White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1935-03-21
CHAPTER I

CfAFIEtI l
Seventy hours of hard nor easter
had tied up marine activities In and
about the little fishing port on the
Maine coast, and now on the warm
hazy day that followed, work and play
began to carry on again.
Lobster men put out to haul and bait
their pots. Small inshore seiners stood
on and off, masthead lookouts on
| watch for the first run of mackerel re-
ported A scanty summer population,
for the place was remote and thus far
unexpected, ventured forth In pleasure
craft, skirting the rugged and storm
beaten coastline, enjoying the smell
| and feel of the sea breezes.
A furlong off rocky point where
the sluggish swell mounted more steep
| ly over sunken ledge known as Pol
| lock rock, a young man in fisher
mans dory was showing his boat slow
ly and to all appearance aimlessly
about. He stood facing forward and
thrust at the oars with easy strokes.
Passing fishermen sighting him thus
/
object of his efforts.
whats Tom Jordan dom over yon-
der?"
| Dunno. Tryin to sweep up an an
Choir, maybe. There's plenty of EN-
daown there"
This theory was as good as any other.
But it was not enough to satisfy the
curiosity of girl who since early
morning had kept Tom under obser-
walton from the porch or window of a
long, rambling house that was set on
a knoll under the oaks of wooded
island about a furlong away. The
young man once or twice had caught
the photographic flash from the fore
lenses of her glass; he smiled to him
self, little sheepishly.
He smiled still more when presently
he saw her go down the winding steps,
big slabs of stone, and walk out on the
runway to the float. Getting into a
rowboat she Showed off and pulled in
his direction with a stroke that was of
the longshoreman rather than of the
athletic oarSWoman.
Coming alongside she rested on her
oars.
What in the world are you up to-,
Tom?"
Call it treasure hunting Jessica."
His voice had the local accent, old
English with a slight drawl.
What sort of treasurer"
your sort. You"
ME, Tom? Where do you think I
amp" twinkle appeared in the dark
eyes.
"All around me, just out Of reach.
Up overhead, or down below there.
That seems the handiest place to look
for you, just now"
Down there-?" uuiZzically,
Down there" He pointed to her COL
orful reflection in the still water
But you said that you were after
treasure. I'd never have thought you
a fortune hunter, Tom"
II am, though. Only it's not your
fortune I'm after. One to match it,"
Jessica nodded, and her long lashes
dropped. She knew his meaning and
secretly wished that somehow he could
reach success. Between the two of
them-or between Jessica and any
sutton, as far as that went-bulked a
conditional inheritance of one hundred
thousand dollars. BY the terms of her
fathers will, in order even to seek her
in marriage, man would have to own
a like amount. Sometimes I wonder
if money is worth that much" she
questioned demurely you see if 1
ever did want to marry, I'd have to
do all my charming in the baldheaded
row. OF course dont-and then, even
If my Lochinvar came out OF the West
with saddle bags full of gold, there are
two pretty long ifs, even then. My
guardians consent-and mine"
"I'll cross those bridges when come
to them," Tom said doggedly but
I'll cross 'em!"
Eyes, that will be time enough Jes-
sica admitted. "Gardy says my fortune
is about one hundred thousand dollars.
Do you think you can hook that much
off bottom, Tom?"
mo. But, with little good luck,
l might hook up the key to open the
vault to it,"
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