The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-08-27


party which had shipped On the Rufus
Smith / then pursued my course TO
Leeward. But admit, my friends, that
l have not by my arrival, caused you
any material loss. Except that have
unfortunately been compelled TO pre-
sent you to yourselves In the charac-
ter of-as says the young lady-pi-
rates-medam, speak under correc-
toni have done you no injury. ehf
And that for the simple reason that
you have not discovered what you
sought, hence cannot be required TO
surrender It"
We looked at one another doubtful
ly. The ambiguous words Of the Span
lard, the something humorous and
hooking which lay behind his courtly
manner, put US quite In the dark.
"Senor Gonzales" replied the
ScOtchman, after q moments hesita-
ton. lit is true that 30 far only a
negligible amount Of what we came to
find has rewarded US. But ] cannot
in honesty conceal from you that we
know where to look for the rest Of II,
and that we had certainly expected to
leave the island with It In our posses
sion"
The dark indolent eyes Of our Wis
itor grew suddenly keen. Half-veiled
by the heavy lashes, they searched the
face Of Dugald Shaw. II seemed that
what they found In that bold and open
countenance satisfied them. His own
face cleared again.
II think we speak at cross-purposeS,
Mr.. Shaw" he said courteOusly, @and
that we may better understand each
other, am going % ten you q little
story. At about this season, two years
ago, the navy Of Santa Marina, the
same which new lies on the island,
was making q voyage OF inspection
along the coast Of the republic. It
was decided to include Leeward In
the cruise, as II had been unvisited for
a considerable time. hold no naval
rank-indeed, we are net a seafaring
people. and the captain Of La Colon
drina Is person frsm Massachusetts,,
jeremiah Bowles by name, but as the
representative Of his exoellency ac-
companied La Golondrina. On our ar
rival at Leeward came ashore In the
boat, and found to ny surprise q small
sloop at anchor In the cove. About
the clearing were the signs Of recent
habitatien. yet I knew that the old
German who had had the copra con-
cession here had been gone for some
time. No one responded to our shouts
and calls.
II turned my attention to the sloop.
In the cabin, besides Q few clothes. I
found something that interested me
very much-a large brass-bOund chest,
of an antique type such NJ 10 common
enough in my own country.
"Of course had heard OF the many
legends of treasure buried on Leeward
island Consequently was somewhat
prepared TO find IN the chest, what IA
fact I did find there. over a miliion
dollars in old Spanish coins
These coins, which were packed In
strong canvas bags, were, as you may
fancy, very quickly transferred to the
cutter. We did net trouble ourselves
with tte unwieldy chest, and Il ~
mains. suppose, In the cabin OF the
sloop, whlch / observed as we crossed
the cove to have been washed mp upon
the rocks"
'"This is a very interesting story,
Senior onzales," said Dugald Shaw,
quietly, land as you say. your visit
here deprives US Of nothing, but mere
Iy saves US further Improbable labor.
We are grateful to you"
The Spaniard bowed
you do me too much honor. But,
as you remark, the story IN interesting
II has also the element Of mystery,
For there remains the question OF
what became Of the owner Of the
sloop. His final preparations for Ieav'
ing the island had evidently been
made, his possessions removed from
the hut, provisions for the voyage
brought on board the sloep-and then
he had vanished. What had befallen
him? Did the gold carry with 1t some
deadly fnfiuencef One plays. a. Il
were, with this idea. imagining the 80
+! melancholy and bloody history Of these
old doubIoOns. How, In the FIRST place
had he found them1 Through chance
by following some authentic clue
And then, In the moment Of success
he disappears-poufI" And Senol
Gonzales disposed Of the unknown b
blowing him airily from the tips OF biz
| fingers.
However, We have the treasure
the main point. In &c notf But hays
often wondered"
"If you would ike to hear the RES
Of the story" said Mr.. Shaw. I'VE an
| In a position TO enlighten you Thai
/ we are 80, Is due entirely to this youn[
/ lady, Miss Virginia Harding"
The SDaniard rose and made obeAs