Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-09-04

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rim. He did not tell Maturin about the
diamond. He merely told him that he
was going to the c%ocoanut island to
search for hidden treasure" and Ma
turin had laughed good naturally and
told him that plenty white mans like
fun that away, subj
But Maturin was ready to set out in
his sturdy little boat. and, with a plen-
tiful supply of provisions and water,
they sailed among the green islands,
set like jewels in the deep blue waters,
until on the second morning after their
departure they came upon the group of
cocoanut palms, apparently rising out
of the sea.
There was no other island in sight.
On every side stretched the limitless
ocean.
This must be the island. boss said
Maturin as he beached the boat upon
the scrap of sand under the trees of
the island.
I'VE can soon find out, Maturin."
said Dick as he threw himself down
under the shade of the palms and wait
ed while the man prepared an appe-
-.
tizing meal.
By the time they had concluded their
dinner the tide had begun to fall. Lit
tie by little a shelving. pebbly beach
was uncovered until at last the reced-
ing waters b4 :ed the sandy bottom of
the owe. Finally the tide went out
beyond the entrance and at ebb tapped
the teeth of the coral reef.
"Nowi' exclaimed Dick. who had
been impatiently waiting for this mo-
ment to arrive.
He drew on a pair of hip boots of
rubber. provided himself with pick and
shovel. and. under the wondering, half
amused gaze of the black. Dick Del
more went to seek the Bubble of which
he had come In search.
He carefully made the required
measurements. and when he believed
he had located the exact spot indicated
on the little map which Jim Hard had
placed in his hand at the last ome
Dick thrust his shovel in the wet sand
and worked steadily.
Suddenly the blade of the shovel
clinked against metal.
In a few seconds he had uncovered
the rusty link of a ships anchor chain.
1t gave him a clew, and he changed
the direction Of his delving. In half
al hour he had exposed three feet of
chain. the shank and one 1uke of a
small anchor. In the mass of links
where the chain caught the shank was
embedded a large quantity of shell6sh
that was all.
Or was it all?
Dick tore at the incrusted mass and
finally dislodged a small iron box,
which he promptly dropped into his
pocket. Then he flung aside the chain
and anchor, picked up his pick and
shovel and left the cove
Maturin was nodding drowsily, and
he smiled commiseratingly upon his
employer as he threw himself down
on the isiand-t0 Eestr-
"Massa Boss no find treasurer he
asked pityingly.
Go and seei' replied Dick tersely,
for he wanted a moment alone with
the iron box.
Dick Delmore returned to the shade
of the palms, pulled the iron box from
his pocket, broke its rusty lock with a
blow from his shovel and found within
1t a smaller box of coral. This coral
box when opened disclosed something
hard and round wrapped in oiled silk.
For a long time Dick sat there gaz-
ing at the treasure which lay in his
palm.
The Bubble was indeed a fact. 1t
was hisl Jim Hard had spoken truly
and Jim's mother would live in luxury
the rest of her days. Dick hid the
great round diamond. which gave back
a myriad colored lights, and fell to
thinking of Pauline. When she had
sos distrusted him how could he go
back and offer her his riches? If she
had only proved herself to be the pure
| gold he had believed her to be, for he
still loved her.
So Dick Delmore was not entirely
happy as Maturin sailed him back to
Porto Rico and the city of San Juan.
When they reached the city he dismiss
ed Maturin with a substantial sun of
money and went to the best hotel.
He was passing through the lobby,
which was quite deserted at this hour
Of the day, when be heard a sudden
rush of light feet and the sound Of a
sweet voice calling his name.
"Dick, oh, Dick. You are safe!"
It was Pauline, and behind came her
father, looking anxious and then re-
lieved as he caught Dicks hand in his
own and wrung it.
my dear boy" said Mr.. Fame hasti-
~, this girl fell to worrying about
you and your harebrained expeditions,
and she gave me no peace until L
brought her down here to try to dis
suade you from carrying 1t out. IL
believe she has something to say to
you. I'll wait outside here for your
ca ho puchad tharn into q docorfo1 ~