The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-10-29

enough, the light logged in the direction
OF the stables and at last disappeared.
quick as thought Jack slipped from the
spinney, round to the back of the house,
tried the door, which was locked, and sped
onward. AS he went all his old knowledge
Of the house came back to him. He knew
exactly where there was a fOOthOld; and
with an upward glance at a little window
which had been a goal many times In
Jacks youth he Skinned up a drainpipe,
set his toe in the old place, reached the
window-and found he had brOadened a
great deal since last he had entered the
house in that way. But he was determined,
and although the window catch tore his
jacket he managed at last to wriggle into
the house. Here was his own room, as it
had always been-the little bed, the book
shelves, the table, and in the corner a
model ship. Even the darkness seemed
luminous, for the sky was yet gray and
the glow of it lighted the room. All was
unchanged.
Now what was he to dO2 What was it
that was causing such a din in his head2
The ship2 The ship! Why, there must be
something.
Jack stepped across t Othe corner in which
the ship stood. At first he could not re-
member why the sight of this should so
have started a fresh thrill in him. Then
he knew. In past years he had been wont
to put his treasures in this ship. 1t had q
little secret nick which, caught by the
fingernail, allowed a hatch to be removed.
Below the hatch the hollow inside Of the
snip ~ Al AZ AAg A6At NC II vas
not visible now, but Jack put his hand
into the hiding place and brought out some
papers. He did not recognize any of them
at first. Then he gave a cry, for as he
held these papers up he saw that one Of
them was in his uncle's handwriting. 1t
was a sealed envelope and was addressed
to Jack. He tore it open.
NJ dear boy. Whether you come back
or not while live, 1 shall cause this to be
put into your ship where / know you keep
all your papers. / want you to know QOr
they tell me 1 shall not live many weeks)
that ] have always a%pplauded your dash
into the fighting line. 1t was a shock to
me, but 1t made me very proud Of you.
Now, my dear boy, you know that we have
always meant Revett's Mead to be yours.
1t is yours; but only II you are alive, as
1 believe you are alive. l knOw that you
will come back here if you live, and that
your first thought will be to search your
ship for treasure, as you always used to
do. And so l am leaving this note, with
my will, where you land l hope you alOne)
will find 1t. My will, then, is with this.
So are various other papers which you
may need. / hope / may be here to greet
you. / fear not. And so / must add that
you have always been as dear to me as
a son of my own could have been. No man
could have had a better son, and / have
loved you very dearly. ] leave you my
all with every confidence, because / am
sure that you will deal worthily with it.
Jack suddenly could see no more. The
darkness made the words swim before his
eyes. He still knelt by the window, the
papers neglected by his side. He was so
moved and so absorbed by memory that
he did not see the returning lantern; did
not hear sounds below, nearing the room,
within the room. He did not realize, that
the electric light was switched on and that
he was revealed upon his knees.
Only when the caretaker ran forward to
seize him, crying: "Hey! What you dom
here, chr" did Jack turn, with a very sad
smile, and explain quietly: I've been
burgling my own house, Mr.. Caretaker
You'd better have me arrested"
Copyright: 1926: By Frank swinnertOn.