The Raymer enterprise., 1919-09-25

my language was more f0rcfOlo than
ciassical-had quite q piratical flavor,
In fact; and my friend OF "the wonder
full works Of God" looked up with q
deprecating air. Its effect on George
was nil, except perhaps to further
deepen his sulks.
And this l did notice, after q while.
that my remarks to George seemed to
have set up q certain sympathetic ac-
quaintance between him and my pas
senger. the shackly deckhand being ap-
parently taken IN as an humble third.
They sat for'ard, talking together, and
my passenger read to them. on one
occasion. from piece OF printed pa
per that futtered In the wind.
The captain was occupied with his
helm. and the thoughts he didn't seem
to feel the necessity of sharing; q
quiet. poised. probably stupid man. for
whom I could not deny the respect we
must always give to content. however
simple. He was sailor. and I don't
know what better to say Of a man.
So for companlonshlp was thrown
back upon Tom. felt. too. that he
was my only friend on board. and q
vague feeling had come over me that
within the next few hours might need
q friend.
"Are We going too fast for fishing.
TomY' l asked.
"Not too fast for barracuda" said
Tom: SO we put out lines and watched
the stretched strings, and listened to
the sea. After while Toms line grew
taut. and we hauled In iye-fpot bar.
racouia.
Look" said Tom. as he pointed to
a little writhing eel.ltke shape. about
nine inches long, attached to the belly
of the barraconta.
"A sucking fish," said Tom. That's
good luck" and he proceeded to turn
over the poor creature and cut from
his back, Immediately below his head
q fiat Inch and q half OF skin lined
and stamped like rubber sole-the
device by which he held on to the
belly of the barracuda much as the
circle OF wet leather holds the stone
In schoolboy's sling.
"Now." he said. when he had II
clean and neat In his fingers, I'VE must
hang this up and dry II In the north.
east wind; the wind is Just right
nor or-nor'east-and there is no mascot
like II, specially when" Old Tom
hedtated. with q slyly innocent smile
In his eyea
"What II II. Tomr l asked.
well, dr, I meant to say that thii
particular part Of q sucking fish. prop
eriy dried in the northeast wind, is q
wonderful mascot-when you're goina
after treasure"
-who said I was going after treas
ureT asked.
AREN'T you. sahr' replied Tom
asking your pardon"
Lets talk II over later on, wher
you bring me my dinner. Tom"
Later, as Tom stood. serving my
coffee. I took It up with him again.
what was that you were saying
about treasure. Tomf" asked.
.Well. sar. what l meant was this
that going nfter treasure is danger
GUS business it's not only the
living you're to think Of" Here Tom
threw careful eye for'ard.
"The crew, you mean"
He nodded.
"But it's the dead too."
"The dead. Tom?"
swell. sar. there was never q buried
treasure yet that didn't claim Its vic
tim. Not one or two either. Six OF
eight Of them. to my knowledge-ant
the treasure Just where 1t was for all
that. l das'say 1t sounds all foolish
ness. but It's true for all that. Some
thing or other'll come. mark my wort
Just when they think they've goI
their hands on It: hurricane or {
tidal wave or an earthquake. And
well, the ghost laughs. but the treasure
stays there all the same"
"The ghost laughs?' asked.
"Eh! OF course; didn't you know
every treasure Is guarded by ghost
He's got to keep watch there till thu
next fellow comes along. to relieve
sentry duty, so to speak. He doesn'
give 1t away. My mol He dassn't d.
that. But the minute someone else 1,
killed. coming looking for II. then he,
free-and the new ghost has got Il
go on sitting there, waiting for evel
so long till someone else comes look
Ing for It,"
"But what has this sucking fish go
to do with itl" And l pointed to tn,
red membrane already drying in Tom
hand.
"Well. the man who carries this II
his pocket won't be the next ghost" b.
answered.
"Take good care Of It for me. then
Tom" l said. "and when it's properl,
dried let me have It. For I've a sor
of idea I may have need of 1t. aftel