The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-07-22

/ the fowers were Struggling here and
there, rich masses OF ragged cOlOF'
Desolate certainly. this deserted her-
mitage. but not lonely, for as Hasar
and, her companion turned in at the
little gate a figure rose from STOPPING
position under an apple tree 1t was
that of a man with a spade in his hands
who had been digging for some tlme'
as was testified by the heap OF freshly
turned earth at his feet.
i Mr.. Treadler' cried LOrn. indignant
| ~. What are you doing here?"
Lookin' fur the old un's cash. re-
torted Mr.. Treadle with a scOwl direct
ed equally at the young man and
Hagar. An if I gets it I keeps IL
Lord, to think as 'Ow I pampered that
old sinner with figs and such like-to
say nothing OF French brandy. which
he drank by the quartz
You have no business here
mo more ave YOU snapped theA
irate grocer. '1f I ain't, you amt. furN
till the 'ouse is let it's public property
I s'pose you've come ere with that
Jezebel to look fur the money!
/ Hagar, hearing herself called names,
stepped promptly up to Mr.. Treadle
/ and boxed his red ears Now. then,
she said, when the grocer fell back
| in dismay at this onslaught perhaps
you'll be civil Mr.. Lorn, sit down on
this seat. and I'll explain the riddle "
"The Dante" cried Mr.. Treadle, rec
ognizing the book which lay on HaSars
lap-"an' she'll explain the riddle
swind1ing me out OF my rightful cash."
The cash belongs 20 Mr.. Lorn as his
uncle's hefrP' said Hagar, wrathfully-
BE quiet. sir. or you'll get another
box on the ears"
Never mind him." said Eustace, I'M
patiently; tell me the riddle
II don't know if I've guessed IL cor
rectly," answered Hagar. opening the
book; but I've tried by line and page
/ and number, all of which revealed
nothing. Now I try be-4etters. and you
will see If the word they makeeis a
proper Italian one"
She read out the marked line and the
date. Ficcar 10 viso per la luce
eterna. 9th December, 49, Now" said
Hagar, slowly, IF you run all the fig
ures together they stand as 27123s."
Yes. yes" said Eustace. impatiently;
\ II see. Go on. please"
/ Hagar continued: Take the second
letter of the word Ficcar.'
/ ~ q"
Also the seventh letter from ~
beginning of the line"
! Eustace counted. Il I see" he
went on. eagerly. ALSO the first let
and the eighth. C. and o."
"Goedr' said HagaS writing these
down. Now. the whole make up the
word Ilhco.' Is that an Italian word?"
/ I'm not sure. said EuStace,
\ though fully. "IIfco' No"
shows what eddication 'e's gOtr
growled Mr. Ireadle, who was leaning
on his spade.
Eustace raised her eyes to dart a
whitening glance at the grocer. and in
doing so his vision passed on to the
tree looming up behind the man. At
once the meaning of the word flashed
on his brain.
@m fcogT he cried. rising. 1.-TWO
words instead of onei You have found
1T. Hagar. It means the fg tree-the
one yonder. I believe the money is
buried under IT,"
Before he could advance a step
Treadle had leaped forward and was
1 slashing away at the angled grass
r-und the hg tree like mailman
IF tits there tits miner he shouted.
Don't you come nigh me- young Lorn.
or I'll brain you with my spade! I fed
up that old uncle of yours like a fight
/ ing cock. and now I'm going to have
his cash to pay me-"
/ Eustace leaped forward in the like
manner as ,Treadle had done, and
would have wrenched the spade out OF
his grip but that Hagar laid detain-
/ ing hand on his arm.
Let him dig" she said eoolly. The
money is yours; can prove 1t. He'll
have the work and you the fortune V
'Hagar. Hagar! How can thank
your"
The girl stepped back. and a flush
rose IN her cheeks. Find Goliath" she
said. and let me get rid OF the pawn
shop.
/ At this moment Tread1e gave shout
/ Of glee. and with both arms wrenched
goodly sized tin box out Of the hole
he had dug.
'Minel Mine" he cried pumping
this down on the grass. This will pay
for the dinners gave him. the presents
made him. I've bin castfn' my bread
on the waters. and here it's back
again"
/ He fell to forcing the lid OF the box
with the edge of the spade. all the
hime laughing and crying like one de-
mented. LOrn and Hagar drew near
in the expectation of seeing a shower
Of gold pieces rain on the ground when
the lid was opened. As Treadle gave a
/ final wrench 1t few wide, and they
\ saw-an empty box.
"why-what." stammered TreadIe.
/ Observation-Disclosures does It mean?"
/ Eustace. equally taken aback, bent
down and looked in. There was absO-
lutely nothing in the box but a piece
/ of folded paper. Unable to make a
remark. he held it out to the amazed
Hagar.
What the ID does it mean?" said
\ Treadle again
This explains" said Hagar. running
1 her eve over the writing. TT seems
that this wealthy Uncle Ben was a
pauper."
"a pauper" cried Eustace and
Treadle together.
Listen said Hagar. and read out
from the page: When I returned to
England I was thought wealthy, so
that all my friends and relations
fawned on me for the crumbs which
fell from the rich mans table. Brlt I
had just enough money TO rent the cot
tage for term OF years, and to pur-
chase an annuity barely sufficient for
the necessities OF life. But, owing to
the report of my wealth. the Injuries
have been supplied by those who hOped
for legacies- This is my legacy TO
one and all-these golden words which
1 have proved true: Tt Is better to be
thought rich, than to be rich"
The paper fell from the hand OF
Eustaee. and TreadIe. with a howl OF
rage. threw himself on the grass, load
ing the memory OF the deceased with
opprobrious names. Seeing that all
was over, that the expected fortune had