We rushed
him, though."
"Auntie!" comes from Vee husky, as she drops back on a window seat.
But Auntie takes no notice.
"I say," goes on Old Hickory, "has Killam shown you the jewelry he dug
from the mound?"
Auntie nods. "It is genuine antique," says she, "the Louis Treize
period, one piece. If there is much like that, no collection in the
world can match it."
"Hm-m-m-m!" says Old Hickory. "I am rather interested in that sort of
thing myself. Then there is the bullion. Of course, if it should turn
out to be part of the Louisiana Purchase money, and it became known
that it had been recovered, I suppose the federal government would step
in, perhaps claim the larger share."
"That would be an outrage," says Auntie. "There's no sense in that,
not a bit. You--you mean you would give the information--that is,
unless--"
"I never make threats," says Old Hickory, "even when I think I have
been cheated out of doing something I've wanted all my life to have a
try at."
It's Auntie's turn to stare at him. And hanged if she don't sort of
mellow up.
"Really?" says she. "I--I had no idea. And it would be fun, wouldn't
it, sailing off for that enchanted coast to hunt for a real treasure
island?"
"'Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum!'" roars out Mr.
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