The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1912-04-30

| supplied with proper fertilizers. But
| Lon Barrett did not own a horse. and
not being overindustrous himself was
unable to find a neighbor willing to
risk blowing the land and take his
pay in precariOus future crops
Sam Philbin pondered on all these
things before he lifted crafty eyes to
Ions innocent countenance.
"What'd Captain Kidd bury his stuff
away up in your pasture fOr?" he
asked.
Search me-" responded Lon cheer
fully "All I know is that an old l1-
dian gave me little map signed Wi's
| Captain Kids name showing that
| he'd planted an ironbOund chest of
gold and silver coins in about the mid
die of my south pasture. l don't mind
| telling you. Sam, that I'm going to
| dig for it, only please don't tell any
body else
Don't you worry about me-" retort-
ed Sam. with a grim smile. Il wish
you luck. Lou! When you find it let
me know and I'll treat We to some hard
| cideri''
Course I'll let you know first one"
promised Lon as ne left the store with
| his implements over his shoulder.
81 don't mind turning a penny or
| two, myself" pondered Sam Philbin,
when he was alone once more, land,
moreover, l don't mind helping Lon
Barrett along in the slickest bit of
business he ever undertook! He de-
serves to be helped, only shan't let
him know I'm in on the business JUST
YETI
Thereafter Mr.. Philbin might have
been seen in secret conclaye with one
and another of the Little River men.
He always held these interviews with
one at a time, and when the brief con-
versation was concluded there usually
followed a brisk sale of shovels and
pickaxes.
After that, in the daytime, Alonzo
Barrett could have been observed
digging industriously in his south pas
ture, but at midnight, when AlonZo
was supposed to be fast asleep, other
forms bent over upturned earth in the
Barrett pasture, other hands grubbed
greedily in the dry soil, and when
morning came there would be various
well spaded portions of the pasture to
greet AlonZo's twinkling eyes.
But he said nothing and appeared not
to notice it, but gradually it came to
pass that sundry Of his neighbors look
al Oh Ia
evade a greeting when they met him,
but Alonzo always had a CHEEKY word
for each one-just as if he didn't know
that they were proWling around his
south pasture at night digging, digging
for the pirate gold supposed to be hid
den there.
OF course Sam Philbin had told the
secret-Alonzo could hardly expect
otherwise
Sam Philbin enjoyed an increase of
business. 1t seemed that the midnight
digging enhanced the appetites OF the
treasure seekers, and it was noticeable
that the store sales increased in pro-
portion.
That story of pirate treasure was a
good thing all around. 1t helped Phil
bins business. 1t drew the clandestine
diggers away from the idle gossip of
the village stores, and incidentally
portion of the large south pasture had
very thorough digging over.
But there was no report of the find
ing of any treasure therein
After three weeks diligent work the
pasture presented a changed appear
ance, for one-third of the extent was
perforated and punctuated with holes
left untitled and mounds of dirt.
About this time Alonzo's neighbors
began to look upon him more boldly
and with distinct dislike in their
glances. incidentally they ceased their
nightly digging for treasure, and they
began to harbor dark suspicious that
there never had been any treasure
there.
The story of the Indian and Captain
Kidd's ancient map, which had been
carefully transmitted to one and an
other by the discreet" Samuel Phil
bin, was now believed to be Il hoax, but
eAACy daI GU hOC OpcuIy AlOlZO VI
trickery, for he had not breathed a
word of his quest to one of them.
At Sam Philbin they openly glow,
cred, while that successful merchant
smiled secretively and ordered another
consignment Of shovels and pickaxes.
One morning when the April sun lay
warm on the upturned sod of the south
pasture Alonzo Barrett went into the
store.
II guess I'll have to have a half a
dozen bags of that best fertilizer of
yours, SAM" he remarked carelessly
want to know?" murmured Sam,
with sly wink Of his left eye Guess
you're going to have a truck garden,
eh?"
We'll, it's this way" explained Alon-
20 innocently. you see, dug for that
there pirate gold and never come nigh
it; so, as I'd spaded up the ground
pretty well thinks l. I'll jest put in
4