Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-16

On every side stretched the lI,o,, sal
/ ocean. '''ess
This must be the island. bosso ..,,
Maturin as he beached the bos, 'as
the scrap Of sand under tbe tres w :.
! the island. q
| I'VE can soon find out. sfa.,..
said Dick as he threw hImsags In
under the shade Of the palms and -.
ed while the man prepared an 49,
tiZing meal. @ppe
By the time they had concluded -.
dinner the tide had begun TO fail r..
tie by little a shelving. pebblv ~
was uncovered until at last the 80
Ing waters barred the sandy botto,. ],
the cove Finally the tide won, ~ :.
beyond the entrance and at ebb lan,.s
the teeth Of the coral reef.
Now" exclaimed Dick WIZ
been impatiently waiting for this -
meDt to arrive.
de drew on pair Of hin boot. :,
rubber. provided himself with nie, -
shovel. and. under the wondering -.
amused gaze Of the black. Dick NJ,
more went to seek the Bubble a, ~.
he had come in search.
He carefully made the raor,-.s
measurements, and when he baiio-as
he had located the exact spot indicates
on the little map which Jim Hard bsd
placed in his hand at the last nome,.
Dick thrust his shovel in the Wet s,ns
and worked steadily.
Suddenly the blade of the sbor,,
clinked against metal.
In q few seconds he had uneova,o5
the rusty link of a ships anchor chain
1t gave him a clew, and he changes
the direction of his delving In ba,s
an hour he had exposed three feet q.
chain, the shank and one fiuke OF .
small anchor. In the mass Of links
where the chain caught the shank was
embedded large quantity of shell6sh
that was all.
Or was it all?
Dick tore at the incrusted mass and
finally dislodged a small iron boy
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 bis
employer as he threw himself down
on the island to rest. Z
''Massa Boss no find treasurer hs ,
asked pityingly.
GO and seer' replied Dick terselr,
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
blow from his shovel and found within I
it a smaller box of coral. This coral l
box when opened disclosed something 4
hard and round wrapped in oiled silk.
For a long time Dick sat there gaz L
ing at the treasure which lay in his Il
palm.
The Bubble was indeed a fact II II
was his, Jim Hard had spoken truly
and Jim's mother would live in luxury II
the rest of her days. Dick hid the
great round diamond. which gave back
a myriad colored lights. and fell to
of Pauline When she bad
so distrusted him how could be go
back and offer her his riches? IL she
had only proved herself to be the pure
gold he had believed her TO be, for be
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
u sfrhS II
money and went TO the best hotel.
He was passing through the lobby
which was quite deserted at this hout
If the day. when he heard a sudden
'ush of light feet and the sound OF
sweet voice calling his name.
Dick. oh, Dick. You are safe.
1t was Pauline. and behind came her
ather. looking anxious and then re-
ieved as he caught Dicks hand in Dis
'wn and wrung it.
MY dear boy" said Mr.. Fame hast
y. this girl fell TO worrying ABOUT
-ou and your harebrained expedition.
nd she gave me no peace until
rought her down here TO try TO a's,
uade you from carrying ii out
eIieve she has something TO say -
GU. I'll wait outside here for YOU
% he pushed them into deserted NJ
lie parlor.
Inside the room Dick faced his SWEEP
cart. Tears were in Paulines lovely
yes.
"Oh, Dick, can you forgive me" sue
81 don't care now p0O,
on are so long as you are safe' AH'
want my ring back
Dick smiled happily and tooA w
ITO his arms. When the ring was On
err finger once more he asked ne'
"You haven't inquired concernns
lie success OF my expedition. swee'
cart
But you haven't been" she cried ~
~
For answer he brought out the sa'
g and put it in her pink palm
But Dick was happier in the kheS
Ice that his love was true. arter -
an he possibly could have been W,
as the owner Of the great o"V
almond.
A ARlC1Q