Graham guardian., 1915-01-01
The Treasure of
Tu'penny Cay
Ii Wasn't Quite What
They Expected
BY CLARISSA MACKIE

Elsie" said Captain Charlie Bunce
as he Stumped into the house one bleak
November morning. Il believe I've got
cold on my lung. He uttered II hol-
low cough.
Hem" commented his sharp tongued
wife (which Iung?"
Captain Charlie coughed again. end
ing with an alarming Strangle that re
quired 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 therew rOared the captain at
last
Elsie ceased her efforts. A thin
smile curIed her lips. Your lungs
amt suffering none" she remarked
dryly as Src returned to her pumpkin
pies.
by all signs got to look out for
myself" he said. with dignity, when
he got his breath. Being nS there's
no one to take no interest in my
health. | can 90. and seek II balmy cli-
mate all alone"
what wild goose chase are you of
on now?" Elsie demanded sternly.
Captain Charlie bushed to his
leathery little ears, but his mouth was
obstinate.
I'm going to the sunny south" he
announced deiantly. You can come
along. too, if you want to-"
"Oh. thank you" retOrted Elsie Sar-
castlCally. 81 guess I'll stay AT homo
and not go and catch malaria and vel
low fever. | might rs well be Il wild
der woman as to be deserted Off and
on whenever you and Lem Peters take
it into your head to tit out the schooner
and take II voyage"
ME and Lem Peters has earned
many a dC.lar carrying frcightS on the
Rosy Dawn" replied Captain Charlie.
This time it's more than Il load Of p0-
tatocs or coal or oysters
Il thought maybe I'd get to the
truth of your lung trouble" said Elsie
dryly. "Wherr you off to now
Given this opening. Captain Charlie
launched forth into an enthusiastic
description of certain island among
the Florida keys-Tnpenny cay it was
called down there where buhhlrd the
traditional fountain of youth. tn" one
described 10y Ponce de Leon. and it
developed that it WAS the firm inten-
firm Of MpSSrS. Buncc and Peters to
sail the schooner Rosy Dawn down to
Tu'penny cay and fill innumerable
bottles with the precious liquid, which
was to he brought north and sold at
fabulous price to those who desired
the boon of eternal youth.
And you believe all that trashY
fHct that her pies were burning to
crisp
II certainly do" was Captain Char.
lies firm reply. 81 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
popular dreSsmaker." cut in Elsie.
Two weeks later Captain Charlie
Suiled 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
hn In ,l
vain search in quest Of fortune.
He had not told Elsie the most incred-
IDLE part of his story. She heard it
from Sadie Peters after the Rosy
Dawn had sailed toward the south
land.
Besides the fountain of youth. Tu'-
penny cay was said to be the repository
of golden treasure buried by that IA
nous pirate, Black Duffy, just before
he made his last appearance in the
sensational act Of walking the plank.
So the Indignant Elsie wrote letter
to Captain CharIie-such Il letter as
that redOu"table sailor had never be-
fore received in his adventurous life
and she sent it to Savannah. which
WAS to he the Rosy Dawn's first port
of call
Weeks PASSED and no word came to
the TWO women. although Elsie sub
Svrjhed to the Herald and read every
word of the shipping news. Christmas
came and went, and Elsie Bunce and
Sadie Peters spent 1t together. II was
not Stran%r that the two women be-
came very intimate. for it was their
mutual desire to keep II secret hidden
from their nrighbOrs in Little Bay
the secret uI their quHrrelS with their
reSpe live husbands and the fact that
they did not correspond with them.
SO long as they was bound to 60
anyway I ~'poSe | might MS well have
let Lem Z" in peace" worried Sadie
Peters one January day.
"If | didn't have great faith in
Charles S"amnmship I'd get worried"
remarked Elsie. her needles flashing
l,zziIy
"Id Z" down myself If hadn't said
what | did {" Lem" admitted Sadie
Elsie Hmnrp said nothing but now
>'.' kuittrh 81 fast and 50 inrOherrntly
iIal her woods became hopcIeSSIy tan
E.rd. which might hc II token that Cap
tain ChHr lies wife was in n state Of
mind"
January on Tu'penuy cay. Overhead
NM NITEM