"Good morning!" It was young Riggins who joined us. "I read that story
of yours, sir. It was good, I must say. It is just like something that
happened in my own personal experience. A few months ago, I was down at
Homosassa, Florida; and, while I was there, some clam diggers discovered
a large chest of old Spanish coin. They sold them to the Government for
thirty thousand dollars, and have now retired from the clam business."

That was a tale rather to the point, and Jamesby received it soberly;
but I laughed out of sheer appreciation of another good yarn.

I did not see Jamesby for several days. I knew it was his busy season;
but I really wished to know how he fared. So, I decided to look him up.
He was a happy, enthusiastic, ingenuous young fellow, and I had become
quite accustomed to having his cheerful company occasionally.

I found him sitting at his desk in intense abstraction; but he soon
observed me standing before him, and quickly arose with a hearty
welcome, such as he alone knew how to extend.

"I tell you, sir," he said enthusiastically, "it is a magnificent
project!"

"What is?" I answered. "I don't know--"

"Oh," he continued, absently, "I forgot; it was my brother I was talking
with. But I have investigated thoroughly the whole subject of those
blockade runners, and I believe the prospect of success is worth a giant
effort for the recovery of some of that money from the sea. There must
be untold quantities of it lying there, inviting even a meagre attempt
to get it. The boats can be chartered cheaply; and I have learned that