The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-15

an Idea that the cnapldiIl hcps eAAo log without Rinaldo's knowledge. found that the papers were also writ- ten by the chaplain. Of course they were faded, some portions were miss ing. some torn; but amongst them was a sheet which actually, while Drake was in pursuit. I imagine that our friend, the chaplain, wrote the account so that he might set himself straight when Rinaldo was captured. Here is the sheet
 He opened the wallet and LOOK from it thin piece of paper covered with faded writing: as Vane had said, the paper was torn, some of It was missing. vane handled this sheet of paper as if he feared a sudden W1nd might arise and sweep it from his grasp; and Ronald ieant forward and stared at the document eagerly.
 Its no use my reading it in the original" said Vane; ''but this Is what it amounts to, translated freely-Just open that door and see if there's any one about, will you?'
 Ronald opened the door, found the companion-way clear, and returned to his seat
 .-The chaplain says that Drake sighted them off Trapani, in Sicily, that Rinaldo set all sail for the Lipari Islands, that a fog came on. and that they were therefore able to give Drake the slip. He goes on to say that he made the island at six o'clock in the evening. Now, as the luck would have 1t, there is a piece torn of the paper; and the next words are landed by cliff oyershadowing bay There's another bit torn out, confound it. And it goes on, carried all ashore safely =. two hundred paces from three trees all went aboard .. the Englishman giving chase disappointment -. treasure safe"
 Good heavensI" murmured Ron aid. drawing a long breath. "Rinaldo buried that treasure; and this is a kind of cluei"
 vane looked up and nodded. His face was flushed, his eyes were spark ling. He carefully restored the tat tered paper to the wallet, which he locked up in the safe again.
 "Yes; it's kind of clue" he said; .-and enough to work upon"
 ~But the island!' said Ronald, with suppressed excitement. "How do you know"
 This way" said Vane. ''Rinaldo was sailing eastward-east by north, to be absolutely correct. He would naturally make for the first island in his course. That was Tricania. It was the smallest of the group. and stands apart from the other islands look at the map. Now, he would naturally want to land as soon as possible, he wouldn't beat about the islands: he would strike the south west point of Tricania; he landed there. Again. naturally. he wanted to bury that treasure without loss Of time; Drake might be close an his heels On the southwest point of Tricania there is little bay; it is overshadowed by a cliff; there are three trees"
 By George," whispered Ronald.
 His breath was coming fast, his face was as flushed as Vane's. Cupid ity, the love of money for itself. was not one of Ronald's numerous weak nesses; but the man who could listen to such story as Vane's. and could view with calmness and indifference the prospect of gaining such an im- mense treasure, would be difficult to find.
 Exactly" said Vane. Somewhere in the shadow of that cliff on the shore of that bay lies hidden some- thing like a quarter of a million If money. And that's what We are go- ing for, Carew."
 Ronald took a turn up and down the saloon. and lit another cibar.
 But hold on, Vane!" he said. ''The islands belong to Italy, don't they? Do you think that the authorities, whoever they are, will allow us to go digging about for hidden treas ure?"
 ''Of course not, if they know it," said Vane. i've thought of that difficulty; and I've surmounted 1t by buying all that side of the island. I'm supposed to be going to grow some thing. to try tobacco-culture, say The authorities, when I approached them. regarded me as sort of mad Englishman, and, of course, asked me stiff price. beat 'em down a bit, for the show of the thing; but they still regard me as mad but harmless. They didn't even object to a clause I inserted in the convey ance to the effect that I should have a right to anything under the soil No doubt they thought I had miner als on my mind"
 "TsaDita.i' commented Ronald warmly. You're a business man, I can see, Vane."
 Don't know about that" said Vane modestly; ''but I thought the matter out pretty carefully Look