Show C I r- r n r d r I I. I r BULLION OF SPAIN o 0 0 0 By i Morgan Johnson f HE morning was hot with the ghost L of a fanning the Heat air Heat waves were curling off tic te e surface of lagoon In long shimmering tentacles Outside the Pacific rollers lazy lacy and humored good J w were 1 crooning their dawn song to the barrier barnor barrier bar bar- rier nor of coral reef McCrossan owner of the Asbestos Cat free-booter free and general vagabond came up from the little weather beaten cabin of the schooner and crossing the deck to the low rail stood surveying the scene A lean man of the greyhound type small head and and crows crow's thin-flanked thin his face wrinkled footed by hot suns and the driving lash of fine sea spume made his age difficult to guess at He was neatly arrayed fa fit clean white ducks wJ which ch made his bare F sunburned sunburned sunburned sun sun- burned feet seem sewn Incongruous He lie stood bending his body to the slight heave of ot the seamed tot deck and a slow satisfied smile curved his lips Today was I to see the first stripping of the virgin pearl beds of He twisted l Ms Its s head to where Haro the thet t Japanese diver dives his dissipated face even than usual squatted upon the deck sucking BUcking In great gulps of fresh air with noisy pantomime Near by the two Malay 1 tenders bare backs abo above e their gaudy with sweat sorted sarongs already beaded out the pumping gear chattering t as they worked I lakas Get a move on called McCrossan Haro signaled for the helm helmet t. t Giggling self consciously Karam adjusted the bolts and began to sew ew down while the other the muscles of l We is slim back rippling silkily commenced to pump Lifting his leaden looden boots booth clear of the rail raU a. a Haro Nato balanced clumsily for a a moment and nd Karam snatch snatching g up the manila manna lIfe lifeline lne steadied him Then en pushing away front from the ladder with a sucking SlIcking gurgle of water the grotesque and semi-inflated semi figure slid from I sight eight dropping like a R plummet through fifteen odd fathoms to the shimmering sand below The d despoiling of F lagoon ligoon had begun in real earnest Rolling a cigarette between scorched sun scotched blistered fingers McCrossan turned away to the cool of the canvas awning at the stern and as he did so 90 offered up up- upa a silent ilent prayer to o all aU the gods of pearler-folk pearler that no inquisitive in inquisitive inquisitive in- in Japanese gunboat would come nosing in until he he e had successfully b brought bought ought to a close this little flutter clatter in sea high-sea poaching R years rears lagoon had laid under a a. a a. a I strict government taboo and this fact had drawn McCrossan from his erstwhile humdrum occupation of crew a nd d opium running In Timor seas as a hovering buzzard buzzard buz buz- zard zari is drawn by dead flesh It was characteristic characteristic char char- of the man that the Asbestos Cat did not run to a mate dire experience had taught him that the first sniff miff of a trade gin bottle was sufficient to set a white whito mates mate's tongue blabbing secrets which would lead ultimately to the white-washed white hell of a Japanese prison McCrossan's l gaze grew suddenly narrow and intent From the tangled depths of or off f palm and vine a native girl had emerged walking rapidly toward the lagoon ed edg edga Even at that distance he could see the supple grace of her lithely swung body and the the glint of red hibiscus entwined in her hair Flinging away his cigarette McCrossan 1 went to the stern and pulled up the white dinghy Clambering in he began bean to pull steadily beach ward Half way across the lagoon he heard a II low throb of laughter and aud craning over one one shoulder saw sav her speeding for the shelter of the trees Oh he called in scornful amusement little coward 1 She pulled up shy and irresolute realizing that she had left spear and basket baskett t f t his mercy As she hesitated the dinghy grated upon the ilie beach and springing out McCrossan captured them in triumph Then turning his back he sat studying the lagoon with assumed indifference They are for sale sale sale-at at a price he parleyed Silence fell for and and for tor the moment he half t. t thought ought she had gone Then two soft warm arms stole gently around his bis neck and the scent of hibiscus was strong In his nostrils CrossI you rou you wicked came a low ac accusing ae- ae cusing whisper At At a II price repeated McCrossan firmly A faint sigh sih and then liar her r lips light as 03 the down of an gull elder brushed his tun- tun sunburned sun cun- burned neck Sh She was was gone in a flash slipping slip blip ping g through his fierce clasp and fr from m a safe distance her bel brown eyes mocked him Bad white man I she scolded McCrossan laughed f Come ho he coaxed Am I I so ugly then then 1 0 SHE shook defiant head but for all aU that took two steps nearer Sh She stood girlish girlIsh girlish girl girl- ish and eager pulsating with life the flush Bush upon upon her olive-brown olive cheeks belying the re reluctance reluctance reluctance re- re of her shapely bare feet Mc- Mc s devouring gaze JaZe caught a sudden glint lint of gold upon her Heaving bosom Curiosity Curi- Curi stirred him I What is is s that he asked point