The Washington herald., 1911-08-06

target to fire bricks at OF course said
Sam So ] took it home After supper
thought I'd have look at it. and then
found this paper inside"
Johnny bent forward, and eagerly examined
What does it say?" he asked, interestedly
"It's a diagram" explained Hugh "You
see here at the top, it has written the name
Of Mr.. Palmer, who sold the property to Mr..
Bumpson."
"Oh," exclaimed Johnny, disappointedly,
''even if we did find ANYTHING it wouldn't
belong to us! It's Mr.. Palmer's."
80 it would be, if he were alive" admit
ted Hugh, noticing the changed expression
stepfather told me he went to California for
worse and died"
That's too bad!" said Johnny, .sympa:
thetically. But hasn't he any relatives? l
know if anything was found it would belong
to them, but STILL" he added, Frightening
up, 1--WE ought to be rewarded handsomely
Ell, Hugh?"
"Of course" assented the latter. THAT
is what l am figuring on, Now let me show
you how this diagram works"
1t was a simple affair, rude drawing rep
resenting rock, while underneath were the
following words:
"Jumples Rock, 30 feet to the north, 5 feet
to the west. $4,000 in gold"
"But won't Mr.. Bumpson chase US away"
asked Johnny.
seemed in a particularly good humor. wen
dig about this time in the evening. The
barns between the rock and the house, and
when we get through for the night we'n cover
it over with boards and dirt"
AS he spoke, he jumped down from his
in which they agreed that on the morrow
they would meet and begin the search, they
parted, and repaired to their respective
homes each feeling strangely excited and ex-
ultant.
1t is not to be wondered at that during the
interval Of time which elapsed between their
meeting and the hour set to begin digging for
buried treasures they were unable to put
their minds on anything else, and as the
next day gradually drew towards evening they
were indeed glad.
1t was seven o'clock when Johnny, with
pick-ax borrowed from his fathers Toulouse,
stealthlly made his way towards the Bump
son barn. Hugh, as before, was waiting for
him, armed with shovel.
where is Sam Jackson?" asked Johnny,
as soon as they had put some distance be-
tween themselves and the barn.
=, you needn't worry about Sam" replied
Hugh. He won't bother us. He goes to
supper at this hour, and well have plenty
of time to dig before he comes back Besides,
he's so short sighted he can't see more than
four or five yards in front of him."
AS soon as they arrived at the rock, which
was on one edge of the farm, Hugh, who had
brought a yardstick- with him, measured off
the distance, and they fell to work without
loss of time.
The pick-ax was welded by Hugh, while
Johnny shoveled away the loose earth Never
had the two youths worked so hard, and as
the excavation grew deeper so their feelings
grew more excited, and their nerves began
to tngle with ndescribable sensations of hope
and doubt.
Much to their regret, they were obliged to
stop digging when the hole was only foot
and half deep.
1t is needless to describe the next two even
ings' work. 1t is sufficient to say that on
the fourth night the pit was quite six feet
deep, and still they had found no treasure
Il declare" said the disappointed Johnny
as he rested from his labors, IL don't believe
that anything was buried at ali 1t must be
hoax"
Maybe we didn't find the right placer"
suggested Hugh.
"Oh, yes, we did" rejoined johnny, who
was almost ready. to cry with yexstion. 81
think we've made a couple Of big fools Of
ourselves! Mr.. Palmer wouldn't have been
stupid enough to put paper like that in the
barn"
"Well, then, if he didr't, who did, I'd like
to know% retorted Hugh, whose disappoin.-
ment was fast putting him IN bad frame Of
mind Everybody knoss that be never Isut