Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-03-08

point, deserted now, had once been the
site of a little hamlet. now effaced by
the prosperous village Of Punderson.
Many tumbledown houses and weed
grown cellars betrayed the site of the
abandoned hamlet.
The pudding stone was another ia
miliar object. and around Crab point
itself chung many traditions Of that
genial pirate, Red Pepper. who had
walked the plank Of his own ship with
a joke on his lips and went to death
without betraying the secret of his
hidden treasure.
ITO think of it being under that old
stone all these years." marveled Ferdie
Pratt as he pried at the stone with the
iron bar, while the captain leaned on
the spade and directed operations.
Half and half-share and share
alike" encouraged Captain Ham as
Ferdie perspired at his task.
"You might share some of the work"
grumbled Ferdie.
The captain stirred and thrust the
blade of his spade under the stone.
"Heave ho!" he roared heartily.
The old pudding stone lifted reluc-
family from its black, moldy bed Of
earth. With a crash Of broken under
brush 1t rolled away. leaving a deep
indentation in the ground.
THE rest is easy" commented the
captain. and fell to work.
Ferdie Pratt, fred by the same en-
thusiasm. fell to with the iron bar. and
1t was not long before their ears were
rejoiced by the musical clank Of metal
on metal.
Great smoke! It's herer' triumph
ed the captain.
They fell upon their knees and grub
bed In the dirt with their bare hands.
At last they brought to light a small
iron bound box. long and narrow In
shape.
"'Tnin't 40 mortal heavy" comment.
ed Ferdie as they sat down on the
ground with the box between them.
Maybe It's all in precious stones.
They wouldn't weigh much" reassur
ed the captain. prying at the lid with
the blade of his knife. Blame 1t all,
there goes my best blader'
"You can buy hundred jackknives
after you open that box" comforted
Ferdie. Here. Ham; try mine. Ill
risk breaking 1t for handful Of dia,
/ monds and emeralds."
The stouter blade released the rustec
lock Of the buried chest, and the lid
creaked upward and displayed to the
avaricious eyes Of the two men a care
| fully smoothed covering Of yellowed
linen. to which was sewed aswhite
f, card.
With goggling eyes Ferdie Pratt read
the inscription on the card:
Here lies the mortal remains Of Ara.
minta Agatha Alice. most beloved child
Of her afflicted mother, Letitia Smith
Biddle. Aug. Is. 1864"
Captain Ham snatched away the lin
! en- covering and discovered the primly
disposed body OF an ancient wooden
doll Of much earlier generation. Ara
minta Agatha Alice had been buried
In her best green silk dress with a
white silk bonnet shading her painted
smirking features.
The treasure hunters stared at the
doll with growing indignation.
who" breathed Ferdie Pratt at
| Bidder
Captain Ham mopped his forehead
and swallowed with diniculty.
Said he in a husky tone. full Of hid.
| den menace, "Letitia Smith Biddle Is
now Lefty Tadskate."
Ferdie Pratt gasped IKE ash.
And that's how you happened to
ind the map In her workbox. Why.
| Ham, she put 1t. there herself to re-
member the place where she buried
her favorite doh. I've heard Of girls
burying their dolls when they get too
ole to play with 'em any more. What
| you going to do-put It backr
For answer Captain Ham Tadskate
replaced the linen covering over the
smirking face Of Araminta Agatha
Alice, closed the lid Of the box and
dropped 1t back into the hole. They
scraped in the soil and rolled the ''pud-
ding stone back into its old bed.
Captain Ham wiped the blood from
a long scratch received among the
briery underbrush and shouldered his
spade.
II reckon we can get home just in
| time for tea" he said briefly.
Lefty Tadskate was standing in the
porch when her husband rolled weart
| ly up the front walk.
Ham," she said. when you mended
my workbox did you find a bit OF
paper In the false bottom?"
IL forgot to put 1t back. It's here"
eQuivocated the captain as he meekly
took 1t from his pocket.
"'Tain't anything important. only l
missed It," said Lefty vivaciously.
THE workbox is fine. Ham. Thank
you for mending It."
There wasn't much the matter with
1t anyway" growled the captain as he