Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-09-16
Book II.
CHAPTER I.

gerry.
Need soy that II was a great occa'
sion when / was once more back safe
In John Saunders snuggery, telling my
story to my two friends, John and
Charlie Webster. all Just as If l had
never stirred from my easy chair, In
stead OF having spent an exciting
month or so among sharks, dead men
blood.lapping ghosts, card-playing
skeletons and such like7
My friends listened to my yarn in
characteristic fashion, John Saunders
eyes like mice peeping out of a cup
board, and Charlie Webster's huge
bulk poised almost threatening, as ii
were, with the keenness of his atten.
ton. His deep-set kind brown eyes
glowed like a boys rs I went on, but
by their dangerous kindling at certain
points of the story. those dealing with
our pockmarked friend, Henry P. To-
bias, Jr.. I soon realized where, for
him, the chief interest Of the story
lay.
The rebel" he roared on,
once or twice, using an adjective pc
culiarly English.
For him my story had but one moral
the treason Of Henry T. Tobias, Jr
The treasure might as wei! have had
no existence, so far as he was con-
cerned. and the grim climax in the
cave drew nothing from him hut pre-
occunied nod. And John Saunders
was little more satisfactory. Both of
them allowed me to end in silence
They both seemed to be thinking
deeply.
II must say you two are g great au-
dience." l said presently, perhaps
rather childishly nettled.
Its very serious matter" said
John Saunders, and l realized that it
was not my crony but the secretary to
the treasury Of his Britannia males
tvs government at nassau that was
talking. As he spoke he looked across
at Charlie Webster, almost as If for.
getting me. Something, should be
done about II, Ell, Charlie?' he con-
tinued.
g. traitor" roared Charlie. once
more employing that British adjective
And then he turned TO me: s
Look here, old pal, I'll make a bar
gain with you. if you like. / suppose
you're keen for that other treasure
now, chg
= 81 am" said l. rather stiffly.
well. then. III go after 1t with
you-on one condition. You can keep
the treasure, if you'll give me Tobias
II would do my heart good TO get him
as you had the chance Of doing tina,
afternoon. Whatever were you doing
to miss him?"
II proposed to myself the satisfac'
ton of making good that mistake"
said, ION our next meeting. l feel
owe II to the poor old captain"
Never mind; hand the captains
rights over TO me-and IN help you
all I know with your treasure. Be
sides, Tobias Is job for an English
man--eh, John? It's matter of king
and country with me. With you il
would be mere private vengeance
With rue ii will be an execution: with
you it would be a murder. Isn't that
so, JohnT
Exactly" John nodded.
"Since you were away" Charlie be.
gan again, 1--WE. bought the prettast
yawi you ever set eyes on-the Fla
ningo-forty-fve over all, and this
time the very fastest boat in the haT.
Dor. Yes, she's faster even than the
Susan 3. Now I've holiday due me
in about a fortnight. Say the word,
and the FIamingo's yours for a couple
of months, and her captain too. !
make only that, one condition"
"All right. Charlie" ! agreed; hes
yours"
Whereat Charlie shot out huge
paw like a shoulder Of mutton and
grabbed my hand with as much fervor
as though I had saved his life or done
him some other unimaginable kind
ness. And as he did SO his broad,
sweet smile came back again. He was
thinking of Tobias.
I While Charlie Webster vas arrang-
ing his affairs SO that he might be
able to take his holiday with free
mind busted myself with provision
Ing the Flamingo. and in casually chat
ting with one and another along the
water front, In the hope of gathering
some hint that might guide US on our
coming expedition. / thought II pos
sibie, too, that chance might thus
bring me some information as to the
recent movements of Tobias.
In this way made the acquaintance
of several old salts. both white and
black, one or two of whom time and
their neighbors had invested with a
legendary SAVIOR Of the old "wrecking
days." which, If rumor speaks true,
are not entirely vanished from the
remoter corners Of the islands. But
either their romantic halos were en-.
tirely dIe to imaginative gossip, OF
they themselves were too shrewd to
be drawn. for got nothing out OF
them to my purpose.
One afternoon In the course Of these
rather fruItless II interesting inyesti-
cations among the picturesque ship
yards Of Bay street had wandered
farther along that historic water front
than II customary with sightseeing pc