The Dolores star., 1919-12-26


the thing with a certain style and
she had to admit-with absolute cour-
tesy.
When they had gone a mile or two
from the house, he had had the gag
taken from her mouth, and. on her
promise not to attempt TO escape
(Which was, of course, quite impos-
sible) he had also had her unbound,
so that her hurried journey through
the woods was made as comfortable as
possible.
They were making, she had gathered
and as we had surmised-for the
northern shore. and. after about
three hours march. she heard the
sound Of the sea. On the schooner she
had found a cabin all nicely prepared
for her-even dainty toilet necessaries
and an excellent dinner was served,
on some quite pretty china, to her
alone. Poor Tobias had seemed bent
on showing--as he had said to Tom
that he was not the "carrion" we had
thought him.
After dinner, Tobias had respectful
ly asked leave for a few words with
her. He had apologized for his action,
but explained that 1t was necessary
the only way he had left. he said, OF
protecting his own interests. and safe
guarding treasure which belonged to
him and no one else. II 1t belonged to
any living man. 1t had seemed to her
that II 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
that. If ANYTHING was found, he should
have his share of It,
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 a quiz
zical smile on me, which no one. of
course, understood but ourselves),
sloop was seen approaching them from
stopped and turned to Charlie Web
ster.
"Now," said the king" tive shall
hear the story of Apollo-or, let us
9 say, rather Ajax-the Far-Darter-he
of the arrow that never missed its
mark"
And Charlie Webster. more nt home
with deeds than words, blushed 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 "n the kings
name" to surrender CI had in my
| pocket the warrant for his arrest"
said Charlie, with innocent pride
''the id scoundrel") but had been
answered with bullets He 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-fnced admira-
| ton, for which he could find no words
and. its he had never yet missed
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.
Now" said the 'king," "for the
Story Of the Disappearing Gentleman
and the Lighted Lantern"
And then I told my story as 1t 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
f1cult 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 1t. And now am going
to talk to Ajax the Far-Darter Of
duck shooting"
"But wait !" cried, "Why did lack
Harkaway' go to Nassau?"
Calypso blushed. The ''king"
chuckled.
II prefer not to be known in Nassau,
yet some Of my business has to be
done there. Nor Is 1t safe for beauty
like Calyps0's to go unprotected. So
from time to time. 'Jack Harkaway'
goes for us both And now enough of
explanations - and he launched into
| Al -