The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-10-29

the only way ne had left, he said, of
protecting his own interests, and safe
guarding treasure which belonged to
him and no one else, IL II belonged to
any living man. 1t had seemed to her
that 1t was a monomania with him.
While he had been talking, she had
made up her mind what she would do.
She would tell him the plain truth
| about her doubloons, and offer him
what remained of them as a ransom.
This she did, and was able at last half
! to persuade him that, so far as any
one knew, that was all the treasure
there was, and then the digging among
| The ruins of the old house was a mere
fancy of her fathers. There might be
something there or not-and she went
so far as to give her word OF honor
have his share of 1t.
Tobias had seemed impressed, and
promised his answer in the morning,
leaving her to sleep-with sentry at
her cabin door. She had slept soundly,
and awakened only at dawn. AS soon
as she was up. Tobias had come to
her, saying that he had accepted her
offer, and asking her to direct him to
her treasure.
This she had done, and. to avoid pass
ing the settlement, they had taken the
course round the eastern end Of the
island. AS they had approached the
cave (and here Calypso turned quiz
zical smile ON me, which no one, of
course, understood but ourselves), a
sloop was seen approaching them from
the westward and here she
stopped and turned to Charlie Web
ster.
"Now," said the ''king," 1--WE shall
hear the story of Apollo-or, let us
say, rather Ajax-the Far-Darter--he
of the arrow that never missed its
mark"
And Charlie Webster, more at home
with deeds than words, blushcd and
blushed through his part of the story
telling how-having called at the set
tlement-he had got our message from
Sweeney, and was making up the coast
for the hidden creek. He had spied
what he felt sure was Tobias schoon-
er-had called on him sin the kings
name" to surrender ('T had In my
pocket the warrant for his arrest"
said Charlie, with innocent pride
"the id scoundrer') but had been
terribly frightened, he owned, when
Calypso had been brought on deck, but
she had given him courage-he paused
to beam on her, broad-faced admira-
ton. for which he could find no words
and, as he had never yet missed a
flying duck at forget how many
yards Charlie mentioned-well /.
perhaps he oughtn't to have risked it.
And so his story came to an end,
amid reassuring applause.
snow" said the "king." "for the
Story of the Disappearing Gentleman
and the Lighted Lantern"
! And then told my story as II is al
ready known to the reader, and have
to confess that, when l came to the
chestful of doubloons and pieces Of
eight, had very attentive audience.
The "king" was for starting Off that
very night. But, reminded of the diff
ficult seclusion In which the treasure
still lay, he was persuaded to wait till
the morrow.
"At dawn then" he said, tomorrow
what time, the rosy-footed dawn
so be It. And now I am going
/ ~ faIl t1 he no ~ ~
duck shooting"
"But wait !" cried. "why did Jack
Harkaway' go to NassauT
Calypso blushed. The skiing
chuckled.
II prefer not to be known In Nassau,
yet some Of my business has to be
done there. Nor Is II safe for beauty
like Calypso's to go unprotected. So
from time to time. Jack Harkaway'
| goes for us BOTH And now enough of
explanations r. and he launched into
talk of game and sport IN various
parts of the world, to the huge delight
of the great supplemented Charlie.
But, after a time, other matters
4 claimed the attention of his other
auditors. During the flow Of his dis
course night had fallen. Calypso and
perceived that we were forgotten
so, by an impulse that seemed to be
one, we rose and left them there. and
stole out into the garden where the
little fountain was dancing like a
spirit under the moon. and the orange
trees gave out their perfume on the
night breeze. took her hand, and we
walked softly out into the moonlight,
and looked down at the closed lotuses
in the little pool. And then we took
courage to look into each others eyes.
Calypso" said. when are you 60
ing to show me where you keep your
doubloonsr-and I added, In q whis-
per, "Jack-when am going to see
you In boys clothes againf"
And. with that. she was in my arms