The All-Story, March 1914 — page 175: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

648 THE ALL-STORY MAGAZINE. farm that was better’n all the spruce ness, even though his interest was timber in Oxville ? greatly roused. “Now. what do vou mean by that?” Sam demanded. Sufferin Moses, it tires me worse than a day in the hay-field to talk with you! Why can't vou speak up lke other folks?” “T ain't going to tell ull vou prom- ise,” said Ike. “Well, I ain't going to make any promises, and youd better hyper along, Mrs. Jackson ll be wanting vou,” Sam warned, “ Trying to make a tool of me with such flapdoodle talk as that!” Tle grew quite indignant at the thought that this was the same method the bov would have employed with one of his own age. [lis attitude was lacking the respect Sam's years and position in the community commanded. But the lad lingered, digging the toe of one ill- fitting shoe into the in- step of the other. Sam watched him suspiciously. “Ti I could show vou that I ain't trying to cheat, would you promise?” he asked at length. The suggestion of a bargain ap- pealed to Sam’s Yankee instincts. He delighted in swapping, and flattered himself that generally he got the het- ter of a deal. Ike had hit upon the right_way to enlist his attention. “T might think of it.’ he replied. “But you needn't go playing any of your tricks on me, you little cuss! Your Uncle Samuel is too cute tor you to monkey with.” * Oh, 1 wouldn't do that, Mr. Tup- per!” the boy returned earnestly. i. Honest [ wouldn't.” “Do you mean to say you know of something hid on this farm that’s val- ttable—probably treasure or anything like that?” “Now, how'd vou guess’ asked Ike. “ P'raps you know where it 1s and wont promise.’ “TIT wor't promise auything, any- wav. I said I'd think about it.” Sain was not to be led into reckless- It was not mnpossible that some- where on Ins two hundred acres there actually was treasure. Oxville had the usual village tradition of a lost silver -nune, worked in prehistoric times by three swarthy strangers, who had vanished suddenly and = imyste- riously, leaving no clue to the scene of their operations. It was as likely this mine was on the Tupper farm as any- where else. “There is something—I ain't say- ing what,” said Ike. “] might keep it all to myself; but I sort of like you, and would rather you’d have it. Be- sides “°—as if he feared the latter statement was overdrawn — “ Uncle Peter would take it away from me and beat me with the hoe-handle, like he does otten.” “AWWhy. vou poor little feller.’ Sam exclaimed, his sy mpathy roused, “I didn’t know he abused vou so! Now, about this treasure—" “T didn’t say it was treasure, but I'm going to show you because you're a friend of mune,” the boy declared. “All right. Let’s go now.” Sam suggested eagerly. “I can't go to-night. But to-mor- row might, at twelve o’clock—”’ “Twelve o'clock!’ ejaculated Sam, aghast. It was an unheard of hour for Ox- ville. “We've got to be careful they don’t anybody see us,” the boy explained. “ You can bring a lantern.” sain meditated briefly. It was as much as his reputation was worth to be abroad at that hour; but, on the other hand, there might be something of real value to be gamed. His cupidity overcaine his distrust. “All right, then. he agreed. “In the sheep pasture, where I was the other mght.” “When vou were looking for a peeteeweet's nest?” Twelve o'clock,” "And if you bring Wes Smpithnrs oF ony