American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1921-12-16
"This Is a Very Interesting Story, Sc
3 nor Gonzales"

"This is a Very Interesting Story, Sc
= o Gonzales"
l.
very much-a large brass-bound CHEST
Of an antique type such as is common
enough in my w country.
"0f course 1 had heard of the many
legends of treasure buried on Leeward
island. Consequently l was somewhat
prepared to find In the chest, what In
fact | did find there, over a million
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 not trouble ourselves
with the unwieidy chest, and 1t re
mains, | suppose, in the cabin of the
sloop. which I observed as we crossed
the cove to have been washed up upon
the rocks"
"This is a very interesting story,
Senior Gonzales" said Dugald Shaw,
quietly, land as you say, your visit
here deprives us of nothing, but mere
ly 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 Is interesting.
1t has also the element of mystery.
For there remains the question OF
what became of the owner of the
sloop. His final preparations for leav-
ing the island had evidently been
made, his possessions removed from
the hut, provisions for the voyage
brought on board the sloop-and then
he had vanished. What had befallen
him2 Did the gold carry with 1t some
deadly i~nfuence7 One plays, as 1t
were, with this idea, imagining the so
melancholy and bloody history Of these
old doubloOns. How, in the first place,
had he found them? Through chance
by following some authentic cluef
And then, in the moment of success,
he disappears-pouf !" And Senior
Gonzales disposed of the unknown by
blowing him airily from the tips of his
fingers.
However, we have the treasure
the main point, is 1t not2 But | have
often wondered"
IF you would like to hear the rest
of the story" said Mr.. Shaw, I'VE are
in a position to e%nlighten you. THAI
we are so, is due entirely TO this young
lady, Miss Virginia Harding"
The Spaniard rose and made obeis
ance profoundly. He resumed hi
seat, prepared to listen-no longer tn
government official, but the cordia
and interested guest and friend.
The story, of course, was a Ion
one. Everybody took a hand in tn
telling, ever Cookie, who was sum
moned from his retirement In tn
kitchen to receive the glory due hill
as a successful strategist. The jour
nal Of Peter was produced, and n
bags of doubloons handed over to tn
representative OF the little republic
l even offered to resign the silver shO'
buckle which 1 had found in the secrt
locker on the Island Queen, but thI
excess Of honesty received its due r.
ward.
1.-The d%oubloons being now I'm III
possession of the Santa Marinan nj
ton, / beg that you will consider &
your own the Island Queen and all
may contain" said Don Enrique
me with as magnificent an air
though the sand-hlled hulk Of
wrecked sloop were really a choi'
gift to bestow IN a young woman.
Plans were discussed for transfe
ring the pirates from the ave to Il
cutter, for they were to be taken
Santa Marina to meet whatever pu
ishment was thought fit for their rat
er indefinite m-doing. They had n
murdered US, they had robbed us
nothing but the provisions they HI
eaten; they had, after all, as mu
right on the island as ourselves. \
there remained their h~igh-handed CO
duct in invading our camp and tre'
ing us as prisoners, with the thre
of darker possibilities. ! fancy III
Santa Marinan justice works mair
by rule Of thumb. and that the coul
do not embarrass themselves mu
with p~recedents. Only / hope they
mo- shoot the picturesque Tony agaiI
a WALL
The power-schooner, n By
crew from the cutter, was to be tai
to Santa Marina also. Senior Coma
remained with us for the day as