Rocky Ford enterprise., 1904-06-24

communication with those who iov%
you until my prophecy has come to
pass. Do you promise me. my boy?"
II do. grandfather" said John. who
was deeply affected. you have been
SO good"
"Never mind. my boy; thank God.
not me. Goodbye. John-God bless
you!"
The first drops of the storm pat
tered on the dusty roadway rs the
old man raised his hands and gave
John his blessing. Springing into the
saddle. the boy caught one last
glimpse of Peter Burt In a brilliant
flash of lightning which gloriHed his
heroic figure. his white hair shining
as halo above his brow.
II was four O'Clock when he halted
ut u 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 road 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 I'll
stow away your horse"
When the old man returned he pre-
pared breakfast which John ate with
relish. and then his host showed him
to 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-
serning Johns journey. and Mt ten
O'Clock his guest bade him farewell
with sincere thanks for his hospital.
ity.
The night ride to New Bedford was
made without incident. II was three
O'Clock when John knocked Mt Cap
tain Horizons door: and. much to his
surprise. that 4rufY old mariner was
up and dressed.
Come in! I've been cxpcctIn' ysi"
he said ns he opened the door. "Gisa
to meet ye. joe" he said. turning
to n slecpy-cycd boy. take oare Il
this lads horse"
John secured the contents q ehe
saddic-bsss. and an hour later stepped
on beard the Sc.rcsnnsetf. Captain
Horton showed him his quasss1 ane
advised him to turn In Ise I'D 50
and whoa he awokc tho hcavisE and
groanins of the old whalcr told hin
that she waS on the open sea.
Not uH:ii the Sc.rc.ansctt had left
the Bcrmudas did John open the pack.
age which had been given W him BY
Peter Burt. u contained a Ion. lot
ter from the old man. describing .
spot In the California mountains. a
which n dying sailor had told him
years before. The poor fsaiow is-
clarcd that he had found n rich de-
posit OF gold, and that he was work.
Ing his way back To Boston. hoping
To interest the necessary capital. IL
Peter Burt'A letter was enclosed .
rough map which the sailor had
Hkctchcd when he realized that death
stood In the way Of his dreams Of
wealth.
There was also = parcel with aa
outer covering OF oilskin. John
unwrappcd it and disclosed n large.
old.fashioncd wallet, which he rccoE.
niEed rs having belonged to his grand.
father. In this wallet he found .
layer Of United States Treasury notes
of large denominations. His fingers
tinsicd as he handled the notes. Ten
thousand dollars. Jessie seemed much
nearer as John looked at thoss bits OF
paper.
The scenes and incidents Of that
eighteen thousand mile Journey
around Cape Horn arc worthy Of cx.
tended recital. but are not an csscn.
tiai part OF this narrative. One bright
afternoon the scgrcsansctt sailed
into the harbor of Valparaiso. and q
week later John Burt was = passcn.
ger on the steamer Reliance. bound
for San Francisco.
A thousand leagues away. Jessie
Garden treasured tho secret Of a sen.
sation strangely akin to newborn
love. On the walls of her classroom
was large map. and she loved to
look at II and wonder what spot Of
land or sea held John Burt.
ITO b continucd.)
An unkind Question.
,Ar,stx thr hnoun roo,.