The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-09-08
BURIED TREASURE
BY MOLLY m'MAsrER.

fourth upright OF his rustic arbor.
When his spade hit and exposed to
view a battered old tin box David
was projected back in his memory to
the days of playing pirate and OF
buried treasure. The bold buccaneer
who had hid this particular box had
been female Captain Kidd. A sadly
mutilated doll, string of blue grass
beads and a tiny leather purse we're
the contents Of the concealed recep-
tacle. In time he managed to de-
cipher name and a date-"B Barbara
Folsom, 1900, August"
He put aside the box and proceeded
with his digging. The name Barbara
fingered in his mind, however. and,
in some vague way, 1t seemed to sug-
gest something familiar to him. 1t
even seemed as If he had seen the
name Barbara Folsom in print, but
he could not recall when or where.
"It looks as II romance we're not
entirely extinct" he laughed. I'D
like to find that girl and send her the
box for birthday gift" This seemed
SO utterly absurd that he laughed
still more decidedly. For aught he
knew, Barbara Folsom. formerly
pirate, might now be doing mission
airy service in South Africa or the far
East. Surely not-heaven forbid!
Not girl who had once been pirate
and buried a CASTOR doll and string
of blue boads!
"And II, seems to me that it is only
recently and in some magazine or
other that have seen that name" he
reflected.
When he had finished setting the
uprights he went In to dinner. still
bearing with him the not-to-be-silenced
name Of Barbara Folsom-who was
she? He found his answer sooner
than he expected 1t was the very
name itself under the title of the very
first piece of magazine fiction which
met his eye.
After all she's only a well-known
woman" he sighed regretfully, for Da-
vid did not take kindly to literary
women.
Still, for some reason he could hard
ly fathom. he was prompted to write
to the magazine office and ask Bar
bara Folsom for her address and the
privilege of calling on her.
Barbara Folsom not only replied by
mail. but intimated graciously that
she should be glad to see him at her
home on the following afternoon. In
cidentally, she confessed that she was
Mrs. John Fraser in private life.
Still. he felt no slight degree of un-
certainty as to the wisdom of his
procedure as he stood before the en-
trance of modest apartment house
in the Washington square neighbor-
hood. He carried q bag in which was
the pirates treasure and he wondered
what memories it would inspire in the
mind of the one to whom 1t had be-
longed so many years ago. He had
quite resigned himself to the existence
Of Barbara junior who would prob
ably regard the battered doll with
scornful disdain.
David was ushered into a cozy lit
tie room by Mrs. Fraser herself. She
proved to be delightful little ma
tron, but he could not find in her the
faintest resemblance to his conception
Of what the child pirate of long ago
should be like.
Barbara Folsom is only a pen
name." she explained, after she had
heard his story. Il borrow the names
of my friends to lend dignity to my
work"
Then | have not found my pirate
after all" he sighed rather dis
tressedly.
'Lo-she comes!" laughed the little
matron. rising and taking into her
motherly arms young woman who
had entered just in time to hear
David's wistful observation. This
is Barbara Folsom. | use her name
oftener than any other nowadays be-
cause love her best of all. Barbara,
this is Mr.. David Gordon of whom |
told you"
And almost before he had time to
recover his self-possession a charming
young woman, with merry eyes and
most unpiratical expression, held out
her hand in friendly greeting.
And now I will see about some
tea," hustled Mrs. Fraser, leaving
them together.
Barbara was immensely Interested
In the recovered treasure. She well
coined the sorry-looking doll as If she
were a long-lost relative and her
bright eyes moistened at sight of the
little purse and its cabalistic slips of
paper. She hugged the string of
beads to her heart and then clasped
1t about her slender neck.
$50 you live in our old homestead"
she said. And | suppose you have
crew of little pirates who are hiding
their treasure as did SO long ago?v
Il am not married man. he an
swered simply. ''but | do live in your
old home"
She sighed-rather wistfully, David
thought
This is all most romantic" CHR
ruped MRS Fraser returning with a
tea cart bearing the fragrant Oolong
and s.oLoo asT havo 3,,ot hoa - a..