Evening star., 1922-05-07
NATURALLY he would" says I.

Anyway. We had an interesting
ramble about the little island, and
Barry lost three balls in the palmetto
scrub. but holed lucky two on the
punch-bowl hole, and by 1880 we were
greet Uncle Nels as he climbed out
Of the guide boat without any fish.
where's that big tarpon you were
going to catch?" I demanded.
"Huh!" says Uncle Nels. Got away.
had him hooked all right. But he
jumps around too much and I get
tired in the arms. Then when rest
the pole on the edge he runs under
the boat and smash goes everything.
What's the use. though? He's no good
to eat II you get him. I didn't know
that, but the guide says all you do
Is have him weighed and take on one
scale and write your name on it. Me,
I don't fool around with no hsh !
can't eat. Who's that boy there?"
So we had to explain. as best we
could the mystery Of the stowaway.
on train and send him home"
"But there's no train out Of here.
Uncle Nels," I protested. 'In fact,
there's none nearer than Fort Myers,
the captain tells me. We might run
in there and drop him off," he says.
"All right" agreed Uncle Nels. $50
long as we get him of somewhere.
He looks bad. that one. bet he
eats lot. too; and spent so much
hshin' for fool tarpon I feel poor al
ready"
ELIPPER listened to this decision
without batting an eyelid and
disappeared in the gallery after
luncheon. Then, as We were chug-
ging down Pine Island Sound. past
Captiva and sanibei Islands and
other places with cute names. no.
ticed him in earnest confab; first with
Inez. then with Barry. and finally
with Uncle Nels. Ny turn didn't
come until we were halfway up the
Caloosahatchie river and within an
hours sail Of this fort place. I was
sitting alone. way up in the bow.
watching the palm m-studded shore
line, when the youngster sidled up.
Lets see." says I. "you favored US
with your company because the fam
lily physician had ordered you south
for your health? Wasn't that it?"
Jaw, say"' says he. mo bluf1in'
you. is there? But you're a reg'lar
girl, you are. and I got a good notion
to tell you all about it."
Really" says I. Shoot. then"
"You-you won't spill 1t to the 9TH
ers?" he asked.
I'm an oyster" says L, '.But let's
Ieel sul 90 o. 81 sIua II pusasIspun
I sv :IsddIId 'Aou ',qsIsI1s ,Ls,s
the forepeak along with pick and
shovel. That right?"
"sure, Miss Trilby May" says he.
IT didn't mean to give 1t away to- any
body, either; but they're all 80 strong
for sendin' me home that I gotta have
somebody on my side. Lissen. I'm
after pirate gold"
sty1 ITEAT?" says I. staring. at this
w impish-facedl lyoungster.
Heaps of it," says he. ".But may
be you won't believe 1t unless I slip
you the whole works. So Pll start
with old Mendez. He's an old gink
that goes stone crabbin. and mulletin'
when his rheumatism amt too bad.
but mainly he hangs around tho bait
boat down to the hshin' pier. A Span
lard, he is, and they say his grand
father was one of the real pirates
that used to come ashore along here
to bury their loot Everybody knows
that much But only . few got wise
to the map"
awhat map, F'1ipper?' asked.
"The one his granddaddy left him.
that shows where, one of the treasure
chests was hid" says Flipper. HE
only talks about 1t when he's soused.
And that's why old Dillon used to
have him up to the house so much
and give him SO many shots OF hooch.
/ heard him one Saturday night when
they thought was asleep. And when
Dillon got old Mendez well tanked
up he got him to fash the map. They
had II spread out on the table. and
while they was back to me stretch
I'd my neck and got peek. could
see the names Of the islands marked
Main. and the red cross whsrs the
ohsst was buried on one of EN-.
ceurse. !. kasw nsxt day that Dillon
- Axin' 10 % 70 Il but while; hs
was rustlia. around for . boat : toun6