point- 1 tag ing Ig White man devil No o. o good go d 1 she laughed laughed curving red lips Ups showing a a gleam of white teeth Show he demanded with a black frown She laughed his quick jealousy to scorn but came dropping gracefully upon her knees his for inspection Fingering the coin he began to trace its 1 worn orn and obliterated half-obliterated Inscription L S P He lie struggled excitedly to his feet Why good Lord that's a Spanish doubloon doubloon doubloon dou- dou bloon Where did you get it girl She pointed Jointed a II slim brown finger lagoon finger lagoon lagoon- wards McCrossan's brow contracted Was Vas there therea a ia legend abo about t Dimly far back baele in inthe inthe the recesses of his bis memory he recalled anold an anold old ld combing beach-combing yarn jam jamA A A scrunching of sand behind interrupted I Iolana with a swift glance gathered basket basket hasLet bas bas- ket Let and spear and fled tied like a frightened bird into intI the trees an swung about Hullo Godwin I he cn a 10 sourly Copyright 1922 by Public J Le Ledger r Company cp S. S s k kr r a as r L s r t tJ r J I t 0 r I I Ia a T ter V 0 f 0 4 m r J f G i O c 7 0 X I 7 And t then h en terr terror r grip gripped Ped hi him t. It was vas as dead d mans man's gold cargo 0 of of f some TIle The Rev ReT Arth Arthur r Go Godwin 1 looked 0 Spain stately galleon of Spain whose crew oW exactly what V he be was a 11 tired hardworking hard hard- had long ago b been e en picked clean dea n by working Island s d missionary Five ive y years o oJ of ofF crab and d dogfish J F t 1 fu uti h h had ad no not t altogether damped t h his bis i s en ent en- en n- n TIle The Rev ReT Arth Arthur r Go Godwin 1 looked 0 exactly what V he be was a 11 tired hardworking hard hard- working Island s d missionary Five ive y years o oJ of ofF F t 1 fu uti h h had ad no not t altogether damped t h his bis i s en ent en- en n- n enthusiasm although the tho pink of an English countryside had long since faded from his bis mahogany cheeks The only color he ever possessed nowadays nowadays' came ame from the tho fitful flush of malaria His Ills eyes were gray and steady but the whites were bloodshot from overmuch quinine He lie fanned his thinning head Lead with a white dirty his gaze fixed reflectively reflectively upon the busy schooner McCrossan ie Ise jerked abruptly This wont won't do yo youre you're re playing it a dangerous game 1 McCrossan's 1 eyebrows went up Leisurely Leisurely Leisurely Leis- Leis he abstracted a cigarette from Its pigskin pig pia skin case and then extended it invitingly y The missionary selected one with slightly trembling ringers fingers tapping it square upon his thumbnail It wont won't do he repeated but his voice was less aggressive Of course course cours said l I McCrossan with a sardonic sardonic sardonic sar sar- donic gleam for days now Ive I've been expecting ex expecting expecting ex- ex to hear bear those identical words fr from I 1 you Thank you for not disappointing me But when It comes to the point my friend what exactly are you jou going to do to stop it Nothing admitted Godwin with with a helpless helpless helpless help- help less gesture The law in like everything everything every every- thing else lacks backbone But I warn you that if the Nippon passes Ill I'll signal her I McCrossan l grinned at the threat All AH All right you pillar of the Empire he be gibed I take the risk but I hope to tot toI 1 t have bavo vanished into the Pacific long before she ehe turns up l 1 E Out In the lagoon just under the sun suit cracked lee of the schooner Haro the diver grotesquely inflated d bobbed suddenly up breaking the serene blue of the water ater like some marine monster Karam at th tha lifeline lifeline life Ufe- line began carefully to steer him toward the diving ladder Godwin watched the operation with abstracted abstracted ab eyes There is one other thing thing he began with a n tentative blinking McCrossan sighed he lie guessed full fun well wen wh what t was wras coming com com- ing I suppose joure youre going to preach about the girl now Perturbed yet et doggedly persistent the missionary nodded one thing in which I must interfere In- In he said lie Anything touching touching touching touch touch- ing the welfare of the thc natives concerns me Dont Don't mit misunderstand me mo an Crossan an Ive I've lost lot al all tl the illusions I eve ever evec c cherished he said regard ing their religious beliefs beUers I know them for pure vure savages and It puzzles me mightily might might- ily fly why they haven't chopped me roe long ago But all nIl the same game ame its it's lay jay duty to see they come to no injury injury- which which- it is in hI my m y power to ward off In a word l youve you've got to leave alone I IAn iAn An ugly sparkle came into McCrossan's eyes Indeed lIe he sneered red blackly And once again may inay may I ask the alternative The missionary smiled a little wanly I mean It for your own good The girl girlis is to son of the chief a avery avery very ery uns unscrupulous determined fellow tellow I warn you he be is a dangerous customer and andery andery ery very much in fn lov love with her ber McCrossan gave ave an ugly laugh Thanks frighten me but never neer His Ills hand band caressed his hip hip hippo pocket po ket cantly