his grandfather had given him a document that had been left him by
his father. His grandfather said it contained an important secret,
but one that was of value only in America, and that when he
returned to that continent he must be very careful to whom he
showed it. He told me it was written in a kind of English he could
not understand, and that he had been afraid to let any one see it.
He wanted me to accept the document in payment of the rent he owed
me, with the understanding that I was not to look at it, and that
if he got well I was to give it back. If he pulled through, he was
to pay me in some other way; but if he died I was to keep the
document. About a month ago he died, and I examined the paper. It
purports to tell where there is buried a pirate's treasure. And,"
added Edgar, gazing at me severely and as though he challenged me
to contradict him, I intend to dig for it!"

Had he told me he contemplated crossing the Rocky Mountains in a
Baby Wright, or leading a cotillon, I could not have been more
astonished. I am afraid I laughed aloud.

"You!" I exclaimed. "Search for buried treasure?"

My tone visibly annoyed him. Even the eye-glasses radiated
disapproval.

"I see nothing amusing in the idea," Edgar protested coldly. "It is
a plain business proposition. I find the outlay will be small, and
if I am successful the returns should be large; at a rough estimate
about one million dollars."

Even to-day, no true American, at the thought of one million