The Dolores star., 1919-09-26

| Iul WOTkS OF SOu lOOkeu up WIN u
deprecating air. Its effect on George
was nil, except perhaps to further
deepen his sulks.
And this l did notice, after a while,
that my remarks to George seemed to
have set up 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 fluttered in the wind.
The captain was occupied with his
helm. and the thoughts he didn't seem
to feel the necessity of sharing;
quiet. poised. probably stupid man, for
must always give to content. however
simple. He was a sailor. and I don't
know what better to say Of man.
So for companionship was thrown
back upon Tom. felt. too, that he
was my only friend on board, and
vague feeling had come over me that
within the next few hours might need
a friend.
"Are we going too fast for fishing.
Tom7" 1 asked.
mot too fast for barracouta." 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 five-foot bar,
racouta.
"Lookl" said Tom, as he pointed to
little writhing eel-ltke shape. about
nine inches long, attached to the belly
Of the barracouta-
"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.
fiat inch and u half of skin lined
and stamped like a rubber sole-the
device by which he held on to the
circle Of wet leather holds the stone
In a schoolboy's sling.
"Now." he said, when he had It
clean and neat In his fingers. 1--WE must
hang this up and dry it In the north
east wind; the wind is just right
nor'-nor'east-and there is no mascot
like It specially when" Old Tom
hesitated, with a slyly innocent smile
In his eyes
sWhat is 1t. Tom7" asked.
"WeIl, sir. meant to say that this
particular part of sucking fish, prop
erly dried in the northeast wind, is a
wonderful mascot-when you're going
after treasure"
-Who said was going after treas
ureT I asked.
Aren't you. sah7" replied Tom,
asking your pardon"
Lets talk It over later on. when
you bring me my dinner. Tom"
Later, as Tom stood. serving my
coffee. took 1t up with him again.
"What was that you were saying
about treasure. Tom7" asked.
"Well, sar. what meant was this:
that going after treasure is a danger
GUS business it's not only the
living you're to think Of" Here Tom
threw a careful eye for'ard.
1.-The crew. you mean7"
| 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 or
eight Of them, to my knowledge-and
the treasure just where it was for all
that. das'say 1t sounds all foolish
ness, but it's true for all that. Some
thing or other'll come. mark my word
just when they think they've got
| their hands on it: hurricane or q
tidal wave or an earthquake. And
well. the ghost laughs. but the treasure
stays there all the same"
"The ghost laughs?" l asked.
"Eh of course; didn't you know
every treasure is guarded by n ghost2
He's got to keep watch there till the
next fellow comes along, to relieve
sentry duty, SO to speak. He doesn't
give 1t away. My no! He dassn't do
that. But the minute someone else is
killed, coming looking for 1t, then he's
free-and the new ghost has got to
go on. sitting there, waiting for ever
SO long till someone else comes look
ing for it."
But what has this sucking fish got
to do with it?" And I pointed to the
red membrane already drying in Toms
hand.
well, the man who carries this In
his pocket won't be the next ghost" he
answered.
Take good care of 1t for me, then,
Tom," 1 said. "and when It's properly
dried let me have 1t. For I've a sort
of idea I may have need of it, after
| ALL"
Ana Just then old Sailor. the quletest
member of the crew, put up his head
into my hands. as though to say that
ne had been unfairly lost sight of.
Yes. and you too. old chap-that,s
right. Tom and you and l."
And then turned in for the night,