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〃We'll' bring it with us；〃 said Edgar。
I asked for information。 I demanded confidences。 Edgar refused both。 I
insisted that I might be allowed at least to carry my automatic pistol。
〃Suppose some one tries to take the treasure from us？〃 I pointed out。
〃No one；〃 said Edgar severely； 〃would be such an ass as to imagine we
are carrying buried treasure in a suit…case。 He will think it contains
pajamas。〃
〃For local color； then；〃 I begged； 〃I want to say in my story that I went
heavily armed。〃
〃Say it； then；〃 snapped Edgar。 〃But you can't DO it！ Not with me； you
can't！ How do I know you mightn't〃 He shook his head warily。
It was a day in early October； the haze of Indian summer was in the air；
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MY BURIED TREASURE
and as we crossed the North River by the Twenty… third Street Ferry the
sun flashed upon the white clouds overhead and the tumbling waters
below。 On each side of us great vessels with the Blue Peter at the fore lay
at the wharfs ready to cast off； or were already nosing their way down the
channel toward strange and beautiful ports。 Lamport and Holt were rolling
down to Rio； the Royal Mail's MAGDALENA； no longer 〃white and
gold；〃 was off to Kingston； where once seven pirates swung in chains； the
CLYDE was on her way to Hayti where the buccaneers came from； the
MORRO CASTLE was bound for Havana； which Morgan； king of all the
pirates； had once made his own； and the RED D was steaming to Porto
Cabello where Sir Francis Drake； as big a buccaneer as any of them； lies
entombed in her harbor。 And I was setting forth on a buried…treasure
expedition on a snub…nosed； flat… bellied； fresh…water ferry…boat； bound for
Jersey City！ No one will ever know my sense of humiliation。 And； when
the Italian boy insulted my immaculate tan shoes by pointing at them and
saying； 〃Shine？〃 I could have slain him。 Fancy digging for buried treasure
in freshly varnished boots！ But Edgar did not mind。 To him there was
nothing lacking； it was just as it should be。 He was deeply engrossed in
calculating how many offices were for rent in the Singer Building！
When we reached the other side； he refused to answer any of my eager
questions。 He would not let me know even for what place on the line he
had purchased our tickets； and； as a hint that I should not disturb him； he
stuffed into my hands the latest magazines。 〃At least tell me this；〃 I
demanded。 〃Have you ever been to this place before to…day？〃
〃0nce；〃 said Edgar shortly； 〃last week。 That's when I found out I would
need some one with me who could dig。〃
〃How do you know it's the RIGHT place？〃 I whispered。
The summer season was over； and of the chair car we were the only
occupants； but； before he answered； Edgar looked cautiously round him
and out of the window。 We had just passed Red Bank。
〃Because the map told me；〃 he answered。 〃Suppose；〃 he continued
fretfully； 〃you had a map of New York City with the streets marked on it
plainly？ Suppose the map said that if you walked to where Broadway and
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MY BURIED TREASURE
Fifth Avenue meet； you would find the Flatiron Building。 Do you think
you could find it？〃
〃Was it as easy as THAT？〃 I gasped。
〃It was as easy as THAT！〃 said Edgar。
I sank back into my chair and let the magazines slide to the floor。 What
fiction story was there in any one of them so enthralling as the actual
possibilities that lay before me？ In two hours I might be bending over a
pot of gold； a sea chest stuffed with pearls and rubies！
I began to recall all the stories I had heard as a boy of treasure buried
along the coast by Kidd on his return voyage from the Indies。 Where along
the Jersey sea…line were there safe harbors？ The train on which we were
racing south had its rail head at Barnegat Bay。 And between Barnegat and
Red Bank there now was but one other inlet； that of the Manasquan River。
It might be Barnegat； it might be Manasquan。 It could not be a great
distance from either； toward the ocean down a broad； sandy road。 The
season had passed and the windows of the cottages and bungalows on
either side of the road were barricaded with planks。 On the verandas
hammocks abandoned to the winds hung in tatters； on the back porches the
doors of empty refrigerators swung open on one hinge； and on every side
above the fields of gorgeous golden…rod rose signs reading 〃For Rent。〃
When we had progressed in silence for a mile； the sandy avenue lost itself
in the deeper sand of the beach； and the horse of his own will came to a
halt。
On one side we were surrounded by locked and deserted bathing
houses； on the other by empty pavilions shuttered and barred against the
winter； but still inviting one to 'Try our salt water taffy〃 or to 〃Keep cool
with an ice…cream soda。〃 Rupert turned and looked inquiringly at Edgar。
To the north the beach stretched in an unbroken line to Manasquan Inlet。
To the south three miles away we could see floating on the horizon…like a
mirage the hotels and summer cottages of Bay Head。
〃Drive toward the inlet；〃 directed Edgar。 〃This gentleman and I will
walk。〃
Relieved of our weight； the horse stumbled bravely into the trackless
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MY BURIED TREASURE
sand； while below on the damper and firmer shingle we walked by the
edge of the water。
The tide was coming in and the spent waves； spreading before them an
advance guard of tiny shells and pebbles； threatened our boots' and at the
same time in soothing； lazy whispers warned us of their attack。 These
lisping murmurs and the crash and roar of each incoming wave as it broke
were the only sounds。 And on the beach we were the only human figures。
At last the scene began to bear some resemblance to one set for an
adventure。 The rolling ocean； a coast steamer dragging a great column of
black smoke； and cast high upon the beach the wreck of a schooner； her
masts tilting drunkenly； gave color to our purpose。 It became filled with
greater promise of drama； more picturesque。 I began to thrill with
excitement。 I regarded Edgar appealingly； in eager supplication。 At last he
broke the silence that was torturing me。
〃We will now walk higher up；〃 he commanded。 〃If we get our feet wet；
we may take cold。〃