按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
conceals himself behind those curtains； follows me home； and at night〃
〃I haven't got a valet；〃 I objected。
Edgar merely smiled with the most aggravating self… sufficiency。 〃It
makes no difference；〃 he declared。 〃NO ONE will ever find that map； or
see that map； or know where that treasure is； until I point to the spot。〃
〃Your caution is admirable；〃 I said； 〃but what；〃 I jeered； 〃makes you
think you can point to the spot； because your map says something like；
'Through the Sunken Valley to Witch's Caldron； four points N。 by N。 E。 to
Gallows Hill where the shadow falls at sunrise； fifty fathoms west； fifty
paces north as the crow flies； to the Seven Wells'？ How the deuce；〃 I
demanded； 〃is any one going to point to that spot？〃
〃It isn't that kind of map；〃 shouted Edgar triumphantly。 〃 If it had been；
I wouldn't have gone on with it。 It's a map anybody can read except a half…
caste Portuguese sailor。 It's as plain as a laundry bill。 It says；〃 he paused
… Page 8…
MY BURIED TREASURE
apprehensively； and then continued with caution； 〃it says at such and such
a place there is a something。 So many somethings from that something are
three what…you…may…call… 'ems； and in the centre of these three what…you…
may…call…'ems is buried the treasure。 It's as plain as that！〃
〃Even with the few details you have let escape you；〃 I said； 〃I could
find THAT spot in my sleep。〃
〃I don't think you could；〃 said Edgar uncomfortably； but I could see
that he had mentally warned himself to be less communicative。 〃And；〃 he
went on； 〃I am willing to lead you to it； if you subscribe to certain
conditions。〃
Edgar's insulting caution had ruffled my spirit。
〃Why do you think you can trust ME？〃 I asked haughtily。 And then；
remembering my share of the million dollars； I added in haste； 〃I accept
the conditions。〃
〃Of course； as you say； one has got to take SOME risk；〃 Edgar
continued； 〃but I feel sure；〃 he said； regarding me doubtfully； 〃you would
not stoop to open robbery。〃 I thanked him。
〃Well； until one is tempted；〃 said Edgar； 〃one never knows WHAT he
might do。 And I've simply GOT to have one other man； and I picked on
you because I thought you could write about it。〃
〃I see；〃 I said； 〃I am to act as the historian of the expedition。〃
〃That will be arranged later；〃 said Edgar。 〃What I chiefly want you for
is to dig。 Can you dig？〃 he asked eagerly。 I told him I could； but that I
would rather do almost anything else。
〃I MUST have one other man；〃 repeated Edgar； 〃a man who is strong
enough to dig； and strong enough to resist the temptation to murder me。〃
The retort was so easy that I let it pass。 Besides； on Edgar； it would have
been wasted。
〃I THINK you will do；〃 he said with reluctance。 〃And now the
conditions！〃
I smiled agreeably。
〃You are already sworn to secrecy；〃 said Edgar。 〃And you now agree
in every detail to obey me implicitly； and to accompany me to a certain
… Page 9…
MY BURIED TREASURE
place； where you will dig。 If I find the treasure； you agree； to help me
guard it； and convey it to wherever I decide it is safe to leave it。 Your
responsibility is then at an end。 One year after the treasure is discovered；
you will be free to write the account of the expedition。 For what you write；
some magazine may pay you。 What it pays you will be your share of the
treasure。〃
Of my part of the million dollars； which I had hastily calculated could
not be less than one…fifth； I had already spent over one hundred thousand
dollars and was living far beyond my means。 I had bought a farm with a
waterfront on the Sound； a motor…boat； and； as I was not sure which make
I preferred； three automobiles。 I had at my own； expense produced a play
of mine that no manager had appreciated； and its name in electric lights
was already blinding Broadway。 I had purchased a Hollander express rifle；
a REAL amber cigar holder； a private secretary who could play both rag…
time and tennis； and a fur coat。 So Edgar's generous offer left me naked。
When I had again accustomed myself to the narrow confines of my flat；
and the jolt of the surface cars； I asked humbly：
〃Is that ALL I get？〃
〃Why should you expect any more？〃 demanded Edgar。 〃It isn't YOUR
treasure。 You wouldn't expect me to make you a present of an interest in
my mills； why should you get a share of my treasure？〃 He gazed at me
reproachfully。 〃I thought you'd be pleased；〃 he said。 〃 It must be hard to
think of things to write about； and I'm giving you a subject for nothing。 I
thought；〃 he remonstrated； 〃you'd jump at the chance。 It isn't every day a
man can dig for buried treasure。〃
〃That's all right；〃 I said。 〃Perhaps I appreciate that quite as well as you
do。 But my time has a certain small value； and I can't leave my work just
for excitement。 We may be weeks； months How long do you think we
〃
Behind his eye…glasses Edgar winked reprovingly。
〃That is a leading question；〃 he said。 〃I will pay all your legitimate
expensestransportation； food； lodging。 It won't cost you a cent。 And you
write the storywith my name left out；〃 he added hastily； 〃it would hurt
… Page 10…
MY BURIED TREASURE
my standing in the trade；〃 he explained 〃and get paid for it。〃
I saw a sea voyage at Edgar's expense。 I saw palm leaves； coral reefs。 I
felt my muscles aching and the sweat run from my neck and shoulders as I
drove my pick into the chest of gold。
〃I'll go with you！〃 I said。 We shook hands on it。 〃When do we start？〃 I
asked。
〃Now！〃 said Edgar。 I thought he wished to test me； he had touched
upon one of my pet vanities。
〃You can't do that with me！〃 I said。 〃My bags are packed and ready for
any place in the wide world； except the cold places。 I can start this minute。
Where is it； the Gold Coast； the Ivory Coast； the Spanish Main〃
Edgar frowned inscrutably。 〃Have you an empty suit…case？〃 he asked。
〃Why EMPTY？〃 I demanded。
〃To carry the treasure；〃 said Edgar。 〃I left mine in the hall。 We will
need two。〃
〃And your trunks？〃 I said。
〃There aren't going to be any trunks；〃 said Edgar。 From his pocket he
had taken a folder of the New Jersey Central Railroad。 〃If we hurry；〃 he
exclaimed； 〃 we can catch the ten…thirty express； and return to New York
in time for dinner。〃
〃And what about the treasure？〃 I roared。
〃We'll' bring it with us；〃 said Edgar。
I asked for information。