The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-08-24

'HlolplS lHldHu. nut, luOuHu tutA
were apparently enjoying themselves.
they We're both of them inwardly con
sumed by mpaience and Ronalds
heart lc'ped when, one day, Vane
said que ly, but with a sudden flush
and a fash of his eyes,
I'VE make for the islands tonight %
They had fair wind but the
voyage seemed long to both Of
them, aad when they sighed the lit
tie spot of land lying off the north
west of Sicily. Ronald's blood ran
warm, and for a moment he could
not speak to Vane who stood by
| his side, with his arms folded. and
| his eyes fixed on the coast-line
towards which they We're flying. They
anchored in the bay, and the two
men went ashore in the captains
gig.
/ It was a lovely morning, and Ron
aid looked round him with an ti-
miration which, for a time, rendered
him speechIess.
why, it's an earthly paradise"
he said Treasure or no treasure. a
man could spend his life happily
! here"
In the summer-yes, said Vine,
with "A warning look about him; bat
no one was near them, and he ad /
ed, in a whisper, You see the cIiff!
And the trees are there. We A."
standing within a hundred yards Of
quarter of a million of money.
Don't let's think of it," stil
Ronald rather thicllly.
No" assented Vane; there
some work TO do before We begin
serious business. What do you :hink
. about that little rise as a size for
the scarlet? 1t faces west, and we
can see any vessel that may ap-
proach. Wen begin to stick it ~ al
once"
When will you tell the men,
asked Ronald.
Not until the moment We are
going to start operation" replied
Vane gravely.
Are We the only people on the
lsland?" asked Ronald. rather anx-
iously
oh, yes" said Vane. Practically
we are monarchs of all We survey
at any rate, there is no one to
overlook us; and if We wereobserv-
ed, we could put anybody off the
scent by some excuse. We are here
20 grow tobacco, you ktow, and may
be trying the soil for other things.
And we'd better do our digging at
night, covering up our tracks as we
go"
The men were told that Vane had
purchased a portion of the island,
and was going to make it kind Of
place of call. They were delighted
at the prospect of anchoring off such
a charming spot, and they got the
portable chalet safely ashore, and at
once set to work putting 1t together
Furniture was broueh from the |
yacht. and in a couple of days time !
Vane and Ronald We're comfortably |
established in the picturesque little |
house. The schooner was anchored in |
the blight Of the bay, where she .
would be out of sight of any YES /
sells. excepting those sailing close .
inland.
Vane and Ronald superintended .
these opera.ons in a leisurely way
and gave a picnic air to the pro
ceedings by sailing and fishing in
the bay, or strolling about the isl
and with their guns Smithers was
installed at the chalet as cook and
maior-domo; and evidently regarded
the situation with profound satisflc-
ton.
Seems to me- sir, that this is the
best lay I've ever been engaged in
he remarked to Ronald, who one
evening came upon him seated on
the yeIanda which ran outside the
kitchen, his precious Guilty in the
corner of his lips, his white cooks
cap stuck on the side of his head,
and apparently propped up by his
ear. It's 4 kind o. Robinson Cru
soc business, with the advantage Of
pleasant company. 1t suits me bet
ter than hangin' about the Docks,
sir or even fallin' off a wagon
load o. cabbages. We've struck It
soft an no mistake. sir as the fly
said when il fell into the treacle-
pot. Seems to me. the hardest thing
I've got to do is TO hunt up some