Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1922-01-26

but they obeyed. Meanwhile Violet
waited. looking implacahle as fate.
"And where Is Captain Magnusr
she demanded, glancing about her.
But no one knew what had become
of Captain Magnus.
AS for myself, continued to sit in
the shade and. tat. But / could hear
with ease all that was said.
mr.. Tubbs," began Miss Browne,
''your recent claims have been matter
Of prolonged consideration between
Miss Harding and myself. We feel
we cannot but feel--that there was
harshneSs in your announcement Of
them, an apparent concentration Of
your own interests, i'll BETTING mem
Der of this expedition. Also, that in
actual substance, they were excessive.
Not half, Mr.. Tubbs; oh, no, not half !
But one quarter, Miss Harding and
myself, as the joint heads of the Hard
ing Browne expedition, are inclined
to think no more than the reward
which Is your due. We suggest, there
'fOre, a simple way out Of the diff
Guilty. Mr.. Dugald Shaw was engaged
on liberal terms to find the treasure.
He has not found the treasure. He
has not found the slightest clue to its
present whereabouts. Mr.. Tubbs, on
the contrary, has found a clue. 1t is
clue of the first importance. 1t is
equivalent almost to the actual discov-
cry of the chest. Therefore let Mr.
Shaw, convinced am sure by this
calm presentation Of the matter Of the
| justice of such a course, resign his
claim to q fourth Of the treasure In
favor of Mr.. Hamilton HI. Tubbs, and
agree to receive instead the former
allotment of Mr.. Tubbs, namely, one
sixteenth"
Having offered this remarkable sug-
gestion, Miss Browne folded her arms
and waited for 1t to bear fruit.
1t did-in the enthusiastic response
of Mr.. Tubbs. well, we'll" he ex-
claimed. ITO think of our takin' old
H. H. that literal! O. course, havin'
formed my habits in the financial CEN
tiers Of the country, l named stiff
price at first-a stiff price, won't
deny. But that's jest the leetle way
of man used to handlin' large af-
fairs-nOthing else to it, do assure
you. The Old Man himself used to
say, There's old H. H.--you'd think
he'd eat the paint off a house, he'll
show up that graSpin' in a deal. And
all the time it's jest love of the game.
Let him know he's gOin to win out,
and bless you, old H. H. will swing
right round and fair force the profits
on the other party. FL. H. Is slicker
than soap to handle, If only you handle
him right Can l say without hard
feelin's that jest now H. II. was not
handled right? Instead O. bein' joshed
with, as he looked for, he was took up
short, and even them which he might
have expected to show CONFIDENCE
here Mr.. Tubbs cast a reprOachful
eye at Aunt Jane-''run OF with the
notion that he meant Jest what he
said. All he'd done for this expedi-
ton, his loyalty and faith to same,
was forgotten, and he was thought Of
as a self-seeker and VOracious Shark !"
The pain of these recOllections
damned the torrent Of Mr.. Tubs
speech.
"Oh, Mr.. Tubbs!" breathed Aunt
Jane, heart-brOkenly, and of course
tear tT1ckled gently down her nose,
following the path of many previous
foa vh fOh nj DIV lofk hot
line traces.
Mr.. Tubbs managed In some impOs-
sible fashion to roll one eye tenderly
at Aunt Jane, while keeping the other
fastened shrewdly on the remainder
of his audience.
miss Hlgglesby-B Browne and Miss
Jane Harding, he resumed. II accept.
1t would astOnish them as has only
known III. H. on his financial side to
see him agree to reduction of prof
its like this without a kick. But I'm
man Of impulse, 1 am. Get me on
my soft side and a kitten amt more
impulsive than old H. H. And o.
course the business of this expedition
amt jest business to me. It's-er-
friendship, and-er-sentiment-
short, there's feelin'S that is more
than worth their weight in goldy'
At these significant words the agita.
ton Of Aunt Jane was extreme Was
1t possible that Mr.. Tubbs was declar-
ing himself in the presence Of others
and was response demanded from
herself-would his sensitive nature, so
lately wounded by cruel suspicion, in
terpret her silence as fatal to his
hopes? But while she struggled be-
tween maiden shyness and the fear
Of crushing Mr.. Tubbs, the conversa-
tion had swept on.
Mr.. Shaw" said Miss Browne, "you
have heard Mr.. Tubbs, In the interest
Of the expedition, literally consent to
reduce his claim by oRethalf. Doubt
less. If only In a spirit of emulation,
you will attempt to match this con-
duct by cahcsllng our present agree-
ment and conserving to another cred
iting you with !, the former sixteenth
share OF Mr.. Tubbs."
"Don't do 1t. Shaw-hold the fort,
- T..