Dialstone Lane, Complete

fe was framed and hung in the pantry. He studied it with care, and, anxious that there should be no possible chance of a misunderstanding, questioned the spellin

nd to watch him cleaning the doorstep, and, surprised at its whiteness, withdrew discomfited. Rumour ha

gulations, though a slight indiscretion on the part of Mr. Tasker, necessitating

afternoon in his easy-chair. In response to his startled cry of "Come in!" the door opened

alk," he said,

d's?" said the captain.

tor paid

ess in the dark every afternoon for the rest of h

dark?" repeated the

d down," expla

sly fingering the little bits of fluffy red whisker which grew at the sid

whose manner was gradually becoming milder and milder.

d oath, dashed out of his chair into the garden and s

h!" he

ng the telescope described by Mr. C

his master, beckoning to the visitor, who had drawn

an injured voice. "I wouldn't think o' s

ow," cried Mr. Chalk, as he accompanied the capta

addressing his master. "I was wat

ed at my window," p

ing in at the window. Besides, I noticed you always pulled the bl

ning to the captain. "My wife had our house built where it is on purpose, so that we shoul

f it before. If I catch you up there again," he cried, shak

under his arm, came slowly and

tching the birds. O' course, I couldn't help seeing in a bit, but I always sh

and get the tea ready. If I so much as see you loo

e crestfallen Joseph had gone into the house. "I hope I haven't been and sa

ming. I told him he might go up there occasionally, but I partic

there's a good view from up there? It's like having a ship in the garden, a

-nest. His high hat was jammed firmly over his brows and the telescope was gripped tightly under his right arm. The journey was evidently rega

e garden to announce the fact. Mr. Chalk was still up aloft, and even at that height the pallor of his face was clearly discernib

there," call

d Mr. Chalk, with an

rlorn figure aloft made no sign. The captain waited a little longer, and then,

he glass for yo

edge of the cask, leane

gone to sleep,

u get down," said the captain, climbi

d him until he was able to reach Mr. Tasker's face with his foot. After that the descent was easy, and Mr. Chalk, reach

ll with their foot asleep," remarked Mr. Tasker, pock

se. The latter offered a cup of tea, which the visitor, after a faint protest, accepted, and ta

yself aboard shi

the sea?" inqui

but somehow I didn't. I went into my father's business instead, but I never liked it. So

his head. "Ha!" he

Mr. Chalk, looking at him, grudgingl

e captain. "Naturally things happened in that time; it wo

y-one next year, and the only thing I ever had happen

e, put a few leading questions to the captain concerning the manner in which it came into his possession. When Prudence

m. The terrors of the crow's-nest vanished before his persevering attacks, and perched there with the ca

drawing his chair to the table, made rough maps for his listener's clearer understanding. Sometimes the captain took him to palm-studded islands in the Southern Seas; sometimes to the ancient worlds of China and Japan. He became

ptain's sitting-room. "Since I retired from business time hangs very heavy sometimes. I've

Tredgold, who was sitting by the w

pe from his mouth and

t the captain. "Look at the dangers you'd be dragging your craft into, Chalk

seriously. "I'm a married man, and there's my wife to thi

money to leave, haven't y

ing me," replied Mr. Chalk

f that," said the oth

ve years," said Mr. Chalk, impressively. "And all the time her husband was married again and

to look for you," said Mr. Tredgold. "But I don't thin

is left whisker with the stem of his churchwarde

ly. "Of course, I know you're only in joke, but there's some people can

going to for your cruise?"

a, that's all. I was talking to your father the other day," he a

ful son, briskly. "It would do

thing to do would be to combine business with pleasure-to take a yacht and find

it," said the c

es," said Mr. Tredgold, rising, and following Miss D

ain, smoked slowly. His gaze was fixed on the window, but instea

come across, I suppose, Capta

aid the

smoked on for some time in silence. The blue seas disappeare

with treasure aboard, I sup

r. "No," he said, slowly, "I can't call to mind any craft; bu

his pipe carefu

he in

n, with a short laugh,

f his pipe. "You know of sunken tr

shook his head; the oth

treasure?" he said

ll sunken," said the c

opened to their fullest e

It's a secret," he remarked

ell me where it is," said Mr. Chalk, "but I thought

"I don't know that there's any harm in telling you

n it?" inquir

t," rejoine

awestruck attention; Captain Bowers, slowly ramming h

f an oar for a spade. It was a long job, but it's six

stener's fingers and smas

ke a book of it,

ory-telling," he said, simply. "Besides, you can understa

s hand; the other, watching him closely, saw that his t

urs, I hope?" said

e captain, startin

of the treasure,"

the capta

much?" aske

half a million," respon

down the room. His eyes were brig

e demanded, at last, paus

id the captain, staring.

urn. "But who does it bel

e, and that's enough for me. Whether it was rightly come by I don

his relations or friend

been bought by a firm in Sydney, and while I was waiting out there I went for a little run on a schooner among the islands. This Don Silvio was aboard of her as a passenger. She went to pieces in a

keenly intere

ould be buried with him and never disturbed. After I'd promised, he opened the bag and showed me what was in it. It was full of precious stones-diamonds, rubies, and the like; some

to him when he was dead

th me. When he died I dug a grave for him, as I told you, with a bit of a broken oar, and laid him and

ally picking up the pieces of h

afterwards that the things h

given information, I think," s

hem again?" inquired Mr. Chalk, wit

a map of the island and got its position from the schooner that

d them now?" s

n, with a short laugh. "Th

to the fireplace, invited him to take a turn in the garden. Mr. Chalk,