The Red Cloud chief., 1905-06-16

~..::~
Iris was quick witted. ut Is a plan
OF the island,' she cried.
ALSO the latitude and the longitude"
What does j. s. mean?"
probably the initials Of a mans
name. Let us say John Smith, for in
stance"
"And the figures on the island, with
the X and the dotY'
IL cannot tell you at present" he
said. II take 1t that the line across the
island signifies this gap or canyon, and
the small intersecting line the cave.
But 80 divided by 1 and an N sur
mounted by a dot are cabalistic. they
would cause even Sherlock Holmes to
smoke at least two pipes. ] have bare
ly started one"
TT looks quite mysterious, like the
things you read of in stories OF pirates
and buried treasure"
YES he admitted. 1T is unques-
tionably q plan, a guidance, given TO a
person not previously acquainted with
the island, but cognizant of some fact
connected with 1t. Unfortunately none
Of the buccaneers l can bring to mind
freouented these seas. The poor beg.
gar who left it here must have had
some other motive than searching for a
cache"
did he dig the cave and the well,
wonder?"
Probably the former, but not the
well. No man could do it unaided."
'Why do you assume he was aloneT'
J, He strolled toward the fire to kick a
stray log. 1T is only idle speculation
at he best. Miss Deane," he replied.
l would you like to help me to drag
some timber up from the beach? If we
: get a few big planks we can build q
fire that will last for hours. We wan,
some extra clothes, too, and it will soor
be dark"
The request for cooperation gratlfieo
I her. she complied eagerly, and with
out much eXertion they hauled a re
spectable load of firewood to their new
camping ground. They also brought
e number Of coats to serve as coverings
luth JCbhS tuShi'u iS iaihl' - '"'
most difficult operation to open 1t.
II Before the sun went down he sue
ceeded and made a wick by unravelinI
q few strands of wool from his jersey
o When night fsil. with the suodennes
of the tropics, Iris was able to illum
nate her small domain.
ls They were both utterly tired an
ready to drop with fatigue. The gil
said good night" but instantly n
appeared from behind the t%arpaulin.
70 Am l to keep the lamp alight!' sh
inquired.
"Please yourself, Miss Deane. BE
u ter not, perhaps. 1t will only bur
four or five hours anyway"
Soon the light vanished, and he 10
= down, his pipe between his teeth, clos
to the caves entrance. Weary thong
ie he was he could not sleep forthwith
His mind was occupied with the sigl
on the canister head.
!. "32 divided by 1; an Y and q dot
III he repeated several times. What
~ they signifyT'
Suddenly he sat up, with every SEN
alert, and grabbed his revolver. Som
thing impelled him to look toward Il
spot, a few feet away, where the skel
ton was hidden. 1t was h rustling
a bird among the trees that had caug
~ his ear.
- He thought of the white framewol
a Of a once powerful man, lying the
among the bushes, abandoned, forge
ten, horrific. Then he smothered
cry of surprise.
"By Jove!" he muttered. "There
10 no X and dot. That sign Is mea
" for a skull and c~rossboncs. 1t II
A., exactly ON the part Of the island whe
'or we saw that queer looking bald pat
Az today. First thing tomorrow befo
the girl awakes l must examine tn
nm place"
Re-. He resolutely stretched himself
on his share of the spread out coats, ne
oil thoroughly dried by sun and fire.
NJ. a minute he was sound asleep.