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from the town across the marshes came the puffing of a locomotive and
the clanging bells of the freight trains。 The breeze from the sea cooled the
sweat on my aching body； but it could not cool the rage in my heart。 If I
had the courage of my feelings； I would have cracked Edgar over head
with the spade； buried him in the pit； bribed Rupert； and forever after lived
happily on my ill…gotten gains。 That was how Kidd； or Morgan； or
Blackbeard would have acted。 I cursed the effete civilization which had
taught me to want many pleasures but had left me with a conscience that
would not let me take human life to obtain them； not even Edgar's life。
In half an hour a suit…case was lifted into view and dropped on the
edge of the pit。 It was followed by the other； and then by Edgar。 Without
asking me to help him； because he probably knew I would not； he
shovelled the sand into the hole； and then placed the suitcases in the
carriage。 With increasing anger I observed that the contents of each were
so heavy that to lift it he used both hands。
〃There is no use your asking any questions；〃 he announced； 〃because I
won't answer them。〃
I gave him minute directions as to where he could go； but instead we
drove in black silence to the station。 There Edgar rewarded Rupert with a
dime； and while we waited for the train to New York placed the two suit…
cases against the wall of the ticket office and sat upon them。 When the
train arrived he warned me in a hoarse whisper that I had promised to help
him guard the treasure； and gave me one of the suit… cases。 It weighed a
ton。 Just to spite Edgar； I had a plan to kick it open； so that every one on
the platform might scramble for the contents。 But again my infernal New
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MY BURIED TREASURE
England conscience restrained me。
Edgar had secured the drawing…room in the parlor…car； and when we
were safely inside and the door bolted my curiosity became stronger than
my pride。
〃Edgar；〃 I said； 〃your ingratitude is contemptible。 Your suspicions are
ridiculous； but； under these most unusual conditions； I don't blame you。
But we are quite safe now。 The door is fastened；〃 I pointed out
ingratiatingly； it and this train doesn't stop for another forty minutes。 I
think this would be an excellent time to look at the treasure。〃 〃I don't！〃
said Edgar。
I sank back into my chair。 With intense enjoyment I imagined the train
in which we were seated hurling itself into another train； and everybody；
including Edgar； or； rather； especially Edgar； being instantly but painlessly
killed。 By such an act of an all…wise Providence I would at once become
heir to one million dollars。 It was a beautiful； satisfying dream。 Even MY
conscience accepted it with a smug smile。 It was so vivid a dream that I sat
guiltily expectant； waiting for the crash to come； for the shrieks and
screams； for the rush of escaping steam and breaking window…panes。
But it was far too good to be true。 Without a jar the train carried us and
its precious burden in safety to the Jersey City terminal。 And each； with
half a million dollars in his hand； hurried to the ferry； assailed by porters；
news…boys； hackmen。 To them we were a couple of commuters saving a
dime by carrying our own hand…bags。
It was now six o'clock； and I pointed out to Edgar that at that hour the
only vaults open were those of the Night and Day Bank。 And to that
institution in a taxicab we at once made our way。 I paid the chauffeur； and
two minutes later； with a gasp of relief and rejoicing； I dropped the suit…
case I had carried on a table in the steel…walled fastnesses of the vaults。
Gathered excitedly around us were the officials of the bank； summoned
hastily from above； and watchmen in plain clothes； and watchmen in
uniforms of gray。 Great bars as thick as my leg protected us。 Walls of
chilled steel rising from solid rock stood between our treasure and the
outer world。 Until then I had not known how tremendous the nervous
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MY BURIED TREASURE
strain had been； but now it came home to me。 I mopped the perspiration
from my forehead； I drew a deep breath。
〃Edgar；〃 I exclaimed happily； 〃I congratulate you！〃 I found Edgar
extending toward me a two…dollar bill。 〃You gave the chauffeur two
dollars；〃' he said。 〃The fare was really one dollar eighty； so you owe me
twenty cents。〃
Mechanically I laid two dimes upon the table。
〃All the other expenses；〃 continued Edgar； 〃which I agreed to pay； I
have paid。〃 He made a peremptory gesture。 〃I won't detain you any
longer；〃 he said。 〃Good…night！〃
〃Good…night！〃 I cried。 〃Don't I see the treasure？〃 Against the walls of
chilled steel my voice rose like that of a tortured soul。 〃Don't I touch it！〃 I
yelled。 〃Don't I even get a squint？ 〃
Even the watchmen looked sorry for me。
〃You do not！〃 said Edgar calmly。 〃You have fulfilled your part of the
agreement。 I have fulfilled mine。 A year from now you can write the
story。〃 As I moved in a dazed state toward the steel door； his voice halted
me。
〃And you can say in your story；〃 called Edgar；〃 that there is only one
way to get a buried treasure。 That is to go； and get it！〃
THE CONSUL
For over forty years； in one part of the world or another； old man
Marshall had； served his country as a United States consul。 He had been
appointed by Lincoln。 For a quarter of a century that fact was his
distinction。 It was now his epitaph。 But in former years； as each new
administration succeeded the old； it had again and again saved his official
head。 When victorious and voracious place…hunters； searching the map of
the world for spoils； dug out his hiding…place and demanded his consular
sign as a reward for a younger and more aggressive party worker； the
ghost of the dead President protected him。 In the State Department；
Marshall had become a tradition。 〃You can't touch Him！〃 the State
Department would say； 〃why； HE was appointed by Lincoln！〃 Secretly； for
this weapon against the hungry headhunters； the department was infinitely
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