The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1916-07-21

Red Peppers:
Treasure
: He Died Without Betraying
!. Its Whereabouts.
By CLARISSA MACKIE

wharf and dangled his boots over the
water.
1t was very pleasant there, for the
tang of the salt air was agreeably
mingled with the fragrance from
empty clam barrels and lobster pots
and the more elusive odors OF cedar
shavings and tar.
Besides these odors, each nothing in
itself, but as a whole making up what
one at once recognized as sea smells,
there is the expanse of water surface
stretching before one with nothing to
break Its continuity. A sail here and
there creeps along, a gull soaring above
suddenly swoops down on some luck
less fish, and all the while there is
the plash of the waters driven in by
the salt laden breeze. One who has
ever experienced the combination of
fragrance and scenery will never for
get it.
There was the sound Of hammer and
saw and the creaking of windlass
as a rusty little oyster sloop moved
slowly up the railway of the shipyard.
"Hum-hor yawned Captain Ham
contentedly. where in thunder is
Ferdie?
At that instant Ferdie Pratt's eau
tious voice hailed him from the land
ing steps.
"Ahoy, there, capt" he called.
Captain Ham arose with difficulty,
rubbed his rheumatic knee with a
large freckled hand and limped down
the steps.
Ferdie Pratt, a rotuird 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
Ferdie 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 a
marine telescope held in the steady
hands of Mrs. Ham Tadskate.
Il wish Lefty wasn't so drafted
nosey," complained Captain Ham as
they headed toward the harbor mouth.
IF she guessed we were looking for
Red Peppers treasure I'll be blamed
II know what she'd do"
ITS safe to say that she'd tell every
man, woman and child in Punderson
village" growled Mr.. Pratt, who cher
ished no illusions regarding that strong
minded lady.
Il wish that the New Jersey wizard
they tell about would invent some
thing to bride wimmen's tongues"
puffed Captain Ham as he bent to his
oar against the tide.
Nothing but death will dc it."
scoffed Ferdie.
What does an old bach like you
know about wim1nen?"
ITS what | know about wimmen
that's made me an old bachelor" was
Ferdie's tart reply.
Outside the breakwater they turned
the boat to the east and rowed along
the shore for several miles. At last
Captain Ham laid down his oars and
rubbed his hands together.
Now, Ferdie, guess IN take an
other look at that map found" he
said complacently.
He fumbled in his hip pocket and
brought out yellowed bit of paper,
which unfolded to display some stray
Cling characters in faded purple ink.
i guess there amt no more on it
han when you found 1t a week ago."
'emarked Ferdie 1mpatiently.
Captain Ham smoothed out the pa-
Der and studied the rude map with
wildly curious eyes, muttering the
words to himself.
Grab point-hum-that's here-the
I'D hickory-that's yonder-under the
zig pudding stone three feet deep"
"Where'd you say you fountl the map,
iam?" asked Ferdie.
In Letty's workbox. It's one that
belonged to her great-gra ndmother.
seems the great-grandfather made 1t
or her during long voyage to the In
lies. Lefty sets great store by the
'ox, and when the bottom came out
he asked me to mend 1t.
Contound my buttons. Ferdie, but |
'ou could have knocked me flatter'n
pancake when l found this map hid
n false bottom to the box, Cour,e
knew where 1t came FRONT"
teroie winked solemnly. 81 reckon
.etty's great-granddaddy hid it there.
dy mother used to say that old Cap
ain Biddle was mate of Red Pepper
himself in them pirating days"
Captain Ham ehuckled.
"Letty'd scold herself to death if she
new shed overlooked anything like
MS. She will be surprised when I
'alk In with Red Peppers treasure.
nd tell her the secret was hid In her
Wn Workbox for $50 years."
The boat grounded on the yellow
and of Crab point.
i hope the chest OF treasure won't
ink her" said Ferdie, with a specula-
I've eye upon the green dory.
we can make two loads of IT" ar
ued the captain as he stamped I'M
ne beach toward the thick growth of |
Foods that fringed the shore.
Ferdie shouldered a crowbar. and
pade and followed fis Ioodor a. A.