The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-08-06

the doubIoons. gloated over them,
l0nged for them with a ceaseless
gnaWing passion Of desire. And In
the end he died. in Hopperdown's lit
tie shop In the narrow Bristol by
street.
Hopperdown, an aging man himself
and In his humble way contented, fell
straightWay victim to the gold-virus-
He sold all he had. and bought pas
sage in a sailing ship for Valparaiso,
trusting that once SO far on the way
he would find means TO accomplish the
rest. But the raging OF the fever in
his thin old blood brought him 70 his
bed, and the ship sailed without him
Before she was midway in the Allan
tic HopperdoWn was dead.
The old man died in the house Of a
niece, 70 whom by way OF legacy he
left his map. For years the map lay
among other papers in a drawer, and
here it was at length discovered by
her son, himself sailor He learned
from her its history, and having been
In the Pacific, and heard the tales and
rumors that cling about Leeward
encompassing seas, this granddaughter
of old Hopperdown's, by name David
jenkins, became for the rest of his
days a follower of the ignis fatuus.
All his restless, hungry life he spent
In wandering up and down the seas,
ever on the watch for some dimly i'm
agined chance by which he might come
at the treasure. And so at last he
wandered into the London hospital
where he died
And TO me the widest feature of the
whole wild tale was that ar the last
he should have parted with the cher
ished secret of a lifetime to Miss
Higglesby- Browne.
In general way, every one of US
knew his history. Even I had had an
outline of it from Cuthbert Vane
But so far nobody had seen the map.
And now we were TO see it: the time
that interviewed before that great
event had already dwindled to min
ates, to seconds
But no; for Miss Browne arose and
began TO make speech. The begin
ming of it dealt in large and gener-
alizing manner with comradeship and
loyalty. and the necessity of the prop
er mental attitude in approaching the
| business we had in hand. ] did not
listen closely. The truth is, | wanted
TO see that map Under the spell of
the island, I had almost begun to
believe In the chest of doubloons.
Suddenly | awoke with a start TO
the fact that Miss Brown was talking
the Young Person whose motives in
attaching herself TO the party were
| so at variance with the amity and
mutual confidence which filled all 9TH
er breasts. 1t was / who had uttered
words that were painful and astound-
! ing TO one conscious of unimpugnable
motives. In the days Of toll TO come.
we were reminded, the Young Person
/ TO wit, myself, would have no share.
/ She would be but skeptic, critic, drone
| in the busy hive. Thus Ii was obvi-
Gus that the Young Person could not
/ with any trace of justice claim part
or lot in the treasure. Were it not
| well, then, that the Young Person be
required to make formal and written
remuneration of all interest in She
golden hoard soon TO reward the faith
and enterprise of the Harding Browne
expedition? Miss Browne requested
the sense of the meeting on the mat
ter.
| Aunt Jane was quivering, her
round eyes fixed on Miss Higglesby-
Browne like a fascinated rabbits on
a serpent Mr.. Hamilton Tubbs had
pursed his lips to an inaudible whis-
tie, and alternately regarded the sum-
/ mits of the palms and stole swift fer
ret glances at the faces Of the COM
/ pany. Mr.. Vane had remained for
some time in happy Inconsistencies
of the significance Of Miss Brownies
Grafton 1t was something to see ii
gradually penetrate to his perceptions
vexing the alabaster brow with faint
wrinkle of perplexity, then suffusina
his cheeks with agonized and indig-
nant bushes. 'sOh, I say, really, you
know!" lowered in unspoken protest
on his tongue. He threw implorine
looks at Mr.. Shaw, who alone Of al
) the party sat imperturbable, except
for a viciously bitten lip.
Miss HiggIesby- Browne had drawn
deep breath, preparatory TO resum
ing her verbal ramble, but sprang tC
my feet.
Miss Browne" / said, in tones less
coldly calm than / could have wished
'tif you have thought 1t necessary I'd
to crate at this length merely tC
tell me that am to have no share
in this ridiculous treasure or yours
you have wasted good deal Of en-
ergy. In the first place, don't be
] lieye in your treasure" (Which, o
course, despite my temporary lapse,
really didn't.) Il think you are-sil
j lier. than any grown-up people / eve
D saw. In the second place, anything
d you do find you are welcome to keep
b Do you think / came along with PEG
pie who didn't want me, and hav,