Godwin sighed wearily He w was s disappointed disappointed disappointed pointed and blam blamed d his c for arousing McCrossan's antagonism The pearler nodded brusquely and began to scrunch his wa way over the hot sand to the dinghy Half way there however he paused and turned his blue eyes vague with thought By the way he be called did you ou ever hear of a Spanish ship being wrecked In 7 The missionary flashed him bim a curious look which s shifted and fluttered indefinitely away r rYes rYes Yes he conceded hesitatingly there is an island legend and I fancy some of them have a dash of of Spanish blood Why do you ask McCrossan swung away Oh nothing he be flung back carelessly Ive heard the story too The missionary stood as if undecided Once he opened his mouth as 1 If tr to call enn and then changed his mind Pulling back to the schooner sc McCros McCrossan an followed Godwin's disappearing back with witha ith itha a thoughtful frown Suddenly he chuckled poising the dripping dripping dripping drip drip- ping oars in the middle of a stroke Its true he exulted aloud to a swooping swooping swooping swoop swoop- ing gull and by the Lord Harry Im I'm m going to find her two days m moody o y a and d Irritable McCrossan Mc Me- FOR FOIL of Crossan consuming all an endless stream cigarettes mooned about the hot shell decks of the Asbestos tos Cat Upon the third thin day daj hI he stupefied the crew by announcing his intention of ot personally And t then h en terr terror r grip gripped Ped hi him t. It was vas as dead d mans man's gold cargo 0 of of f some stately galleon of Spain Spain whose crew oW had long ago b been e en picked clean dea n by crab and d dogfish J descending in the dress The Malays giggled nervously while Haro startled out of usual stolid calm hissed hissed in in sheer amazement McCrossan was not an expert diver diver no no white man ever is is and and as he lIe dropped down through the emerald emerald green depths depths to the ghostly twilight of the lagoon bed he be landed clumsily the translucent water as asbe ashe ashe he be regained footing The sudden change from the heat beat and glare above e was ineffably Here I and nd there looming through the gloom he caught glimpses of coral tracery twisted into countless countless countless count count- less designs and patterns strange patterns strange fantastic towns and cities of the Weird marine plants waved their arms gracefully bobbing and curtseying like things alive Shoals of rainbow fish exotic and vivid threaded the dim aisles leisurely and unafraid One swam up boldly go goggling in inquisitively inquisitively inquisitively in- in through the helmet glass and andas as McCrossan put up a hand to seize him flirted skillfully away Du But McCrossan had no eyes for the ex exquisite exquisite exquisite ex- ex beauty of the scene Keeping a wary lookout lookout- for yawning clams one step into whose open jaws would mean a leg snapped like a ca carrot he be began his search A giant turtle flippers nippers working rhythmically and hawk head bead probing brushed past like some huge green phantom that he lie was down his lils chances of NOW finding the treasure s seemed med infinitesimal For Jor two days he had weighed and debated the prospects haunted in his hig sleep by visions of golden doubloons and depressed in sane sant waking moments by the fact that two or three centuries of shifting ever sand would suffice to bury an nn ocean liner without leaving leaving leaving leav leav- ing the slightest trace He lie calculated now that he be had bad be been n dow down lown n twenty minutes and already his bis untrained lungs were hurting while the thud thud thud-thud th ld of the pump overhead seemed to beat bent against his bis very eardrums At the tue outside he gave himself ten minutes mon mori He lIe Judged that he was wa nearing the center center center cen cen- ter of the lagoon ngoon In places the sand was slivery white Incapable of hiding an oyster from view At every step tiny coral crabs red blood in color scuttled anxiously from hi his path pathS He lie waded through miniature for forests orests or- or ests where long weeds gro groped d at nt him bim with shadowy It was in one of the these e marine jungles that he lie turned with hope exhausted to give iivo the two t tugs upon the lifeline when he stumbled heavily against a n. hard object ct buried burled among the tangled weeds 1 With his heart pumping In great excited beats he bent down to discover projecting fro from the sand the skeleton rib of what might once have been a n ship But Dut that was not all Near Klar by he glimpsed something which made him catch his hla laboring Breath and try vainly to wipe away the mist upon the helmet helmet helmet hel hel- met glass t It was the dull yellow glitter of gold He lie dropped dropp J clumsily clumsily TO his Me k knees es and and with shaking hands began to 10 to tear at the concealing concealing concealing con con- weeds He lie cut f his Lis is fingers to the bone upon razor like e edges but was wholly oblivious AH Alt his his' his his' bel being g was vas riveted upon his wonderful discovery There were doubloons o s shimmering piles of them find and nd at pt his eager touch strange hopping hopping hopping hop hop- ping sea Sla insects insects' escaped c from them them in |