CHAPTER XIII.--The Hidden Treasure.
Bulger looked around cautiously on every side, and believing that theperson who had discovered him had gone away he sank back into hishiding place.
Dick hastily rejoined Madge and told her about the identity of the manin the tree. He also outlined his plans for the rascal's arrest. Theywere about to hurry to the house when Dick caught sight of a figureslouching through the trees toward the gully. He guessed it was Parker,and he altered his arrangements.
"Parker is coming to see Bulger. There he is yonder, just going downinto the gully. I'm going to remain and see what happens. You hurry tothe house and send John and William here as fast as they can come. Tellthem to fetch their revolvers and a piece of rope. Now, then, Madge,put your best foot forward."
She hastened away, while he crept back toward the big rock. Parkerwas coming up the gully with a package and a tin bucket in his hands.Presumedly they held food for the escaped convict. Dick gained therock without attracting Parker's attention. The ex-convict approachedthe tree, laid his burdens on the ground and, climbing up, stuck hishead down the opening. He remained a few minutes talking with the maninside and then returned to the ground and carried up first the packageand then the pail, which he passed down to Bulger. He remained at thecrotch talking to his pal. Suddenly there was a cracking sound and thetree began to bend over.
Parker uttered an exclamation of alarm and started to clamber down. Hismovements brought matters to a head. The tree broke off at its rootsand went over, carrying the ex-convict with it. As it hit the groundDick saw a pair of legs, which belonged to Bulger, kicking like mad inthe air. As they hit the roots of the tree they made the punky materialfly about in a cloud. Parker was half-stunned for a moment and then hegot up and went to his companion's aid, catching him by the legs andpulling him out, all covered with dirt. Bulger swore like a trooper,blaming his pal for the catastrophe.
"Where am I goin' to roost now?" said Bulger. "You'll have to take meover to your place after dark and let me stay in your barn. I can'tstay out here all night, and, what's more, I won't."
"I s'pose you'll have to come, but it's dangerous for me."
"Dangerous be blamed! It's your duty to help an old pal when he's indeep."
He gave the roots of the tree a kick, expressive of his sentiments. Thekick uncovered something that attracted his attention.
"Hello! What's this?" he cried.
He stooped and picked a bag out of the dust.
"What have you got there?" asked Parker, looking interested.
"Blame my hide, if it ain't a bag of money!" cried Bulger.
"Money!" cried Parker. "Then we'll divvy up."
"No, we won't divvy nothin'. Findin's is keepin's. I wonder if there'sany more?"
Down he got on his hands and knees and scratched in the dust, bringingto light a second bag.
"Hurray! Another! I'm made for fair. Here's a third and there's moreunderneath. I'm rich!"
Dick beheld all this with feelings of the greatest astonishment. Bagsof money hidden in the roots of the dead tree! Then the gypsy woman'sprediction occurred to him like a flash. This was his fortune, then,and these rascals had brought it to light. What was on his propertybelonged to him by right of ownership in all. And now these fellowshad it in their clutches, or rather Bulger had it, and seemed disposedto hold on to all of it. That was too much for Dick to stand. He wasabout to rush on Bulger and order him to give up the money when Parkersnatched up a couple of the bags.
"Drop them!" roared Bulger.
"I'm only takin' my share," said Parker.
Bulger sprang up and jumped at the ex-convict, who had to let thebags fall to defend himself. In another moment they were both at it,hammer-and-tongs, with the advantage in Bulger's favor, owing to hisbuild and strength. Dick saw his advantage. Dashing forward, he pickedup the long stick which lay on the ground and began laying it on theheads and shoulders of the two fighters. That brought the scrap to asudden end, and the men turned to face this new and unexpected trouble.They at once recognized Dick, and as they bore him no good will, Bulgerparticularly, they lost no time in making a rush at him.
"Now we've got you!" hissed Bulger.
