Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-02-06
Ending the
~ Doneymoon
By TAYLOR WHITE.
copyrighted. 1907. by E. C. PARCELS.
Bv TAYLOR WHITE.

! ed the letter ana replaced III III us en-
velope Isn't that greatg'
Its not much of a fortune" explain
ed Dan. Just before the failure Uncle
Dudley wrote that he had hoped 10
leave me a lot, but that he was afraid
there was precious little left and that
was going fast. Two weeks after that
the failure came, and he shot himself
Poor Uncle Dud"'
but there must be something" in
sisted Laura, land we can look for the
pirates treasure"
"And lose what little there is left,
suggested Dan. THAT chart was all
right to study over I'm the winter even
ings, Laurie, but it's different thing
to sink money in a search for treas
! ure buried 300 years ago off the Argen
tine coast"
"But this is real" suggested Laura,
! going to the desk and taking there
/ from the well worn parchment which
had furnished them amusement for 50
many long winter evenings. 1t was
well preserved. and Dan could clearly
| trace the lines and written directions
This paper had been handed down III
the Kingsland family since one of the
early kingslands. a sailor in the Brit
fish navy, had befriended a member of
a pirate crew captured In the Spanish
main Just before the prisoner went
to his execution he had slipped into the
hand of his benefactor roll of parch-
ment which had come down through
past generations. gaining In romance
with each year.
Now the two poured over the old
map with renewed interest since there
was at least the possibility that they
might have the means for prosecuting
the search. Dan was inclined to be
skeptical, but Laura would not have it
so.
at is a real treasure" she declared.
81 know that it is real, and I will
never forgive you, Dan, If you don't
go after it. Think of the years we
have been wishing that we had
enough money to fit out an expedition.
Now our chance has come, and you're
laughing at the idea You must 60
Dan"
"We1l see what Uncle Dudleys fer,
tune is" he temporized. wait until
the estate can be settled"
1t was not long wait Dudley Fet-
ter had been forced into bankruptcy
after long career as shipping mer
chant The disappointment had SO
preyed upon his mind that he had kin
ed himself, and the little old lawyer
who was at once his COUNSEL, receiver
and executor soon disentangled the
muddle. Dan found himself owner OF
tramp steamer and some $1,000 n
money.
He was inclined to sell the steamer
but Laura would not hear of it, She
was firm in her faith I'm the pirates
map, and she at last carried her point
through, only after she had declared
that she would break her engagement
If Dan did not undertake the trip.
The captain of the Dudley was
weather beaten old man of fifty, whose
shrewd eyes twinkled when the sub
jeSt was preached to him
II never heard of 'em that far
SOUTH" he declared; "but, Lord love ye
there's pirates gold hidden from the
north pole to the south--to hear EN-
tell it. It's as likely to be there as
anywhere"
"Will $1,000 take us down End
back" demanded the cautious Dan
Captain Glass removed the pipe from
his lips the better to smile.
Down and back and dowr again."
he asserted. Anyway, you don't have
to worry about getting bacx. We can
easily get load at Buenos Ayres or
Rio to pay the cost Of the up trip. TIN
make a nice little sail for you, seeing
as you've never been 10 sea. Why not
make 1t bridal tour? Brides bring
luck to ships. Maybe with bride we
could find the gold"
II know you willy' cried Laura.
jumping up to plant kiss on Dams
cheek. wen be married on board
the Dudley before she sails"
The last argument was clincher,
and Dan gave in. Ten days later the
men were called aft to witness quiet
little wedding, and AZ the minister
went over the side q noisy little rug
helped the Dudley get out into the
stream and point her nose to tne
south.
II was q long, delightful honeymoon
to these two, who had never seen the
ocean until Dan had come to New
York to claim his legacy. They mad
day or two Of seasickness. but TINS
soon passed, and after that, as they
slipped over the blue waters, Lauras
confidence In the quest grew amazing
II. Even Dan began to share her en-
thusiasm long before they had crossed
the equator.
At last the course was altered. and
the Dudley headed inland until the
black. forbidding cliffs doomed darkly
before them. 1t was no easy matter TO
PICK their way through uncharted
channels. but at last the steamer Sip
ped into Z little bay, and Captain
Glass declared 1t to be the spot SHOWN
n the map.
Here the rocks did not come sharply
down TO the waters edge, but ran In
land, forming sheItcred nook o. some
few hundred acres IN extent The tive
hues rocks which marked the entrance
. the bay and Q peak q tbe distant
spur Of n Andes formed their range
MARKS. ana a soon a. they had put ~
tsntu on shore Dan. who had studiod
elvil engineering. got out his transit
ana beean to lay on the lines.
~ 49, -