Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-02-16

1 Away sailed the BOnny Lass. sailing
once for all out Of the story. As fol
Captain Sampson. there Is a long GAP
In his history. haziIy filed by the
story Of his having been lieutenant to
survivors when Bonit0's black flag
was brought down by the British frlg-
ate Espiegle. But sober history
knows nothing OF him until he reap
pears years later, an aged and broken
man. In a back street OF Bristol.
Here was living a certain Hopper
down. Who had been bOatswain on the
Bonny Lass at the time that she so
regrettably lost her passengers over
board. He saw and recognized his old
skipper hobbIIng along the Bristol
aHays, and perhaps from pity took the
shabby creature home with him.
Hopperdown dealt in sailors Stops.
and had a snug room or two behind
the shop. Here for q while the for
mer Captain Sampson dwelt, and af-
ter a swift Illness here he died. With
the hand Of death upon him, his grim
lips at last gave up their secret. With
stiTening fingers he traced a rough
map. TO refresh Hopperdnwn,sL mem=
DRY after the lapse OF time since
either had seen the w~aNe-beaten cliffs
of Leeward island. For Captain
Sampson had never been able 10 re-
turn to claim the treasure which he
had left 10 Bill HalllwelI's silent
guardianship. IL he had, indeed,
sailed with Bonito, he had kept his
secret from his formidable command
er. Even as he had dealt with Bill
HaiIiweli, so might Bonito 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 10 be his gold-hls hidden
on far-off LeewRrd island. II
his. now. all his. The only other
who knew Its hiding place. his for
mate, had been killed iR-Haxana
a tavern brawl. The secret of the !
FRIGHT unattainable treasure was all |
he captains own. He dreamed Of
he doubloons, gloated over them, +
onged for them with n c~easeless I
passion OF desire. And In
he end he died. In Hopperdown's lit
lie shop In the narrow Bristol by I
treet.
Hopperdown, an aging man himself. 3
md In his humble way contented, fell
victim 10 the gold-virus. 3
lie sold all he had, and bought pas r
age In a sailing ship for Valparaiso, 5
rnsring that once so far on The wat Z
e would find means to accomplish the
est.. But the raging of the fever In \
Is thin old blood brought him TO his y
and the ship sailed without him.
she was midway In the Allan
c Hopperdown was dead.
The old man died In the house of a
iece, TO whom by way Of legacy he
IT his map. For years the map lay
mong other papers In a drawer, and
ere II was at length discovered by
son. himself a sailor. He learned
her Its history, and having been
the Pacific, and heard the tales and
lmors that cling about Leeward Y
land like the everlasting surf OF its =.
.lcompassing seas. this granddaughter
old Hopperdown's, by name David -
.nkins, became for the rest of his Y,
lys a follower of the ignis fatuus. or
Il his restless, hungry life he spent
wandering up and down the seas, re-
er on the watch for some dimly Inn ST,
lined chance by which he might come NJ
the treasure. And 80 at last he
lndered into the London hospital nd
lere he died. o.
And TO me the Widest feature OF the mr.
hole wild tale wat that at the last 81,
should have parted with the cher "a,
led secret Of a lifetime TO Miss
gglesby- Browne. oh
In a general way. every one of us
ew his history. Even / had had an AZ,
time Of 1t from Cuthbert vane. sts
It so far nobody had seen the map. Ell
ID now we were TO see II: the time Ms
at interviewed before that great paa
emit had already dwindled to min
IS. to seconds su,
But no: for Miss Browne arose and KIN
gan to make a speech. The begin :
" Of II dealt In a large and gener- sor
cling manner with comradeship and ma
atty. and the necessity of the prop the
mental attitude In approaching the !
we had In hand. I did not Mr.
ten closely. The truth is, / wanted dis
see that map. Under the spell OF IA
} island, l had almost begun to up.
ieve In the chest OF doubloons. pa,
suddenly 1 awoke with a start 10 4
fact that Miss Brown was talking fro
,ut me. Yes, |. Individually, was VIII
Young Person whose motives In ant
aching herself to the party were Frs
at variance with the amity and 4
fusl confidence which filled oil 9th put
breasts II was I who had uttered
rds that were painful and astound- ligl
to % conscious Of unimpuxnsbIe -
In this days OF toll TO come,
we're reminded. the Younx Person
wit. mysslf. would have no share.
wouid h huf nkentfe rv{tfc drrna