Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-03-08
Tft-tst't'z''t-t-
Red Peppers
Treasure
he Died Without Betraying
Its Whereabouts.
By cLARIssA MAcKH

wharf and dangled his boots over the
water.
1t was very pleasant there. for the
tang of the salt air was agreeabl,
mingled with the fragrance from
empty clam barrels and lobster pots
and the more elusive doors of cedar
shavings and tar
Besides these odors. each nothing in
itself. but as a whole making up what
one ut once recognized as sea smells.
there IL the expanse of water surface
stretching before one with nothing to
break Its continuity. A sail here and
there creeps along. Il gull soaring above
suddenly swoops down on some luck
less FISH, and oil the while there is
the plash Of the waters driven ia by
the salt laden breeze. One who has
ever experienced the combination of
fragrance and scenery will never for
get IL.
There was the sound OF hammer and
saw and the creaking Of a windlass
as rusty little oyster sloop moved
slowly up the railway Of the shipyard.
'Hum-ho!" yawned Captain Ham
contentedly. Where in thunder Is
Ferdic?"
At that instant Fcrdie Pratt's eau.
uous voice hailed him from the land.
Ing steps.
"Ahoy. there. cap.' he called.
Captain Ham arose with dificulty,
rubbed his rheumatic knee with a
large frcckled hand and limped down
the steps.
Ferdie Pratt. a rotund little man
with sunburned skin and bleached tow
hair. turned a pair Of dubious blue
eyes toward his friend.
READY he asked.
Ready" assented the captain as he
entered the boat and picked up an oar.
''Letty's watching u.s." remarked
Ferlie as the boat swung out from
the wharf
Captain Ham squinted over his
shoulder at the gable Of his white cot
tage on the east shore.
The sun focused on the lens of Q
marine telescope held In the steady
hands Of Mrs. Ham Tadskate.
II wish Lefty wasn't SO drafted
nosey." complained Captain Ham as
they headed toward the harbor mouth.
III she guessed we were looking foi
Red Peppers treasure I'll be blamed
n I know what she'd do"
Its safe to say that she'd tell every
man. woman and child In Punderson
village" growlei Mr.. Pratt. who cher
Ished no illusions regarding that strong
minded lady.
II wish that the New Jersey wizard
they tell about would invent some
thing to Birdie wimmen's tongues,
pulled Captain Ham as he bent to bis
oar against the tide.
Nothing but death will do It."
scoffed Ferdie.
What does an old bach Nike You
know about wimmenr'
"It's what know about wimmen
that's made me an old bachelor. was
Ferdie's tart reply.
Outside the brenkwater they turned
the boat to che east and rowed along
the shore for several miles. At last
Captain Ham laid down his oars and
rubbed his hands together.
Now. Ferdie. l guess I'll take an
other look at that map found. ne
said complacently.
He fumbled In his hip pocket and
brought out a yellowed bit Of paper.
which unfolded to display some strag
Cling characters In faded purple ink.
II guess there amt no more on 1t
than when you found It q week ago.
remarked Ferdie impatiently.
Captain Ham smoothed out the pa
per and studied the rude map with
avidly curious eyes. muttering the
words to himself.
Grab point-hum-that's here-the
old undergraduates yonder-under the
big pudding stone three feet deep,
"where'd you say you found the map.
Ham, asked Ferdie.
I'm Letty's workbox. It's one that
belonged to her Observation-Disclosures
Seems the great-grandfather made 1t
for her during a long voyage to the In
dies. Lefty sets great store by the
box. and when the bottom came out
she asked me to mend 1t.
"Confound my buttons, Ferdie. but
you could have knocked me natter'n
. pancake when l found this map hid
In q false bottom to the box! Course
knew where 1t came fromr'
Ferdie winked solemnly. Il reckon
Letty's great-granddaddy hid 1t there.
Nv mother used 10 say that old Cap
tain Biddle was a mate Of Red Pepper
himself in them pirating days"
Captain Ham chuckled.
"Letty'd scold herself to death II she
knew she'd overlooked anything IKE
this. She will be surprised when !
walk in with Red Peppers treasure.
and tell her the secret was bid In ner
own workbox for $50 years"
49, - on the yellow