The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-01-12

of us will climb up into the cabin, and
figure it out"
They went along with me up the
ladder as though they were prisoners,
casting the last lingering glances be-
low, where the weird flame of the
candle flickered yellow, the blows of
the cleaver echoing sharply as they
clustered about the stove, welcoming
the warmth of it. It had been frigid
below decks, although we had been
scarcely conscious of It in our excite
ment. But now we stood shivering.
gazing into each others faces and
actually afraid to talk lest the whole
occurrence should prove dream from
which a chance word might awaken
us. Three million pesos-here, actu-
ally here; almost within reach Of our
hands; they we're digging for them
Just below; even then, in the silence,
we could hear the faint echo of blows
being struck against the ice. Three
million pesos!-and it was all ours,
our very own-to divide, to spend, to
do with exactly as we pleased. We
had dreamed about all this before, on
the decks of the ill-fated Sea Queen,
but now we sought to grasp it as an
actual existing fact, and our minds
seemed paralyzed by the knowledge.
| even forgot that Doris was present
until she touched me gently on the
shoulder, and l looked down into her
questioning eyes.
DO you not know what we have
just discovered below?" / asked, still
tingling to the marvel Of it. The
treasure, the Spanish treasured"
"Oh, yes" butNthe soft voice seemed
tinged with sadness. "Yet it does not
greatly interest me. Money seems so
little here, so utterly valueless."
The simple words, the tone of their
utterance brought me to myself as
though | had received an electric
shock. . She was still smiling, yet all
at once | noticed how white her face
was, how dark the shadows beneath
her eyes. The lure Of the gold van
ished from my mind, as If some wiz
ards wand had waved it away. /
thought of the treacherous sea with
out, the life and death struggle before
us, those dreary leagues separating us
from hope My hands clasped hers, |
the expression of love in my eyes
her face instantly
That is SO much better, Jack" she
said tenderly. Il knew it was only |
the madness Of moment which |
you to forget. Come out on
deck with me until you lose all mem
ory of it-until bring you back to
real life again"
81 do not need it, sweetheart" and |
bent low, looking into her eyes THE
fever has left my blood. hardly
know how It ever laid such hold upon
me, but the thought of all that wealth
below drove me as mad as the others.
You see how much need you"
"Oh, no; YOU would have recovered
without my help, although it might
have required more time to complete
i cure But fear there is no hope
'or the men,
Il certainly shall not spare you to
to them"
She laughed, her happiness Of dispo
iltion returning
"That would be useless they are Of
lifferent stamp. The fever for sudden
wealth is in the blood of all Of us.
lee how excited Celeste is Perhaps
had ever experienced poverty |
night be crazed also. But it is so
oolish here--here." and she swept
Ier hands about III comprehensive ges-
ure when we know It can be ours
Inly for day or at most a week..
But we have not given up hope" /
Irotested. why should we? The
)onna Isabel seems stanch beneath
s."
Even IN case Of that miracle want