The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-15
THE FARMER: MARCH 15, 1911

LII IL ] 'em, and there'd be ructions. You know what the lady said when the doctor told her she wanted changer"
 "No!' shouted one of the sailors, while the rest laughed with anticipa- ton.
 S.s.ithers' eyes twinkled, as he said, with an irresistible gravity:
 'Nonsense,' says she, T get all the change I want; don't I go over my husbands pockets every night when he's asleep.'"
 This was greeted with a roar of laughter, amidst which Smithers re- marked:
 '"The band will now play The Old Friends at Home'"; and to Ronald's s Burprise-for he had no idea that Smithers added music to his other ac- complishments the nlany-slded Cockney took out g. penny whistle and to the delight of his audience, played the air he announced; and played it by no means badly.
 No; it was difficult to realise that this happy, careless crew were bound on a voyage with so tremendous an object.
 In accordance with Vane's plan, the Hawk cruised about in leisurely fashion, putting in at various ports, collecting provisions; and Vane and Ronald, to emphasize the assumption that they had no particular object in view, made little excursions inland. But, though they were apparently en- toying themselves, they were both of them inwardly consumed by impa- tience; and Ronald's heart leapt when, one day, Vane said quietly, but with sudden flush and a flash of his eyes:
 "We make for the islands to- night
 They had fair wind. but the voy- age seemed long to both of them, and, when they sighted the little spot of land lying off the northwest of Sicily, Ronald's blood ran warm. and for a moment he could not speak to vane, who stood by his side, with his arms folded, and his eyes fixed on the coast-line towards wnaSh they were flying. They ancnored in the bay, and thea two men went ashore on the captains gig.
 It was a lovely morning. and Rom ald looked round him with an admi- ration which, for a time. rendered him speeches..
 "Why, it's an earthly paradise!" he said. Treasure or no treasure, a man could spend his life happily here."
 s'In the summer-yes," said Vane. with a warning look about him; but no one was near them, and he ad- ded. in a whisper, You see the cliff? And the trees are there. We are standing within a hundred yards of a quarter of a million of money.
 "Don't let's think of it," said Rom ald rather thickly.
 "No," assented Vane; there's some work to do before we begin ser ious business. What do you think about that little rise as a site for the chalet? It faces west, and we can see any vessel that may approach. We'll begin to stick it up at once."
 When will you tell the men?' asked Ronald.
 'Not until the moment we are go- ing to start operations" replied Vane gravely.
 Are we the only people on the isl- and?" asked Ronald rather anxious ly.
 "Oh. yes!" said vane. Practically, we are monarchs of all we survey at any rate, there is no one to over- look us; and, if we were observed, we could put anybody off the scent by some excuse. We are here to grow tobacco, you know, and may be try ing the soil for other things. And we'd better do our digging at night, covering up our tracks as we go."
 The men were told that Vane had purchased a portion of the island, and was going to make 1t kind of place of call. They were delighted at the prospect of anchoring off such a charming spot. and they got the port able chalet safely ashore, and at once set to work putting it together. Furniture was brought from the yacht, and in a couple of days time Vane and Ronald were comfortably established in the picturesque little house. The schooner was anchored in the blight of the bay, where she would be out of sight of any vessels, excepting those sailing close inland.
 Vane and Ronald superintended these operations in a leisurely way, and gave a picnic air to the proceed ings by sailing and fishing in the bay, or strolling about the island with their guns. Smithers was installed at the chalet as cook and major-do- mo; and evidently regarded the situ-