The Washington herald., 1908-01-05

And so YOU are your Uncle Dudley S
heir?" cried Laura as Dan Fetter folded
the letter and replaced 1t in its envelope.
Isn't that great?"
IT'S not much Of a fortune" explained
Dan. Just before the failure Uncle
Dudley wrote that he had hoped TO 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, and We can look for the
pirates treasure"
And lose what little there is left, ,"
suggested Dan. THAT chart was all
right to study over in the winter even
ings, Laurie. but it's a different thing to
sink money into a search for treasure
buried three hundred years ago off the
Argentine coast"
But this IS real" insisted Laura,
going TO the desk and taking therefrom
the well-wOrn parchment which had fur
nished them amusement for so many
long winter evenings. It was still we'll
preserved, and Dan could clearly trace
the lines and written directions.
This paper had been handed down in
the Kingsland family since one Of the
early Kingslands, sailor IN the British
navy, had befTiended q member OF a
pirate crew captured in the Spanish Main.
just before the prisoner went to execU-
ton, he had slipped into the hand of his
benefactor a roll OF parchment which had
come down through past generations,
gaining in romance with each year
Now the two pored 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 1t so.
1T is a real treasure" she declared.
L know that it is real. and 1 will never
forgive you, Dan, If you don't so 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 go, DAN
''We'H see what Uncle Dudley's fortune
is" he temporized. Wait until the es-
tate can be settled.
1t was not a long wait Dudley Fetter
had been forced into bankruptcy after a
long career as a shipping merchant. The
disappointment had so preyed upon his
mind that he had killed himself. and the
little old lawyer. who was at once his
counsel. receiver, and executor. soon dis
entangled the muddle. Dan found himself
owner of a tramp steamer and sSme $1,000
In money.
He was inclined to sell the steamer,
but Laura wouTd not hear of it. She was
firm in her faith In 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 un-
dertake the trip.
The captain or the Dudley was a wealth
erbeaten old man of fifty, whose shrewd
eyes twinkled when the subject was
broached TO him.
4 never heard of EN- 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"
viii five, thousand take us down and
back?" demanded the cautious Dan. Capt
Glass removed the pipe from his lips the
better TO smile
Down and back and down again." he
asserted. Anyway, you don't have 10
worry about getting back. We can easily
get a load at Buenos Ayres or Rio to pay
the cost of the up trip. tn make a nice
little sail for you. seem as you've never
been TO sea? Why not make ii a bridal
tour2 Brides bring luck to ships. Maybe
with a bride we could find the gold"
Il know you will" cried Laura. jump
ing up to plant a kiss on Dams cheek.