Graham guardian., 1915-01-01
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o cloudless blue sky and below snow
white coral island Tapped by a blue
sea. Fenthery palms rustled in the
spice laden breeze. and few bright
colored birds flashed among the trees.
Half hidden In II tiny lagoon was the
| schooner Rosy Dawn. her sails neatly
furled and smoke curling from her gal
ley stack. Sitting on the beach smok'
ing mOrosely were two men. One was
Captain Charlie Bunce. and the other
was Lemuel Peters.
"HOw much did you pay that Por
tugee for the information?" growIed
| Captain Charlie after awhile
'My job in the shipyard.' admitted
Lem Peters sheepishly
There was long silence, broken aft
er awhile by the little captain.
Seems like that there Portugec snii
or has got the best of the bargain"
! was his remark
81 amt got a word to say" said Lem
humbly.
There wasn't much to gay from the
point of view of the two Adventures.
They had arrived at the tiny island full
of enthusiasm. The hold Of the Rosy
Dawn was freighted with empty gallon
bottles to receive the golden food Of
youth from the immortal fountain.
But unfortunately the fountain could
not be located Some inhabitants OF
an adjoining island laughed rudely
when guardedly questioned and said
| the reason the little island received its
| disparaging name was because ii was
"tu'penny sort OF island The swamp
in the middle was mnluriouS. indeed.
and. as for Black Duffy's treasure. that
had been found fifty years ago by nm
EngliShman who had the ngrntitude
to bcStOw the ignOninlOuS title upon
the bit OF coral rock which had made
him rich
So with the original 500 investment
reduced TO 500 in cash. with supplies
running low and two angry women
waiting there in that Long Island vii.
lagc for their inGlorious return. it is no
wonder that Captain Charlie Bunce
| and his companion were depressed.
Suddenly a shout came from the
schooner. II was the negro boy,
Frank
Dinner" said Captain Charlie with
out enthusiasm ns he rose and went
toward the lNnding plank.
They sat down at the table in the
cabin.
Beans again" m0aned Lem Peters
as Frank passed him the Steaming
dish 81 wish | knew the man who
invented canned beans!'
1T would be justtinble homicide il
anything happened to that fellow!
grOwled the captain, making wry
face ut the connection OF hot beans and
tomato sauce.
ITS Ony cause yOuse enten' EN-
free times IL day, Cap'u Charlie" Sooth-
ed Frank Il reckon 20 all can eat
some canned peaches. | made batch
oh griddtCcHlieS to eut wiz EN-"
"All right" said the captain. tasting
his weak coffee Seems like I'd rath-
er have my coffee strong once n day,
Frank. than for you to spin it out so
weak like to last three meals" he com
planned
"AIl right, cap'n." was Franks cheer
fuI reply.
Elsie was baking punkin pies when
left home" observed the captain
glOOmily.
Dried apple pies are my fav'rite,'
said Lem Peters sadly,
Il don't ever expect to see no more
punkin pies" lamcnted Captain Char
lie Then, with sudden burst OF con.
tidpnce. he added. Elsie. she wrote II
letter. and she dared me to come
home agin without that there treas
urc!"
Seems like Sadie said something
similar to that remark" mused Lem.
Absorbed in the gloomy meal. nei-
thrr one had heard the chug. chug. Of
an approaching steam launch. Neither
had they heard the sounds Of an ar
rival on board. So they were quite
unprcparrd for what followed Captain
BunCp'S next remark.
ST. it looks like we'll not be wanted
back there in Little Bay" he said
gloomily.
Then it WAS that some one laughed
uncertainty, and Il large, yellow pump
kin pie WAS placed on the table before
the nStOuiShcd treasure hunters. From
the other side Of the table another
hand placed dried apple pie. baked
in square tin beside the first one,
"ElSipr yelled Captain Charlie.
jumping mp to receive his wife in his
arms.
sadie Peters," Chokrd Lem us his
wife flung her arms around his lean
neck
The two women cried over their I'M
fortunate adventurrrS
I'VE WAS worried to DEATH" confess
ed the rrd0uhtable Elsie. wipinG away
Sumr tears so | took the money ia
Teen saving for II plush coat next win.
ter. and Sadie she had streak Of luck
with her Cousin Benjamin leaving
H'I II DIl 'I UI'H'H' N' wv ''''ie u"""
to see where y0u was and we found
you We Just come over from the
mainland You're going to take MS
home on the Rosy Dawn"
I'VE niII't found no fountain Of youth
and no treasure" confessed the treas
nre seekers in unhappy unison
Across their diSC0nsOntc heads Elsie
Buncp and Sadie Peters smiled under
standingly Mt one another. 1t was