up
IL
ne got thru with me 1 could hardly
Wlggle my shoulders. Pretty soon the
little stout chap dropped over the side
and handed a big bundle up to one 81
the others. AS they dropped it on the
deck 1 saw that it was my Filipfno
brat, gagged and bound. =. :
The little man stayed in the boat
and in a moment showed Off and
started to pull in toward shore, and as
ne got clear Of the side noticed that
ne was towing a boat. That startled
me, and returned to Durand. :
Look here, mister" said T., do YOU
MANS man, t ten e, a,1 felow whether his
"Oh, no." said he, careless: .now
that We've got all the trumps, I don't
know as 1t does any harm for You to
see our ~, hand-got anything to
'"A-plenty," said I, "just take a. look
below and you'll find all the comforts
OF home---table set and supper wait
Ing, pancakes getting cold. ri thank
We TO bring me up a cigar when you
come If you'll be SO kind!" -.
/ He laughed and went below, and in
minute came up with bowl of rice
and some canned things. From the
way he and his mate sailed into the
chow I judged that they must have
been on short rations for while.
Look here, captain" said he, when
finally he'd got filled up chock-a-
block, you've entertained us so hand
somely that I don't mind telling vol,
a rev things. You seem to know all
about the loot, but you probably
didn't know that I started after it
myself from Zamboanga three DAYS
ago. I took this gentleman here into
partnership, and we got a little
schooner and sailed around here, and
would have got the box and cleared
the day before yesterday, but we were
foolish enough to leave the boat with
no one aboard but the crew, and they
had quietly vamoosed."
THAT was a fool trick on your
part" said I, nightly interested. $50
you've put in the last two days on that
1sland!' - -
"Yes-eating cocoanuts and fish,"
But how about the loot?" asked.
"Oh, that's coming. I had the
pleasure Of watching your people
kindly digging up my share for me
this afternoon. We didn't take the
trouble, as there seemed no way of
getting it off,
Things began to clear up a1tho that
didn't make me feel any happier.
Then It was you fellows that
swiped the boat and hid It. down the
beach?" said T.
Just so--taking care to wipe out
our tracks,
Look here" said I, turning to him.
do you think this darn box il worth