The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-11-15
Treasure
TrOve
Its Secret Was Revealed by
a Vision
BY cLARISSA MAcKIE
Copyright, 1910, by American Press

Association "
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Jarvis journeyed from the little rail-
road station in brightly painted stage
drawn by two iron gray horses. He
was the only passenger for the beach,
and he shook about in the huge vehi
Gle like the proverbial pea In a barrel.
At the entrance to a narrow sandy
lane shaded by wind blown cedars,
under which the marsh grass struggled
sparsely, the stage stopped.
.All outr' sang the driver Justify.
Coin to the beach, We saidT He
peered down at Jarvis with .beady
black eyes beneath matches of white
eyebrows.
yes; Edgewater cottage. Straight
ahead?' Jarvis asked the question
while he threw his luggage to the
ground and paid his fare.
"Edgewater cottage? That'll be the
Rowe place. last cottage on the left.
So longr'
much obliged. Goodbye
Jarvis turned to the left and walked
slowly down to the beach. his head
| barred to the fresh breeze. his lungs
| gratefully inhaling the invigorating
salt air
The last cottage proved to be rath-
er large structure placed not far be-
yond high water mark. Its shingles
| hoe - 1i1
and the many windows tightly shut
tered looked like closed eyes in a sad
face 1t seemed desolate enough COM
pared to the other coy houses along
the beach. but Jarvis decided after
hasty examination that when he got
out some porch furniture and opened
up the shutters the cottage he had
hired would be it enough for his pur-
| poses.
The rusty key he had obtained from
the agent creaked in the lock and the
door swung open, admitting him to
large, comfortably furnished rooms.
| His first duty was to throw wide the
shutters and raise the window sashes
to the fresh air Except for layer Of
dust over everything the house was in
exquisite order of arrangement He
decided to sleep in the wire inclosed
balcony. and as he had arranged by
letter for his meals to be sent In from
the hotel on the long point beyond
there was little for him to do save to
arrange cot in the balcony and un-
pack his painting things
At sunset steam launch from the
hotel discharged boy with a basket
containing his dinner. Jarvis discussed
the excellent meal on the veranda, his
artists eye lingering on the wide
sweep of green and blue fecked With
white that filled the foreground.
Here were color and life enough to
linn any number of canvases. Jarvis
was glad he had decided to close his
studio and run away from all his
| friends, and the chance that brought
him to Beaehside had been decided by
the childish method of closing his eyes
and running his finger along the map
Of New Jersey while he counted ten
Then he had opened his eyes and
found Beachside, most inconspicuous
of small watering places, under his
finger. Now he was here.
He smoked a thoughtful cigar while
the sunset tints faded to opal and sill
yer and then uniform slate gray set
] tied over the water
| The cigar consumed. Jarvis felt for
another one in vain. His cigar case
was empty: also he had forgotten his
tobacco pouch. He fingered his pipe
w1stfulfy and rummaged his traps for
tobacco of some sort. In sheer des-
peration he carried his tallow candle
there was no kerosene in the cottage)
from room to room in an aimless
search for nicotine
At last he whistled joyously. On a
small stand in one corner Of the living
room he found smoking set of ham
mered brass. The huge tobacco jar
/ contained few pinches Of the desired
weed, and he crammed it into his pipe
gratefully.
i Now he closed the door and locked it
and went up to his balcony. He threw
himself down on the cot and smoked
contentedly. dreamily. Overhead was
the shine of gentle stars, and on the
beach the waves broke softly, mllsi-
cally. He went to sleep.
Jarvis was awakened by a crashing
volley of thunder, followed by vivid
fash Of lightning He sat up and
gaZed open mouthed at the strange
scene depicted before his eyes.
i There was all the wild fury of a
hurricane bursting about his ears.
Huge waves pounded on the beach.
breaking in binding spray that drench-
ed his face. Some dark shape doomed
out of the blackness coming nearer.
He discerned the outlines of a large
white steamer. saw dark forms tossed
against her whiteness. heard the blare
of her distress signals. saw her careen
on the shoals and become engulfed in
the sea. Still the waves broke on the
beach. and in their tossing they flung
dark form on the white sand beneath
the balcony
Jarvis tried to rise. but his limbs
seemed paralyzed He endeavored to
utter sound. but his lips were dumb
He could only sit there on his couch
wildly conscious Of tragedy heaped On
tragedy. powerless to help.
Another wave rose high crested
curved downward and greedily snatch
ed the still dark form from the sands
drew it out into the seas bosom and
kept 1t.
Mortified, the painter stared down at
the beach, now conscious that the ST.
lent form had left something behind. a
small dark object whose outlines were
lost in the darkness. Then the waves
came again and again, sucking up the
sand and piling it over and about the
dark object until it was entirely hid
den from view.
With appalling suddenness the storm
vanished as If it had never been. Over
head the stars shone gently, and the
waves softly Tapped the quiet beach.
Jarvis found his motive power as II
magically restored. With leap he
was off the cot and dashing down the
stairs to the sand. There he stood
dumfounded.
To the touch of his stockinged feet
the sand was warm and dry. his
cropping fingers confirmed that fact.
The tide was rising. and almost to its
verge the sand showed no trace Of
dampness. The sea stretched level
expanse. broken here and there by DIM
ping wavelets.
'Tll be hanged if l know what to
make Of it." muttered Jarvis dazedly
"I couldn't have been dreaming. and
vet''- He looked at his watch. tits