The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-10-26
THE Y
|sEfOR DRY
Buried Treasure
~ FREDERICK HAR1
eGI wonder why grandfather KEY


geated on q low duno of sand on
z the beach. Behind them the and
glopsd gently up to where White
houses and smooth she'll walks g.
nit1ed the presence OF a summer
colony; before them was the nat
beach, on which the waves hroks
gently. Il was a glortously calm
day. the ocean was unruffled by
bresze; the ground6wen was the
only movement OF TIE water. Far
OUT a steamer trailed its smoke
ACROSS the horizon.
sPerhaps it tells where there's
buried treasure" Foster Reeves
voice was bantering "Here-let's
see IT,"
Beatrice handed him the paper.
ut was in his desk for years
and years" she said. 20 think It's
an old survey OF th!i 1T Of the
country. But you car .o9ls at it,"
Reeves studied the time-worn
paper. It carried q fairly clear
u outline of the beach which. az.
cordiug to the scale indicated In
one corner, represented about six
miles Of territory. The ocean was
distinguished by neatly drawn
lines running parallel to each
. other; that part OF the map which
represented the mainland was
covered with marks and figures.
East 100 rods to powlder, south
81 PAGES. he read. Find point by
teklng line on the big oak and
Hartwell'B light"
where's Hnrtwelrs Iight?" he
asked Of Beatrice.
1t Isn't hare any more" she
replied. ut used TO be over there
on that hummock where tho pile
OF stones u.s." She pointed, and
Reeves. following her finger, saw
n hump Of sand surmounted by a
heap OF stones that showed evil
dances OF having been worked by
the hand OF man And then his
gaze was arrested By feature Of
the landscape which he had seen
many times before but had never
particularly noticed.
l4bout a QUAKER Of a mile In
land stood a majestic oak tree
by far the largest in the neighhur-
hood. It's spreading branches wore
.Sstihouetted against the sinking
nun and it showed like monarch
Of the countryside. Reeves caught
Ills breath. The big oak said the
directions on the map. Tint must
be the big oakland there was
Hartwsll's light, just as described.
And SIS hc cast his glance aroaud
be saw down the beach an enor-
nous bowlder jutting from the
sand--n hug gray rock that dom
iaetud the immediate foreground.
lie turned TO Beatrice in excite
nlent.
"Look!" he said. "Thcre's tle
;s}tg oas and the old Highland
down there Is the bowlder: 1t must
81 the one your grandfather
meant; there's not another stone
anywhere near its size. We ought
to follow The directions on the
map"
Beatrice laughed.
aof course the bowider and the
tree and the hight arc there, she
said "Grandfathc- made this na1
sof this part Of the beach--Tly
shouldn't thsy be there: He never
hid any treasure. Come on let's go
In. It's getting late.
Foster, aroused from his dreams
OF treasure by his companions
scnse. followed her into the house
But the idea of buried treas,
ure would not down. When the
rest OF the party were sleeping
that night Foster found his mind
running On pieces Of eight and
6oubloous hidden in a chest nj the
point fifty seven PAGES south OF
the bowldef where tho big oak and
5artwell's light stood in line. Ho
tested and turned, but sleep would
not como. At last he gave up and
left his bed.
4 may be a darn fool" he said
reslgnedly, "but I'm going to fol-
Iof this bunch. )"
A few minutes later he was
dressed and walking rapidly TO
the beach. The simple directions
ON the map were easily followed
and in a very short time he found
J hfmself at a point where the great
oak and tho pile of stones that
had once been Hartwoll's light
we're In line. It was not difficult
tC find where this line cut another
fifty seven PAGES south from the
howlder no had noticed IN the Of
tprnoon. His point established he
took q shovel he had brought with
rliim and began to dig.
An hour slipped by. His hands
were blistered and his back was
sore, but the strange obsession
that was on him would not leave
him IN peace. He paused to take
n breathing spell and Strengthened,
Time he started. for down the
beach toward him came figure
in white.
TITS grandfather's ghost!" he
thought, and smiled to himself for
his folly; but as the figure drew
near he recognized It.
'Beatrice." he exclaimed
"Foster, you eilly thing!" Beat
fice's voice was relieved. IL
heard you moving around and saw
Won 10 out; and when you didn't
come back followed you-l
Thought you might BIO sleep.walk.
tnf What are you doiug?"
bster srinned shnmefacedly
q I'm looking for grandfather's
treasure" he confessed.