The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-01
bered that I'd forgotten a lunch. What
would you suggest, old chap?"

WSeAo -oo odecCSts oto ShaPs
| Dick was staggered for moment.
THE company isn't in working order
yet" he began slowly. You see. the
Idea is only half formed I didn't sup
pose that | should find client imme-
diately but-what do you say to a
hunt for buried treasurer" he added
as his eyes fell upon the evening pa
when the oysters had been brought.
Its Just the time of year for a cruise
in southern waters. Form a little
party, and I'll come to you with some
charts that Sir William de Morgan or
one Of those pirate chaps left. can
get one done by that man who makes
fake family trees for the recently ar
rived. I've seen some Of his work-so
have you If you only knew it-and it
only lacks the trade mark to be the
real goods. Well have to pretend that
1t is real. but there will be the fun of
pretending and there will at least be a
pleasant cruise and something to talk
about"
81 say, like that" cried Clavering.
1--WE won't tell the others, and We can
get our fun fooling them. You fix it
up. and when you're ready, I'll sign
, the check"
A few days later he sought Claver-
ing bearing a masterpiece of forgery.
The parchment was old and stained.
1t was worn on the edges and patched
here and there with bits of cloth and
paper of other texture. No one not
"in the know" would have guessed
that week before the parchment had
lain in the stock of an art dealer. On
it was set forth the fact that Sir Will
liam de Morgan, being hard pressed,
had hidden his plumber on an island,
the location Of which was given-"and
by signs to be seen," the plumber could
be located in a certain cave.
How about the cave part?" de-
manded Clavering. 1T gives it the
right touch, you know, but what shall
We do when We reach the island and
find that there Is no cave?"
'But there is a cave" explained
Dick proudly. 81 told you that this
would be worked out right There is a
little cave on the island, and l know
just where it is, but it will take a lot
of looking, and we can string it out as
long as We want to. It's off the coast
of Nicaragua. It's a great little place
with good springs. l located an old
ship captain who told me all about it."
Now we need another document
that sets forth that you get half, you
KNOW" reminded Clavering. THAT will
explain why l happen to be on your
boat, instead Of my own. You know
what | mean. You have the paper and
put up the cash."
Suppose that we do stumble across
fortune?" asked Dick jokingly.
1T goes just the same" was the
serious response. You're entitled to
half of anything we find. It's worth
1t, by Jove! feel like a boy. 1t beats
just plain yachting trip all hollow,
even if we two do know that it's all a
fake"
We're children still and we like to
pretend" reminded Dick as he folded
up the paper. 81 can have the Ven
turer ready in a week"
None too soon for me-" cried CLAW
ering. and eight days later the com
Portable yacht slipped from port.
1t was an uneventful trip 10 the
southern ocean. The seas were calm
and the little party spent entire days
on deck.
Dick was almost sorry when at last
the island was reached. 1t was tiny
little dot on the surface of the blue
sea, scarcely ten miles long and not
quite five wide, with black, forbidding
rocks instead of the white coral they
had all expected.
Without generalization two search.
ing parties were formed and for a
week they ranged the island before
hope began to give place to discour-
agement, and Dick and Clavering
agreed that the cave should be discov-
cred the following day.
Even with his knowledge, 1t was not
easy for Dick to locate the tiny open
ing, but at last he got his bearings
and by cutting away the brush the
opening at last stood disclosed.
With eager EXPLANATIONS the treas.
ure seekers swarmed into the narrow
mouth only to be driven back by the
swarm Of bats and birds that had
sought shelter therein. 1t was an hour
before they at last stood inside the
cave. It was long and narrow, leading
directly into the heart of the SOLE
eminence on the island and eagerly
they pressed forward.
No signs to be seen" gave hint of
the location of the treasure and Edith
Barclay pouted.
Il suppose the silly old pirate
marked something with whitewash
and imagined that 1t would last for
ever" she exclaimed petulantly. "We'll
have to dig up the entire floor Of the
cave to find anything and then per-
haps we won't find anything"
A cry from Bess Clavering inter
rupted her, and she and Clavering hur-
ried towards the end of the cave
where Bess and Dick had gone.
1--WE found the treasure, but not de
Morgan's," explained Bess with a
tense little laugh. We've located
something better than gold pieces. l
was pretty good at geology at Vassar,
and unless I'm very much mistaken,
I've located an underground lake of
asphalt"
She pointed to tho somber wall that
seemed to be bullying from Its place.