The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1919-06-26
Book l.
CHAPTER Z.

ohtFoduoee the Secretary OF tho Treas.
ury Of He Britannia MaJesty's Gov
srnmsnt at Nassau, New Provi-
denes, Bahama IsIands.
During the summer Of 1903 was
paying what must have seemed like an
tnterminable visit to my old friend
John Saunders, who at that time filled
with becoming dignity the high-sound-
Ing Office Of secretary OF the treasury
OF his majesty's government, in the
quaint little town Of Nassau, in the
island Of New Providence, one Of
those Bahama islands that lie half
lost to the world to the southeast Of
the Caribbean sea and form a some
what neglected portion Of the British
West Indies.
Time was when they had sounding
fnAme for themselves in the world;
when the now sleepy little harbor
gave shelter to rousing freebooters
and tarry pirates, tearing In there un-
der full sail with their loot from the
Spanish Main.
But those heroic days are gone, and
Nassau Is given up to a sleepy trade
In sponges and tortoise shell, and
peace Is no name for the drowsy tenor
Of the days ,lnder the palm trees and
the scarlet poincianas.
Here a handful Of Englishmen,
clothed in the white linen suits Of
the tropics, carry on the government
after the traditional manner Of Brit
fsh colonies from time immemorial,
each Of them. like my friend. not with
out an English smile at the humor of
the thing, supporting the dignity Of
offices with impressive names-lord
chief Justice, attorney general, speak
er Of the house. lord high admiral.
colonial secretary and SO forth.
My friend the secretary Of the
treasury is man possessing In an un-
common degree that rare and most at
tractive Of human qualities. compan-
ionabieness. AS we sit together In the
hush Of his snuggery Of an evening.
surrounded by guns. fishing lines and
old prints, there are times when we
scarcely exchange q dozen words be-
tween dinner and bedtime, and yet
we have all the time q keen and sat-
isfying sense Of companionship. It is
John Saunders gift. Companionship
seems quietly to Ooze out Of him,
without the need Of words.
And occasionally we have as third
In those evening conclaves a big. slow.
smiling. broad.faced young merchant
rof the same kidney. In he drops with
n nod and smile. and takes his place
I'm the smoke cloud Of our meditations,
radiating without the effort of speech
that good thing-humanity; though
one must not forget the one subject
on which now and again the good
Charlie Webster achieves eloquence
In spite Of himself-duck shooting.
John Saunders subject is shark
nshihg. Duck shooting and shark
fahlng. It is enough. Here, for sen.
sible men. is a sufficient basis for life
long friendship. and unwearying. in.
exhaustible companionship.
1t was in this peace of John Saun.
ders' snuggery one July evening In
1908. the three Of us being duly met
and enscOnced In our respective arm.
chairs, that we got onto the subject
.of buried treasure. It was who start.
knew about buried treasure.
At this John laughed his funny little
quiet laugh. Buried treasured" he
said; "well. have little doubt that
the islands are full Of it-if one only
knew how to get at It."
Seriously" asked.
Certainly. Why not3 Weren't
these islands for nearly three centu.
ries the stamping ground Of all the
pirates Of the Spanish Main7 Morgan
was here. Blackboard was here. The
very governors themselves were little
ibetter than pirates. This room we are
sitting In was the den Of one Of thu
biggest rogues Of them all-Joln Tin
ker-the governor when Bruce wal
here building Fort Montague at the
east end yonder; building IL ssainsi
pirates, and little else but pirates al
the Government house all the time. A
great old time Tinker gave the poor
fellow. You can read all about 1t ip
his Memoirs ksrsa~ -As ...3 rem.
devious for all the cutthroats Of the
Caribbean sea. Here they came ir
with their loot, their doublo0ns anG
pieces Of elght;" and Johns eyes twin
kled with enjoyment Of the rich ole
romantic words. as though they wer
old port.
Here they squandered much Of It
no doubt, but they couldn't squander II
oil. Some of them were thrifty knaves
too, and these. looking around FOL
some place Of safety. would naturall!
think Of the bush. The niggers keel
their little boards there to this day
'It Is their form Of stocking" put II
Charlie Webster.
Precisely. Well, as I was saying
state Of Ohio. City Of Toledo.