Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-01

drop off the wood having dried out and the small,
nails being nearly out of their holes Idly interested
he removed them when the disk dropped off into his
hand. At the same moment small roll of parch-
mentlike paper yellow with age and secured by few
strands of hemp, slid from hollow IN the butt ar.
fell to the floor
Greatly interested, he picked it up, pulled off the
rotting threads, and unroled the parchment
Traced on it in pale blue ink map scored wit.
dotted lines and In the upper right hand
corner carefully drawn compass, and beneat:l
was some lettering, faded but plainly legible:
With quickened pulse the young man read:
W. long. l4oo-1s.
Beneath was written in a scrawling hand
Purles-large- Z.
Bar siver-5OO
Juled small arms & others & silver pate-peaces 55.
Ware the naytives & Black Art Folk of Rapa-Nu
The map was that of an island an atoll in shape
the lagoon marked here and there with figures. az
parently soundlngs From point on the left of the
entrance drawn dotted line marked S. fatholr1
TO- This line ntersected another drawn from
point back from the shore and beginning at roughlr
sketched face. Underneath were printed the words.
"fathom 20, N. E. from SPHINX At the point OF IL.
terSectIOn there cross, with the significant
word "Tresure
The young man slipped the roll into his pocket
then carefully replaced the brass cap the butt Ct
the pistol pushing the nails back into their places
This done he lighted another cigarette More than
half hour passed, and still he sat, his face deeply
thoughtful.
THE reverie was interrupted by Chinaman who
slipped quietly into the room and informed him
that "One piecy call1age wa1tee longside takee
pecy councilman alec samee laload.'
Tell your mistress wish to see her
The boy went out and presently returned to sa-,
"Piecee lady can do
Tell the lady she must do
"All light" The boy shutfled out
Several minutes passed. then the door swung open
and Proserpine entered The girls face flushed,
her eyes showed traces of tears and she stood
framed in the dark opening her guest struck b.
the warm and vital beauty of the tableau thus made
The carriage has been waiting at the door for,
hour she said coldly.
There is another in half an hour Why did you
waltz
For two reasons. The first was because wished
to give you opportunity to reflect, before
sidering your refusal to take half the money final
She made angry gesture. :" 1t is final
Very good My other was because had
accidentally found something of yours which may be
of great value, of which | doubt if you know the
existence. When you went out you slammed the
door SO hard that this pistol fell to the floor
Il heard it. What about it :.
Il picked it up and, noticing that this brass plate
was loose pulled it off-like this Then this paper
and spread it the table
THE girl stepped forward and stared at the map.
As she looked her broad forehead knitted AMI
the glanc1ng at her the color change quickly
under her clear skin
What is it," she exclaimed
1T seems to be a record of hidden treasure
Where did that pistol come FROM"
I'm not l think that one of his Captains
Il don't know what to think Have you atlas.
'Yes, it's here" The girl turned to the bookcase,