At that critical moment for Dick the gardener and the footman cameon the scene and sprang to the boy's assistance. The gardener seizedBulger and the footman nabbed Parker, compelling them to release Dick.The boy then assisted the gardener in securing the escaped convict,and they had their hands full doing it. The butler was able to subdueParker alone. Bulger was bound with the rope, and he was furious at hiscapture, not to speak of the loss of the money he believed he had comeinto. The young New Yorker then called the attention of the butler andthe gardener to the bags of money lying on the ground.
"They came out of the roots of that tree, and as this property is mine,the money is mine, too, unless somebody can establish a mighty strongclaim to it. It has evidently been hidden there for a great many years.The person who put it there is doubtless dead, else he would havereclaimed it long ago. I shall take charge of it by right of ownershipin the property," said Dick, who at once set about gathering togetherthe six bags Bulger had brought to light, while the ruffian hurledimprecations at him as he watched him. Dick then hunted for more, andfound six additional bags. The weight of the whole was more than eventhe three of them could carry, had they not been embarrassed by the twoprisoners, so Dick told the men to take the rascals to the house andlock them up while he would remain in charge of the money.
Then came a fresh difficulty. Bulger refused to walk.
"Return to the house, William, and get Mr. Mason to telephone to thevillage for the constables," said Dick. "I'll see that Parker doesn'tget away."
So the butler departed on his errand. He was back in twenty minutes,accompanied by Mr. Mason and a neighboring farmer, who had called atthe house. The prisoners were taken to the road where the automobilestood. Then the twelve bags of money were carried and put in thevehicle. Leaving the two servants to walk, the rest of the partyproceeded to the house in the vehicle. Bulger and Parker were locked upin an outhouse to await the arrival of the constable, while the moneywas taken into the house and displayed before the astonished eyes ofthe ladies.
The money-bags were then opened and found to contain gold eagles ofa date about the time of the War of the Rebellion, and being countedfooted up $120,000.
"What a lucky boy you are!" Madge said to him, after supper.
"I hope I am," he replied.
"Hope!" she exclaimed, in surprise. "Why, you are, with all that money."
"There is something better than money. Something I'd rather have thanall the gold I have come in possession of."
"What is that?"
"It's your love, Madge," he replied earnestly.
"Oh, Dick!" she cried blushingly.
"Have I got it, or have I dreamed in vain?"
He put his arm around her waist and she did not draw back. Dick didnot return to New York by the early train on Monday morning, as he hadarranged to do, instead of which he went to Carlin with Mr. Mason inthe auto and placed the money in the Carlin National Bank, receivingtherefor a draft on a bank in New York for the amount. Then he sentoff two telegrams--one to the manager of the store, the other to hismother. The first read: "Will report Tuesday morning."
The second was worded: "I've found the fortune. Will be home to-nightin time for dinner." Then he returned to the house to take lunch withthe Masons. On the road he confessed to Mr. Mason that he loved Madge,and that she reciprocated his affection.
"I want you to sanction our engagement, with a view to our marriage assoon as she shall have graduated from Vassar."
"Ask her mother, my boy," said the gentleman. "As far as I amconcerned, you need fear no obstacle from me."
While they were away, Madge sought her mother and told her that Dickhad asked her to marry him four years hence when she had completedher education. Then Mrs. Mason kissed her daughter and told her thatshe and Mr. Mason were both well
disposed toward Dick, and they wereperfectly satisfied to receive him into the family at the proper timeas their son-in-law.
Then the happy girl ran and broke the news to her aunt, whocongratulated her on winning such a fine young man as she had alwaysbelieved Dick Darling to be. Dick decided not to press any chargeagainst Parker, and so that rascal was allowed to go free, while Bulgerwas taken back to Trenton, and his punishment for taking French leavewas the loss of his commutation time, so he was obliged to serve thefull ten years, after which he would have to face the other indictment,so his chances of staying in prison for a good part of his life weregood.
