The Washington times., 1919-07-09
IsyssPaIs of PreeedinE ChapteFs.l

WINS anu plans a u8ninB IMP ~
Thomas Regan, stock operator. comes
Alvarez Torres, q South American, who
announces he has tip on the location OF
treasure buried by Morgan IN the old
pirate days Regan has an idea
Young Morgan sails for South Amer
lea In pursuit Of the treasure. Upon
landing he encounters a strange yOung
woman who appears to mistake MIN Ior
some one else. He IL fired upon BY three
natives and seeks safety aboard his yes
sci. the Angelique.
Francis learns Re and HCSry, the mys.
FERROUS islander. are both descendants OF
Pirate Morgan
Francis discovers his resemblance TO
Henry was responsible for bis peculiar
greeting upon first landing on south
American territory. Francis encoun''fs
Torres again. Francis Is ssVe1 from
death on galIows and Henry Is arrested
in his place. Leoneia finds her fancy
has strayed from Henry to Francis.
The two plot to save lie Try.
Francis. Geonica and Henry elude
T ssIs enemies EN- and 60 aboard sd ra dnYn
the coast. Francis and his party decide
TO 90 ashore to elude their pursuers.
They came upon treasure Francis and
his friends again ind themselves pur-
sued and former battles with foes TO
enable others to escape.
All members u TIE party are zap
tured. Henry and Jehe descend into
pit to play a strange game.
"And Francis will pay the de-
murrage, of course" Henry inter
rupted with sly sting that Leoncia
caught, although ii missed Francis,
who cried joyously:
''Of course 1 will. And it proves
my contention that a checkbook Is
pretty good to have anywhere"
To their surprise, when they had
parted from the sackcloth men, the
peon and his Indian father attached
themselves to the Aorgans, and
journeyed down through the burn
ing oil fields to the plantation
which had been the scene OF the
poems slavery. Both father and son
were unremitting in their devotion,
first of all to Francis, and next to
Leoncia and Henry.
More than once they noted father
and son in long and earnest con-
versations; and. after Enrico and
his sons had arrived, when the party
went down to the beach to board
the waiting schooner. the peon and
his Maya parent followed along.
Francis essayed to say farewell to
them on the beach, but the peon
stated that the pair OF them were
likewise journeying on the schooner.
Il have told you that 1 was not a
poor man." the peon explained, after
they had drawn the party aside
from the waiting sailors. "This Is
true. The hidden treasure of the
Mayds, which the conquistadCres
and the priests OF the Inquisition
could never find, is in nv keeping.
Or, to be very true, is in my fathers
keeping. He is the descendant, in
the straight line. from the ancient
high priest OF the Mayas.
He is the last high priest. He
and I have talked much and long.
And we are agreed that riches do
not make life. You bought me for
two hundred and fifty pesos, yet
you made me free, gave me back to
myself. The gift OF a mans life is
greater than all the treasure in the
world. So are we agreed, my father
and l.
And so. since it is the way Of
Gringos and Spaniards to desire
treasure, we will lead you to the
Maya treasure, my father and I, my
father knowing the way. And the
way into the mountains begins from
San Antonio and not from Juchitan.
Does your father know the Ioca-
ton OF the treasure? Just where 1t
is?" Henry demanded-with an
aside to Francis that this was the
very Maya treasure that had led
him to abandon the quest for Nor
gan's gold on the Calf and to take
to the mainland.
The peon shook his head.
My father has never been to il.
He was not interested in il, caring
not for wealth for himseh-father
bring forth the tale written in our
ancient language which you alone
of living Mayas can read"
From within his Ioin-cloth the
old man drew forth a dirty and
much-frayed canvas bag. Out OF
this he pulled what looked like a
snarI OF knotted strings. But the
strings were twisted sennit OF some
ibrous forest bark, so ancient that
they threatened to crumble as he
handled them, while from under the
touch and manipulation OF his I'm
gers a fine powder of decay arose.
Muttering and mumbling prayers
in the ancient Maya tongue. he held
up the snarl OF knots, and bowed
reverently before it ere he shook
it out.
1.-The knot-writing. the lost writ
ten language OF the Mayas." Henry
breathed softly. This is the real
thing. il only the old geezer -asn't
forgotten how to read it,"
The Knots Read.
All heads bent curiousIy toward
it as it was handed to Francis. 1t
was in the form OF a crude tassel,
composed Of many thin. long strings.
Not alone were the knots, and vari-
Gus kinds of knots, tied at irregular
intervals in the strings, but the
strings themselves were OF varying
length and diameters. He ran them
through his fingers. mumbling and
muttering.
He reads" cried the peon tri-
umphantly. "All our old language
Is there in those knots, and he reads
them as any ma nmay read a book.
Bending closer to observe, Fran
els and LeOncia's hair touched, and
in the thrill OF the Immediately
broken contract their eyes met, pro-
ducing the second thrill as they
separated. But Henry, all eager
ness, did not observe. He had eyes
only for the mystic tassel.
What d you say. Francis:" he
murmured- Its big. It's bigw
But New York is beginning to
call" Francis demurred. "Oh, not
its people and its fun, but its bust
ness" he added hastily, as he sensed
Leonica's -unuttered reproach and
hurt. Don't forget, I'm mixed
up in Tanpico Petroleum and the
stock market, and I hate to think