Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-05-25

I
! hurriedly: 1.-THE fever-the fever-his
mother is dying Of the fever. and he
Graves that one Of the learned senors
will return and cure with the bitter
root"
At q call from within the hotel the
black man picked up his tray and de-
parted, while the engineers stared at
! each other with uncertain eyes.
| Burton's lean jaws had snapped shut
1 at the word fever" His dark eyes
were fixed on the form OF the wild
| Indian, now standing dejectedly in the
hot sun.
He said fever" remarked Stevens,
| with a sickly smile. 81 shouldn't
think they would allow the fellow
around. you know"
| His mothers dying" said Lester
coldly.
| There was an uncomfortable pause
Suddenly Burton leaped to his feet
and disappeared inside When his
footsteps had ceased Stevens laughed
his little cackling utterance of amuse-
ment.
by Jove. but Burton has certainly
got 'em bad, I suppose he'll try to
drown that bad impression with a
1 quart or two"
As If by mutual consent the group
| of men. dissolved. and only Lester was
left. He seemed to be waiting for
some one, and while he waited he
| pulled out a little pocket medicine
case, satisfied himself that there was
plenty of quinine and other necessary
remedies, went into the bar for dask
of whisky and waited.
All at once Burton appeared in the
doorway, a straw covered bag in one
hand. On his head was a pith helmet.
His eyes met Testers straightly, con-
! fidently.
I'm going" he said shortly.
az knew It," nodded Lester. 81 was
waiting for you because I'm going too.
1 haven't forgotten that time when, as
we were surveying in the Adirondacks
and Leets broke his leg. you carried
him for miles. oh. well, II you object
to reimbursement
'Tts his mother, you know" ex-
planned Burton.
ST understand" said the other gen.
tly. "Shall we startY'
Ready. I've got a water bottle In
my bag"
They went down into the road and
signifled to the Indian that they would
accompany him. The look of Joy that
| overspread his face moved the white
men strangely.
As they followed his impetuous lead
the manager of the hotel ran down to
intercept their journey and to say that
he regretted that he could not accom-
1 hafr
fever district. II he did he would lose
all his patronage, and as they knew
they were taking a risk
"Pack our things and hold In readi-
ness for orders" said Lester as they
moved on. "As IL the fever were not
already among u.s." he added.
The Indian moved ahead at a slow
trot, and the Americans followed him
at a moderate pace until at last the
outer walls of the jungle closed be-
hind them. Here they woundNalong a
sinuous trail overhung with creepers
that dropped from the tall trees.
There was rank. damp smell of
tropical growth and the occasional
flash of a bright hued parrakeet or
the gorgeous raiment of flower.
Hours passed. They stopped for
rest and a luncheon from Burton's
magic basket, but the Indian waved
aside all food. but occasionally he
drank from a water bottle that hung
from his waist
Just as the sun was setting and the
forest was all but STEPPED in twilight
they came to its end. Before them
stretched white curve of shell
en- n hax
Near them was a small matched hut.
As they paused. looking at the lone
" scene glorified by the gold and rose
Of the setting sun. the Indian dropped
to his knees and made demonstrations
of gratitude.
Lester pointed to the hut, and the
Indian led the way. 1t was empty.
but the man smiled hopefully in their
astonished faces and pulled from his
ragged garments n bit of paper.
The Americans scanned IL carelessly
and then with interest. There was a
rough peuciled map of the little bay
and curving beach. and written in
English was a terse command:
an a straight line thirty feet south
west of the big mahogany. twelve
feet north of the dead catalpa. Dig"
They did not stop to question the
Indian where he had found the pen
ciled map which he had inteiligently
taken to the white men for transla-
ton. He had understood the map and
it's suggestion. They found shovels
and large turtle shells. and the three
dug with a will. and they found some
thing in a small oaken keg sunk In the
sand
II # was pirate treasure there was
no clew. There was enough for three.
and the gold was evenly divided
among them-Sufficient to turn the In
dams brain and to make the white
men a comfortable nest egg. The next
morning they tramped back across the
! trail burdened with treasure. but IN
burdened by fear.
Burton tossed a gold piece in the air.
This Is for Luiz. he is such a splen-
did liar" he said carelessly.
CHOW about the fear?" asked Lester.