The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-01-18
Old Man Cooper s !
Secret Treasure

ehSl ne was Delng followed,
and turned to confront wizened old
man.
DO you wish to speak to me, sir?"
You look hungry" said the old
man. Perhaps a steak and potatoes"
suggested the old man. Your voice
10 like his, and your laugh"
"All right. Epicurus," said Joe,
I'm certainly agreeable, but whose
voice and laugh is like mine? 1
thought l was too hungry to have a
recognizable voice and my laugh
must be sadly warped"
The old man said little more, but
watched with apparent rapture Jo-
seph's feat OF placing within him two
big steaks. Then said the old man:
would you mind telling me some
thing about yourself?"
Sure" said Joe, Its easy enough.
Sister and l were left orphans years
ago. An old lady took charge of
Mamie. I went to Australia, cleared
up about $4,000; got homesick. The
ship was wrecked, and my pile is
somewhere on the bottom of the Pa
cinc. l landed broke; can't find any
trace OF Mamie-and. SO there you
are"
You are the person l want" said
the old man. you can maka an
other $4,000 tonight in half an hour.
MY name 10 Carleton Crane. am
conndential man for Cornelius Coon.
or. He 10 dying. All that keeps him
alive Is that he doesn't want to die
until he has revealed . secret. Five
yesrs ago he Quarreled with his son
Tristan. The latter had married
against his fathers wishes.
During the travels Of Corneliust 4
Cooper. my employer. he obtained in.
formation Of a hidden treasure. He
found it-a marvellous collection of
Jewels. saw them when he re.
turned. Where he has hidden them
no one knows but himself He has
forgiven Tristan, but Tristan has dis
appeared. II the old man dies before
Tristan turns up. the secret dies with
him. Your voice and laugh are very
like Tristan Cooper's."
Joe Batchford looked at the old
man, comprehending.
1T is who should ask forgiveness,
father"
The sightless eyes of Cornelius
Cooper were turned on Joseph Batch |
ford. you are not my son, instinct |
tells me-" he said "This is a scheme
of old Crane"
You're right" said Joe; the fact |
is, I'm in hard lines, but if succeed. |
ed In getting that secret treasure of |
yours l intended to give the old !
schemer the go-by, look up your son.
and l know he would make it right.
I'm honest, just in hard luck that's
ALL"
Inc old man for some time re.
manned in thought. Somehow, I be-
lieve you," he said your voice has
an honest ring it is much like the
voice OF Tristan. Far better, at any
rate, for you to know the secret than
mat Old Migrate. Look under the mat
Iress; take that envelope it directs
you to where I have hidden the Jew.
eis-trJ and find Tristan-be a good
honest boy-it is always better
and"
The old mans voice sunk, his head
urned over on the pillow, and he had
zone to the bourne beyond.
Outside Carleton Crane awaited.
Have you got it?" he asked, fever
SHY.
You bet" said Joseph Batchford.
and I'm going to keep it. It's Sc
ret and he left Carleton Crane
tanding dumfounded
The envelope contained these in
-'@Tendril house, cellar known as
lonks, fourth flagstone to right.
open. Ladder Is feet. Passage. End
u passage iron doo., spring lock- Go
lown Is feet. Iron chest Low tide
Try, high tide full" '''~
Batchford went at low tide. The
hidden gems were his. He advertised
or the whereabouts of Tristan Coop
#. 1t was long before he received
my tidings, but one day a man an
himself: 81 am Tristan
cooper; for long have been isolated;
confined to bed, under the care of my
wife, in a remote mining camp l
leard of your advertisement by acct
lent Why have you sought my
.,.
Batchford told him the story in full
I promised your father | would do
I'll possible to find you"
You must share with me, Batch
ord" said Cooper, and, another
hing: Your name-Batchford-
who nursed me back to life,
Ter name was Batchford Mamie
3atchford. Did you ever know of one
,uch?' t
Ibid II" shouted Joe. why, man,
where is she?'
Right here" responded a voice
rom the doorway. ."Oh, Joe, I