During the summer the Darlings moved into a house of their own in theBronx, and Nellie and May gave up their jobs for good. So four yearspassed away and Dick continued to rise in the store till one day Mr.Bacon offered to sell him a half interest in the business, and make himthe manager of the store. Dick accepted his proposal, and thus, on theeve of his marriage to Madge he invested a large part of the fortunewhich came to him through the acquisition of a five-acre plot of groundworth not over $250.
Next week's issue will contain "BEATING THE MARKET; or, A BOY BROKER'SBIG DEAL."
CURRENT NEWS
JANITOR AN HEIR.
Charles Wineland, an $8 a month janitor at the City Hall, Fort Wayne,Ind., leaned on the handle of his broom long enough to read a letterthe other day and then a few hours later started for California toclaim a 114-acre fruit farm on the outskirts of San Francisco and$28,000 deposited in a bank there. The letter informed him that hisbrother had died leaving his estate to the janitor and a sister, Mrs.Caroline Bowman, of Burlington, Ind. The farm is appraised for taxationat $78,000, according to the letter.
SETS HIMSELF ON FIRE.
Pedro Sacherelli, a boy in the eighth grade in the Little Falls, N. Y.,High School, was sitting at his desk, wiggling, as boys do. Anotherboy, sitting near him, saw a column of smoke ascending along Pedro'sbackbone and circling toward the ceiling. A quick look revealed thefact that matches in Pedro's pocket had been rubbed violently enough toset them on fire.
Other pupils and the teacher jumped to the rescue and Pedro's sweaterwas jerked off, the fire beat out and the small boy returned to hisseat. A considerable hole was burned through Pedro's clothes and he wasnot hurt, though the fire extinguishers shook him up considerably.
MUSICAL PITCHFORKS IN SOUTH AFRICA.
A tale comes out of England which illustrates admirably the sort ofunexpected demand which may have to be met in building up a foreigntrade. A British manufacturer of edge tools made up his mind to securea share of the trade in Kaffir picks, and obtained a sample of thenative-made pick, which he reproduced so exactly that it seemed to beimpossible to detect the difference between it and the native article.His tools, however, did not sell, and a representative was sent out toinvestigate. He found there was one thing for which the Kaffir used thepick that had not been taken into consideration. The native took it outof its haft and used it as a cattle call, and every Kaffir had foundthat the British-made pick had not quite the right note. It speakswell for the enterprise of the maker that, having discovered this, heproduced a Kaffir pick with the right note and established a tradewhich, the story goes, he has retained ever since.
A PARIS HOLD-UP.
Paris Apaches, imitating their New York brothers, got away with oneof the most daring robberies in the history of the city, carrying off500,000 francs' worth of jewels from a shop in the center of the townand distancing their pursuers after an exciting motor car chase.
About 9 o'clock in the evening a policeman passing across the streetfrom a jewelry shop in the Rue Tronchet running from the Place de laMadeleine to the Boulevard Haussmann saw a man deliberately break awindow of the store with a hammer, seize a tray of jewels and jumpinto a car, which drove away at high speed. The gendarme succeeded ingetting on the running board of the car, but was pushed off by therobber. The thief fired twice at him. The policeman commandeered apassing taxi and began a vain chase, for the bandit's car disappearedin a network of side streets.
SCORES OF GIRLS LOSE $50.
Dreams of becoming cinema stars are being shattered in the minds ofscores of girls throughout the Middle West as a result of the burstingof an alleged promotion bubble in Kansas City, Mo., known as theInternational Pictures Corporation.
The scheme, according to Federal officers, was simple. An advertisementin an Eastern theatrical magazine asked for chorus girls and leads. Onbeautifully engraved stationery, the applicants were told of a trip toCalifornia, a chartered yacht that was to sail the South Seas, dropanchor in Egypt and cruise European waters. The only requisite was adeposit of $50 to "keep away curiosity seekers."
The money came with answers such as the following:
"I am five feet four and very pretty. Inclosed is $50."
