Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-09-04
CHAPTER M.
Chatter the "M,ooIe parIioo.n

Az luck would have II. the loss, OF
rather the theft Of Henry p. Tobias
w narrative was not SO serious as II a
first seemed, for 1t fortunately changed
TINT John Saunders had had 1t copied
but the theft remained none the les.
mysterious.
However, leaving that mystery FOL
later solution, John Saunders, Charlie
Webster and I spent the next evening
IN general and particular criticism
Of the narrative itself. There were
several obvious objections to be made
against its authenticity. To start with
Tobias, at the time of his deposition
was an old man--seventy-five years
old-and it was more than probable
that his experiences as pirate would
date from his early manhood; they
were hardly likely to have taken place
as late as his fortieth, year. The mar.
ratlve, indeed, suggested their taking
place much earlier, and there would
thus be space Of at least forty years
between the burial Of the treasure
and his deathbed revelation. 1t was
natural to ask: Why during all those
years did he not return and retrieve
the treasure for himself? Various
circumstances may have prevented
him. the inability from lack Of means
to make the journey, or what not ;
but certainly one would need to imag-
Inc circumstances Of peculiar power
that should be strong enough to keep
n man with SO valuable q secret in his
possession so many years from taking
advantage Of 1t.
For a long while. too, the names
given to the purported sites Of the
. treasure caches puzzled us. Modern
maps give no such places as dead
Mems Shoes" and "Short Shrift
island" but at last, in map dating
back to 1853, we, came upon one Of
the two names. So far the veracity
Of Tobias was supported. dead
Mems Shoes" proved to be the old
name for certain cay some twenty
miles long. about a day and halls
snil from Nassau, one of the long
string OF coral islands now known as
the "Exuma Gays" But Of "Short
Shrift island" we sought in vain for
"a trace.
fan the same" said I, "the adven-
4 tire calls me; the adventure and that
million and a half dollars-and those
Dead Mems Shoes'-and intend to
undertake 1t. / am not going to let
your middle-aged skepticism discour-
age me. Treasure or no treasure,
there will be, the excitement Of the
quest, and all the fun of the sea-"
"And some duck perhaps" added
Charlie.
sAnd some shark fishing for GER
tain" said John.
= .
The next thing was to set about
getting boat and crew.
After looking over much likely and
unlikely craft we finally decided on
q twomasted schooner of trim but
solid build, the Maggie Darling. AZ
feet over all and Is beam; something
under twenty tsns, with an auxiliary
gasoline engine of "a horse power,
and an alleged speed Of ten knots.
Next, the crew.
You will need q captain, cook, an
engineer and a deckhand," said Char
lie. "and / have the captain and the
cook all ready for you"
That afternoon we rounded them
all up, including the engineer and the
deckhand, and we arranged to start,
weather permitting, with the morning
tide, which set east at six o'clock on
July IS, 1903.
Ships stores were the next detail,
and these, including fifty gallons of
gasoline, over and above the tanks
and three barrels of water. being duly
got aboard, on the evening Of July
II all was ready for the start; an eve
ming which was naturally spent in q
parting conclaye in John Saunders
snuggery.
"Why, one important thing you've(
forgotten" said Charlie. 'Machetes-
and spades and pickaxes. And I'd
take . few sticks OF dynamite along
with you too. I can let you have the
lot. Wen get them aboard tonight"
Its I pity you have to give It.
away that It's q treasure hunt" said
John, .byt then you can't keep the
crew from knowing. And they're a
queer lot on the subject Uf treasure.
have come Of the FUNNIEST supersti-
lions. I hope you-won't have any
trouble with them"
4 Had any experiences in handling
snfggersi" asked Charlie.
.sS9t the least"
"That makes me wish were coming
With you. They are rum beggars. Aw-
,ful towards. and Just like pack Of
!fhii.lrsn. Youn know about sailing
anyhow. That'sSa good thing. xca
can captain yopr own boat, X need be.
That's all to the good. Particularly
lif you strike any dirty weather. But
let me give You one word Nof advice:
Be kind. Of course. with them-but
keep your distance all the same. and
be careful about losing your temper,
You gst more out Of them by coax.
Ing hard NJ II II, at times. And. by
the way, how would you like to take
old Sailor with. your ~ = 7. -. !. q Y,
Sailor was I great Labrador 70.
triever, who Al, tint eioment turned M
his big haKa With With s. devoted s!gh from
behind his rnapter's chair.
! " sla ther," said. So "Sailorp was
thereupon enrolled % \ further add.
tim ~ &hG NHAue esl lla .sal i.I ggANAHn