Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1921-11-05

In his history. hazily filled by the
story Of his having been lieutenant TO
Benlto Bonlto, and one of the two
survivors when Bonito's black flag
was brought down by the British frig-
ate Espiege. But sober history
knows nothing of him until he reap
pears years later, an aged and broken
man, In back street OF Bristol.
Here was living certain Hopper
down, Who had been boatswain on the
Benny Lass at the time that she so
regrettably lost her passengers over
board He saw and recognized his old
skipper hobblng along the Bristol
quays, and perhaps from pity took the
shabby creature home with him.
l1opperdown dealt In sailors Stops,
and had snug room or two behind
the shop. Here for while the for
mer Captain Sampson dwelt, and af-
ter swift illness here he died. With
the hand Of death upon him, his grim
lips at last gave up their secret. With
stlffening fingers he traced rough
map, to refresh Hopperdown's mem
DRY after the lapse Of time since
either had seen the wave-beaten cliffs
Of Leeward island. For Captain
Sampson had never been able to re-
turn to claim the treasure which he
had left to Bill Halliwell's silent
guardianship. II he had, indeed,
sailed with Bonito, he had kept his
secret from his formidable command
err. Even as he had dealt with Bill
Halliwell, so might Bonlto deal by him
or at least the lions share must be
yielded to the pirate captain. And
the passion of Captain SIMPSONS life
had come to be his gold--his hidden
hoard on far-off Leeward island. 1t
was his, now, all his. The only other
who knew its hiding place, his for
mer mate, had been killed in Havana
in tavern brawl. The secret of the
bright unattainable treasure was all
| the captains own. He dreamed OF
the doubloons, gloated over them,
longed for them with 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-vllus.
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 to his
bed. and the ship sailed without him.
Before she was midway In the ATTAIN
tic Hopperdown was dead.
The old man died In the house of a
niece, to whom by way of legacy he
left his map. For years the map lay
among other papers In drawer, and
here II was at length discovered by
her son, himself sailor. He learned
from her It's history, and having been
In the Pacific, and heard the tales and
rumors that cling about Leeward
island like the everlasting surf Of It's
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 Inn
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 at the last
he should have parted with the cher
ished secret OF lifetime to Miss
Higglesby- Browne.
In general way, every one Of us
knew his history. Even | had had an
outline of II from Cuthbert Vane.
But SO far nobody had seen the map.
And now we we're to see II; the time
that interviewed before that great
event had already dwindled to min
utes, to seconds
But no; for Miss Browne arose and
began to make a speech. The begin
ming OF II dealt in large and gener-
alizing manner with cOmradeship and
loyalty. and the necessity Of the prop
or mental attitude In approaching the
business we had In hand. did not
listen closely. The truth Is, wanted
10 see that map. Under the spell Of
the island, had almost begun TO
believe in the chest Of doubloOns.
Suddenly awoke with a start to
the fact that Miss Brown was talking
about me. Yes, l., individually, was
the Young Person whose motives In
attaching herself to the party were
SO at variance with the amity and
mutual confidence which filed 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 we're reminded, the Young Person
TO wit, myself. would have no share.
She would be but skeptic critic. drone
In the busy hive. Thus 1t was obyi-
Gus that the Young Person could not