Jackson County journal., 1913-10-17


'"I must ho and get ready to go t
Master Ficklin's in the town" sh,
said softly. '.You know the house"
nodded
| Come to me there tomorrow am
we will talk further about the proi
ect.''
When we broached the subject t,
Master Ficklin the next day at hi,
house, he would not hear of it. H,
examined the parchment with interest
but poohpoohed the tale because. for
sooth, it had no legal backing and wa.
couched in the phraseoiogy of the ses
rather than in the dry verbiage of the
law. He pointed out that he had only
succeeded in saving this last $4,000 OF
my lady's fortune because he had skill
Iully concealed its existence from Sill
Geofrey. He asked pertinently what
would happen to her when all was
gone and she had found no treasure. thf
very existence OF which he affected tc
disbelieve
A very hard headed, practical rerson
was Master F'icklin. l had stern ideas
OF duty, too. and Master Ficklin's
good sense ever appealed to me. Yet
when did mere good sense ever apneal
TO woman against her wish? NV
lady had the gambling instinct. tool
wonder she did not have it stronger.
since twas in her blood land she
would fain challenge fortune.
The end of it was she made over her
t-:'ooO to ne without requiring me to
give any bond which Master Flick
lin would fain have insisted upon
ana which would have been embarros-
sing indeed for me- for my bond would
nave been my own capital, which /
was going to embark in the ENTERPRISE
IN secret. | had saved up that money
with no one knows what foolish
dreams. | realized those dreams would
come to naught. l had no one denend-
ent upon me. Brother or sister never
enjoyed. and father and mother were
both dead. What need had I for
money? Let her have it whose need
was great and whose desire was great,
er. | might have bargained for share
OF the treasure did we find any. but |
scorned to do it. l would give all and
expect nothing for it,
At any rate, not being in any hurry.
although | was frantically urged by
my lady, who could scarcely possess
her soul in patience before she began
hef treasure hunting, | looked about
d good deal in order to get just what
wanted. Finally from merchant of
plymouth | purchased stout little
snip of three hundred and fifty tons
burden called the Rose of Devon.
Wh1ch mad been engaged in the West
indian and the American colonial
trade.
lt Wasemy first design to have gone
as master of her myself, and nv ladv
would fain have had it so, but after
'eHectlOn | decided it were better TO
nave much older man than I to com
nand SO long as she went as a mas
'enger, and SO | engaged a worthy
seaman, one Samuel Matthews. cd
enough to be my father, with whom !
1ad often sailed; in fact, the man
lnder whom l made my first cruise.
uid engage myself as mate, however. |
IND | even tried in vain to induce
Master Ficklin and his sister To 90 |
With u.s.
1t seemed proper in venturing among
stands filled according to common re-
'orC with savage peoples to provide
or nght1ng. Therefore, after consulting
With Captain Matthews, whom | fullv
cqualnted with the entire project in
IL It's details, | shipped a crew of
nlrty men and l provided in the euuip-
aent plenty of muskets, pistols and
utlasses, with the necessary powder
nd ball, and in addition a small brass
annon which l mounted on the fore
asIle. Nor did our cargo lack means
OF friendly trading and barter should
uch be found practicable
Naturally the unusualness of these
reparatlons attracted attention. and
aptaln Matthews and l were over
'helmed with applications from ad-
ehturous men who desired to make
le voyage, surmising that it was after
'easure of some sort.
LETT the work of enga ging the crew
, captain Matthews. He had as boat.
VAIN seaman named Pimball. in
nom he placed great confidence. He
1as Vlllainous looking man with a
|hlte scar running from his left eve
cross MS cheek. caused by a cut he
du received in some FIGHT and +bo |
lie OF white showing against the .
fonzed, weather beaten cheek he
ported did not improve his appear-
nee. But that he was a prime sea
ian was evident. Captain Matthews
eemed to have great confidence in him
anticipate, when we boarded the i.
up l nked the crew not much hettor