Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-11-25
The Daily Story
The Treasure of u'penny Cay-By Clrrissa Mackie.
Literary Burea


November morning, Il believe I've got
a cold on my lung" He uttered hol-
! low cough.
Hem commented his sharp tongued
wife. Which lung?"
Captain Charlie coughed again. end
ing with an alarming strange that re-
quired a vigorous pounding on the
back from the stout fists OF Mrs.
Bunce. incidentally Elsie appeared TO
derive much satisfaction from this ro-
bust treatment of her little husband.
"Avast therer' reared the captain at
last.
Elsie ceased her efforts. A thin
smile curled her lips. Your lungs
amt suffering none" she remarked
dryly as she returned to her pumpkin
pies.
BY all signs 1 got to look out for
myself he said. with dignity, when
he got his breath. Being as there's
no one TO take no interest in my
health, 1 can go and seek baimy eli
mate all alone"
What wild goose chase are you or
on now?" Elsie demanded sternly.
Captain Charlie blushed to his
leatnery nttle ears, out MS MOUTH was
obstinate.
I'm going to the sunny SOUTH he
announced defiantly. You can come
along, too, if you want to-"
"Oh. thank you" retorted Elsie sar-
castically. Il guess I'll stay at home
and not so and catch malaria and yell
low fever. l might as we'll be a wild
der woman as TO be deserted off and
on whenever you and Lem Peters take
it into your head to fit out the schooner
and take a voyage"
Me and Lem Peters has earned
many a dollar carrying freights on the
Rosy Dawn" replied Captain Charlie.
This time it's more than load of po-
tatoes or coal or oysters
II thought maybe I'd get to the
truth of your lung trouble" said Elsie
dryly. Where you off TO now?"
Given this opening, Captain Charlie
launched forth into an enthusiastic
description of a certain island among
the Florida keys-Tu'penny cay it was
called down there-where dubbed the
traditional fountain of youth. the one
described by Ponce de Leon. and it
developed that it was the firm inten-
firm Of Messrs. Bunce and Peters to
sail the schooner Rosy Dawn down to
Tu'penny cay and fill innumerable
bottles with the precious liquid, which
was to be brought north and sold at n
fabulous price to those who desired
the boon of eternal youth.
And you believe all that trash?"
demanded Mrs. Bunce, ignoring the |
fact that her pies were burning to a
crisp.
Il certainly do" was Captain Char |
lies firm reply. II got so much faith
in it I'm willing TO risk $50 on the
venture and Lem Peters he's going to
do the same"
Good thing that LENS wife is q
popular dressmaker," cut in Elsie.
Two weeks later Captain Charlie
sailed away, with Lem Peters and a
negro boy as mate and crew of the
Rosy Dawn. The name of the old
schooner perhaps typifed the many
hopes cherished by her owner and
master, for since his retirement from
he sea Captain Bunce had led many a
vain search in quest of fortune.
He had not told Elsie the most incred-
IDLE part of his story. she heard IL
rom Sadie Peters after the Rosy
Dawn had sailed toward the south
and.
Besides the fountain of youth. Tu'-
Jenny cay was said TO be the repository
# golden treasure buried by that IA
nous pirate, Black Duffy. just before
lie made his last appearance in the
sensational act of walking the plank.
So the indignant Elsie wrote a letter
o Captain Charlie-such a letter as
hat redoubtable sailor had never be-
ore received in his adventurous life
nd she sent it TO Savannah, when
vas to be the Rosy Dawn's first port
f call.
Weeks passed and no word came 10
he two women, although Elsie SUBJ
cribed to the Herald and read every
Tord of the shipping news. Christmas
anne and went. and Elsie Bunce and
adie Peters spent it together. 1t was
OF strange that the two women be-
anne very intimate, for it was their
MUTUAL desire to keep n secret hidden
rom their neighbors in Little Bay
he secret of their quarrels with their
espective husbands and the fact that
ley did not correspond with them.
80 long as they was bound to 20,
nyway, / s'pose might as well have
t Lem go in peace" worried Sadie
eters one January day.
"If / didn't have great faith in =,
hairless seamanship I'd get worried :
,marked Elsie, her needles flashing |,
lZZily. :
I'D go down myself If / hadn't said
hat / did to Lem" admitted Sadie. =,
Elsie Bunce said nothing. but now !.
lie knitted so. fast and SO incohereDtIy =
at her woods became hopelessly tan a
ed, which might be token that Cap n
in Charles wife was in p state CT g
ind" g,
January on Tu'penny cay. OTerheaS -
cloudless blue sky and below snow
hite coral island Tapped by a blue