Then along came the agents of the post-office department and spoiledthe plan. Hubert Settles and his wife were arrested. Post-officeinspectors say they have scores of the letters from girls.
NAVY RECRUITING STOPPED.
Secretary of the Navy Daniels announced on January 4 that recruitingfor the Navy has been stopped for the present, the enlisted strengthhaving reached 132,000. The naval appropriations for the currentfiscal year were made to take care of the pay of an average of 120,000enlisted men. By expiration of enlistments the number soon will drop toabout 122,000, which will give the Navy an average of 120,000 for thefiscal year ending June 30. One reason for the action is uncertaintyas to the number of enlisted men Congress will authorize for the nextfiscal year. Navy authorities have recommended 143,000. Another reasonis found in the fact that the U. S. Atlantic and Pacific Fleets soonwill sail for their rendezvous at the Pacific entrance to the PanamaCanal. It was not deemed desirable to go ahead with further enlistmentswith most of the active ships in distant waters. Although the MarineCorps has not suspended recruiting, the standard has been raised,requiring a minimum of twenty-one years of age, five feet five inchesheight, and 130 pounds weight. The quota for January has been cut to1,400 and this low figure will keep the enlisted personnel of thecorps within the average of 20,000 for the fiscal year 1921 for whichappropriations are available. Two-year enlistments have been suspended,and recruits confined to a choice of enlisting for either three or fouryears.
A Lawyer At Nineteen
OR
FIGHTING AGAINST A FRAUD
By GASTON GARNE
(A Serial Story)
CHAPTER I.--(continued)
And then the busy lawyer caught up his satchel and started out of theoffice to catch his train. Lew opened the bundle of papers, and wassoon studying them hard.
He had tried minor court cases, but had never had one in the supremecourt, and he felt that it was rather unkind of fate that the firstone that came to him to try in the upper court was regarded by evenhis shrewd employer as quite hopeless. However, he bent himself to thetask, reflecting over the one saving point of the week that Smolletthad worked, and trying to decide just how to make that fact effective.
Just as he had made up his mind what course to pursue about it, thetelephone rang, and he was notified that the case was called and thatthe office boy had answered ready.
Stuffing the papers in his pocket, Lew walked over to the courthouse,thinking deeply over the idea that had come into his mind. He got therejust as the jury box was filled, and eyed them narrowly while thecounsel for the plaintiff was examining them. It looked like a goodsensible jury to him, and he made but two objections to the men in thebox.
The jury was sworn and the case opened.
Smollett's lawyer told how the accident had happened, and then drewa touching picture of how the plaintiff's wife, a sickly lookingwoman who sat at his side in court, had slaved to support the family,Smollett being unable to work, and not having done a day's work sincethe time he was injured. Lew cast down his eyes when this statement wasmade, and began to feel a little more hopeful.
Then Smollett was put on the stand and told his story, moaned a
bout theconstant pain that he had suffered since he was hurt, while the jurybegan to look sympathetic. In response to the questioning of his lawyerhe declared that he had not been able to do more than to sweep a roomsince the day of the accident. Then Lew arose to cross-examine him.
"Mr. Smollett, what was your business before you were injured?"
"I was an iron worker."
"That requires great strength, does it not?"
"Yes, it does."
"All parts of the work?"
"Yes, all parts of the work."
"And you could do any part of the work?"
"Yes, I was a pretty powerful man."
"And you have not been able to do anything more laborious than to sweepa room since you were injured?"
"That is true."
"How long have you lived in this city?"
"Three years."
"Where did you live before you came here?"
"In Far Rockton."
"At what address?"
"Two-forty-one Vine street."
"How long did you live there?"
"Four months."
"Where did you move to when you came to this city?"
"One-seventy-two Bear street."
"How long did you live there?"
"Six weeks. The house was cold and we could not stay there."
Lew bent down and selected a paper, glanced at it as though to refreshhis memory, and then went on with the examination.