The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-18
(Continued.l

me moon gets ABOVE the iiiii tActS.
Good-byei"
He did not give her time to for
bid him; and she stood with the
books pressed to her bosom, and
the slope. When he had gone. she
sank down again and opened one of
the novels: but. before she had read
n page, she shut the book, and, clasp
crimsoning sky. A sense of loneli-
ness, of loss, crept over her, and fol-
lowing il, a warm thrill Of pleasure, as
she thought that he would be there
again ato-morrow.
III her conscience whispered a dis
approval, 1t was but a faint one and
quickly dispelled; for had not this
Robert Carew, with the pleasant
voice and the clear, masterful, yet
kindly eyes, said that he would come
for her decision and abide by it, and
that, II she decided that he might be
her friend and come to the island, he
would make himself known to her
fatherf Cara's knowledge of the
world was confined to that which she
had cleaned from her one visit TO
Thorden Hall and the books Evelyn
Desborough had lent her. She had
no mother, no elder sister, no one to
guide her.
Ronald, as he rowed to Tricania.
thought Of her unprotected state; but
he had no cause for self-reproach. He
loved her, wanted her love, the heart
as well as the sweet body Of her; and
ne was acting with a desire to protect
her against the periis with which, 1t
seemed to him, her life was sur
rounded
After dinner that night Vane lock-
ed the door and talked of the treas
ure-
I've decided not to tell the men.
after ALL" he said. "fve said i
could trust them, and ! still think
could; but I've come to the conelu-
sion that it's too risky. They shall
have their share of course. And, af-
ter all, we shan't need them. I've got
an idea that Rinaldo confided in only
two or three, just as many as, and
no more than. he required to disem-
bark and bury the treasure: and
haven't much doubt that he shot and
buried all of them, excepting, of
course, the chaplain. Even Rinaldo
ho q
priest Now. there are yourself.
Shanks. myself and. If you've no OBJ
lection. Wen count your man Smith
ers Ia I'm inclined to trust him."
Ronald nodded.
.Td trust him to dig 1t up alone"
he said quietly.
yane nodded.
Specie, jewels. and the kind IT
weighs heavily but packs closely. We
four would be equal to getting it down
to q boat There is dark night eight
days hence. Two days before, Well
send the yacht with letters or some
other. excuse to Naples. with the mate
in command; Wen get the treasure"
he had thought of it so much that
familiarity, though it had not bred
contempt, enabled him to speak of it
as easily as il he were talking of
coals-"and stow it on board the
boat, cover it over with tarpaulin,
and take 1t aboard the yacht either
early In the morning or in the even
ing when the men are in the fo'c's'le.
We can say that 1t is shells, geologi-
cal specimens; there will not be any
difficulty in accounting for it plausi-
bly,"
Ronald nodded.
And you will sail at once?" he
said;~ and Vane was SO absorbed in
his plans that he did not see the
sudden lack of enthusiasm in Ronald'i
voice and manner; he did not guess
a still greater treasure in a neighbour
ing island.
"At once, directly the stuff is or
board" replied yane promptly. WED
better make for London. 1 shall Of
fer the treasure boldly to the Govern
rnent, and tell them where we got it
Why not? It's any mans property
II they like to charge us a royalty
or whatever they call ii, let 'em de
so; but i don't think they WILL
Ronald approved this open course
with all his faults, he had always
been perfectly straight.
what will you do with your
share?" asked Vane. after a pause
and with a laugh of suppressed ex
ultation. .tI've often wondered wha
j shall do with mine.''
"you are well tiled in already" sais
Ronald st know what shall do.
think I've told you that we are poo
II mean my family. I'm going Z
pay of the mortgages that have beer
crushing my governor and making hi
life a burden; I'm going to clear tn
estate, settle a decent sum on Evely1
that's my sister. God bless her-ant
"
He paused, and Vane smiled.
you'll want some for yourself
Cnrews youth marry. eh?" Ronald
face grew red under its tan; an,
Napa .saeinr that he had trodden oil