The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-03-30

nBoet .hN sShpW'N th' t..eNs w VIZ
old hickory tree around which they
had played In boyhood days. for Crab
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
q joke on his lips and went to death
without betraying the secret of his
hidden treasure.
ITO think Of 1t 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 ut 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 hor' he roared heartily.
The old pudding stone lifted reluc-
family from its black, moldy bed Of
earth. With a crash Of broken under
brush IL rolled away, leaving q deep
indentation in the ground.
"The rest IN easy" commented the
captain. and fell to work.
Ferdie Pratt. cred by the same en-
IL was not long before their ears were
reioiced by the musical clank of metal
on metal
"Great smoked It's herer' triumph
cd tho captain.
Tbev feli unon tbeir knees and erub-
he'd IN the dirt with their bare hands.
Az last thew brought TO light a small
from bound box. long and narrow in
.hane
"'Taint so mortal heavy" comment
! al Eerd,e az fbev sat down ON the
ground with the boz between them.
"Mavbe it's all in precious stones.
Tbev wouldn't weigh much" reassur-
al the canta,n. prying at the lid with
the blade of his knife. BLAINE It all;
tbere COOS nv hest blader,
avon can buy a hundred iackknives
! after Won omen that box." comforted
Card,a .uara Ham. trv m,pe. I'll
r,sk breaking II for A handful of dia.
monds and emeralds."
The stouter blade released the rusted
,oc,r op tho bur,ed Ghost. and the lid
creaked inward and displayed TO the
avaricious ewes of the two men a care
fnl,v smootbad covering of vellowed
linen. to which was sewed a white
card
with popeiinp ewes Ferdie Pratt read
the Inscription on the card:
"uere l,es the mortal remains of Ara
m,nta Agatha Alice. most beloved child
of her afflicted mother Letitia Smith
Riddle. Aug. IL. 1854"
Capta,n Ham snatcbed away the lin.
on covering and discovered the primly
disnosad bodv of an ancient wooden
m,nta AGATHA Alice had been buried
IN her hest green silk dress with a
whita .,Ik honnet shading her painted
smirking features.
The treasure hunters stared nj the
aon WITH grow,np INDIGNATION.
"Wbo" hraathed Eeriie Pratt at
Inst "vbo IN hlazes Ia Ietitia Smith
Rtdd,ey,
Cant.,n Ham manned His forehead
and swaIlowed with difficuIty.
Sofa he On n hu.kv tome. mi, NJ hid
aan menace .Ietitia smith Riddle ,s
now .ettv Tadskate."
Eara,, prat, gasnod ,ro n esb
.And thar. how Won bappened tn
Ana ,ha man On her wortbor WIN
Han sho INF a. thoro herself m ra.
memher Tho n,aca where she hurried
bor ,oyor,ta don rve heard of girls
hnrv,nc their dolls when thew GET roo
Ola 60 ,,,.y ,,,,,h ION, onv moro what
yo, ooinc 20 do-nu, n hackT
For answer Cantain Ham Tadskate
ran,ocaa Tho ,,nen covering over the
sn,rr,no face ~ AramInta Agatha
AUoa cIosad tho ia az tho HOY and
dronnad n hack into the hole. They
soranoa q, ,bo so,, ora ro,,oa tho .pud-