Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-11-01

ever met II was not long before lue
young man conceived as strong a pref
erence for her as she had conceived
for him The two rowed about some
times in the boat he had come in; but,
being q heavy ships boat, they used il
ONLY In windy weather at other times
taking a common rowboat.
1t was OH these trips that Edward
made love to Ruth and she aclsnOwl-
edged her own love for him. But he
told her that their marriage depended
upon a certain contingency. He said
he had a scheme for making n large
amount Of money. If he succeeded
there was no reason why they should
not be married at any time; if not,
there would be a life of poverty for
them together and it might be better
that they should remain separate.
To this Ruth listened without com
mont. though when Edward asked her
If she did not think it imprudent for
them to marry with nothing 70 marry
on she assented. But she was no
talker, taking in everything that was
said TO her. maintaining silence as to
her opinions.
L
arrival that ne offered the farmer the
remaining pieces Of eight If he would
permit him to build log hut on his
premises He said there were noises
in the house at night that prevented
his sleeping. Cromwell gladly gave
his consent, and Kent chose a spot in
the rear of the house and near the
smokehouse. 1t was where he had
put in the stick. Having made all ar
rangements, he cut down timber in the
forest suited to his purpose and built
his cabin. When he had finished IT
and put a cot and q chair in it-all the
furniture he needed, he said-he took
the Cromwell family into it to inspect
them ever after had a peep inside Of
It I'll after he had abandoned it.
Several weeks passed when one day
Kent told Ruth Cromwell that he had
met with a great disappointment He
also explained the mystery that had
hung about him since his arrival at
Sachem's Head. II am a younger son
of a country gentleman in England
he said. a year ago l sailed from
ton with a merchant there. On the
voyage. when of Long Island, our
ship was captured by pirates and ev-
cry one except myself was forced to
walk the plank. l pretended to a de-
sire to follow a life of piracy and
begged to be permitted 10 join the
crew. As the captain was very ig-
norant of navigation and l had made
voyage for the purpose Of studying
ii my offer was accepted. l spent
months with the pirates while they in
tercepted Spanish ships carrying mon
ey between Mexico and Spain and
afterward while they pillaged the coast
east and south of New York.
zone Of the crew, a better man than
the rest, took a fancy TO me, and when
he was wounded after a fight with an
armed merchantmen and at the point
Of death told me that he and some
comrades had buried a large quantity
Of gold and precious stones they had
plundered at Sachem's Head, on the
Connecticut coast. He gave me this
paper, on which are directions where
to find the treasure" He read:
.Sachem's Head. Third beach east
Of point Of rocks. Cove contains rock
like sugar loaf 100 yards from beach
at low tide. Apex just awash at high
tide Seventy PAGES west to pine tree
standing alone. From pine fifty PAGES
toward island to Y. L. Turn at right
angle, thirty PAGES to rock covered by
brush Face house. go twenty PAGES
due east. Dig six feet
a few days before I reached here
the pirate ship sailed into the sound
past Block island. went westward look
:ng for ships TO capture as far as New
Haven. but. hearing Of Il war vessel.
went back. While passing here at
night I let myself down into n boat.
cut loose and rowed ashore. I knew I
was near the place | wanted. but did
not know how near. You know the
rest. except the denouement.
II built my cabin over the spot where
I expected TO find the treasure, then
dug down, filing the cabin with the
earth I took out. I was doomed TO dis
appointment. found no treasure. II
we marry we shall be doomed 70 a life
If poverty"
"I love you so we'll that I prefer
life of poverty with you TO living with
out you" said Ruth.
"Tn that case / yield"
Come with me-
She led him to the smokehouse. ur-
locked the door. opened It. and they
entered In a corner was a sailors
locker. Ruth opened IL. and it was full
Of gold pieces and Jewels. Edward
looked at her in amazement.
II saw your maneuvers." she said.
land suspected your object. tun-
nelcd from the smokehouse and
reached the treasure ahead Of you.
Since our marriage depended on It,
preferred that it should be mine"
Mrs. Kent always spoke OF the for
tune ms my property"