Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-07-16
TULSA WODpldl

she was at a romantic age and en-
doWcd with a healthy curiosity and
when one of the sisters had let drop
the fact that the old chests were full
Of documents dating back into the be
ginning of the Eighteenth century she
made up her mind to have a look at
some of them.
Betty was determined to overhaul
that garrct II given half "a chance, She
dwclt upon the idea SO constantly that
she came TO believe that somewhere in
that collection Of dusty relies OF the
past there lay concealed a document
which would bring a treasure to It's
finder She even pictured herself
standing before her startled old cous-
ms. document in hand, this announce
mcnt on her lips
"My dear cousins. | have found a
great treasure. II is all yours, You
can each buy "a new hat and new
shoes, and If you want real coffee for
breakfast and chicken pie for dinner
you can have them"
one day while waiting her oppor-
tunity to explore the garret a young
man known to the sisters called on an
errand for his mother and was intro
ducud to Miss Betty as Mr. Ford Kirk
wood The following day while she
was out for a walk, he turned up as
If by accident. This happened again
on the third day, and on the fourth he
forgot to offer an excuse for its
rather marked recurrence. Within a
week it had happened so frequently
that neither saw anything uncon-
| vcnuonal in the matter.
This rapidly developing aCquaint-
lance did not escape the yigilant eyes
of the cousins. one day the elder
sister observed frankly:
"IIe is rather a fine boy
Don't you think I'm rather nice
girl, Cousin Phoebe" laughed Betty,
with telltale flush"
Then Miss Phoebe sighed gently
and rcadjusted her glasses.
- suppose l ought to warn you
against love at first sight" she con-
tinued.
| But as you never loved at first
sight or second sight or any other
| sight, how can you, Cousin PhOcbe?'
At this the gentle old woman smiled
feebly
Ford Kirkwood is a fine young
man, but he has no money" she went
on dutifully.
Nor have l. Papa might manage
to give me a check for hundred dol
lars for a wedding gift, but it would
strain his bank account to do It..
Then, throwing her arms about Miss
| Phoebe and giving her a reassurlng
| kiss, she added more seriously:
"1 shall not fall in love, dear cousin.
! shall not elope. l shall never marry
at least not until"
Until when. Betty?"
Until ! find treasure" declared
! the girl as if she meant IT.
Betty did not reveal the fact to
! ANYBODY that she regarded the pros
peCt Of securing the treasure In that
garret, but how was she TO take the
first step toward finding It. with that
region closed to her? She felt like
demanding the privilege of eXplora-
ton, but still she bided her time.
Her opportunity came suddenly.
There came a day when the sisters
were called away on a matter Of busi-
ness which demanded their personal
attention.
Il am so afraid you will be lonely"
said the elder sister sympathetically.
I'VE shall be away at least three
hours"
"Oh no; ! can take long walk anA
then read a while after coming back,
said Betty, trying hard to keep her
voice steady.
Scarcely was the vehicle bearing the
sisters out Of sight when Betty flew 10
the garret. once within the forbid
den treasure house she stood for a
long five minutes feasting her eyes.
Then she selected the Oldest and most
battered trunk Of the entire lot for in
lspeCtion.
Letters and documents? Why the
trunk wos full TO repletion with them.
There were deeds, mortgages, receipts,
bills Of sale, private letters. grants and
what not and the girl had only a
glimmering OF what had once been
their legal value. Three hours had
gone by and the return Of the sisters
might be expected at any moment
when she selected a parchment almost
at random, replaced the others in the
trunk and left the fascinating spot.
1t was not until she was safe in her
room at night that the girl had an op-
pOrtunity to examine the parchment
She found very little to reward her
The writing was that of an illiterate
man, badly scrawled. some parts Of II
faded, hopelessly. After puzzlng over
It until her eyes smarted she put the
IilleEible thing In her handbag with the
sleepy conclusion:
Nobody but an old pirate could
have written like that, and Of course
II he was n pirate he must have writ
ten about treasure. | shall ask Mr.
klrkWOOd TO nelp TO unraNel II.
When ne saw IL Ford Kirkwood
agreed with Betty that 1t was the
work OF an old pirate, but he admitted
frankly that he as not an adept al
deciphering hieroglyphics.
"It will have TO be done, said Betty
determincdly, before"
"Why not postpone it until"
"Untl?"
Until after we are married" he
finally heroically.
But | have promised Cousin
Phoebe + shall never marry until
have found treasure" she said with
great attempt to be serious.
well haven't you found me?" he
suggested brazenly. "And have fount
you-the most precious treasure OF
all" he added gallantly.--K. C. Jour
nal.