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l
themselves to the rest of the boys, saying
they had lost so much sleep the two pre-
ceding nights that they wanted to get to
bed early, and went to their room. . -
But they did not go to bed. Instead,
they locked the door, hung a handkerchief
over the keyhole and spread the paper in
little table that they
udy-table.
saw that the paper contained a
rude drawing of the southern portion of
.the State of Sonora, in Old Mexico. Guay-
he moun-
a certain spot, in
the south side, next to the river, was a red
cross. This was the point where the for-
tune was supposed to be, and the writing
on the paper stated that the gold was in
a cavern, away n he mountains.
Directions were gyen for finding the cav-
em.
The youths spent an hour or more ex-
amining the map and reading what was
written below it. The writing was in both
Spanish and English.
Then they sat.up
other, inqulringly.
1 “What about this, anyhow, Tom?” quer-
d . .
e .
‘What do you mean. Bob?”
“ can-are we going to try to find and
secure this fortune?”
m was silent a. few minutes, during
which time he looked thoughtfully at the
and looked at each
wa . ,,
“If I was sure that this is all straight,
and that there really is a fortune there,”
he said, presently, “I would be in for going
after it, Bob. old fellow.”
“ ell, don't you believe that Greaser
Joe told the truth, and that the gold is
81'
"1 am inclined to think so, yes. That is
to say, I feel certain that it was there, at
one time; but the question is, is it there
n w’
o . ..
“Well, that is something that we cannot
0w 7! . >
“You are right. The only way to learn
the truth’, would be by going there and see-
ing for ourselves."
"And if the gold is there, the longer we
put off going. the more likely it is that
somebody else may had the fortune, Tom‘. ”
It was evident that Bob was excited and
eager to go in search of the hidden fort-
une. -
Torn looked at his friend keenly. -
“I believe that you want to go, old fel-
. low! " he said.
“You are right, I do. I tell you, a fellow
'don’t have many such chances as this,
ml”
“That is true, sure."
"Let's go and see if we can iind
Tom!”
“‘But-what about leaving college?"
“We ought to be able to go down there
into Sonora, Mexico, secure the gold and
get back, all within the space of a month."
Tom nodded. A
“We might do so. if we had good luck,”
he agreed. “But, even if it took us much
longer, it would pay us. if we succeeded in
iinding the treasure." ‘
fso it would. Well, i am.in favor of
going at once, for if we should wait till
this term is out, and went down there in
the vacation season, it might be to find
that we had waited a bit too long."
“We might iind that someone else had
got“there ahead of us, eh?"
“ es
the gold,
. I I .
The two boys eyed each other for a few
moments in silence, and then Tom said:
the professor and take
ildence and get him to give us a vacation
of one month, hadn't we?
-' “Rather than to simply skip right out
without leave? Yes, I tbink,that will be
the better way."
“So do I; for whether we are successful
in securing the fortune, or no , we will
want to come back to college.”
“Yes, ndeed.”- ' i t
“Then it is decided that we are to go?"
“That's for you to say, Tom ”
"Well, 1 think it is a good I
low. We will go, and at once.
Bob extended his hand. ,
“Here's my hand, Tom. We will go to-
gether, and if’ luck is with us we will re-
turn together, and bring the fortune with
5 .
u . .
They shook hands on this’. -
“I rather expect that there will be danger
1)
connected with the expedition, ‘Bo ."
Tom’!
‘ “No doubt of it.”
“We will have to be careful; and it will
be best not to letanybody down in Mexico
discover what we are there after.”
‘You are right. They wouldn‘t want to
let us bring the gold away, if they knew
about IL’ ' ..
' “No, indeed.”
“Which will be the best way for us to go,
By the way o l Peso?” -,
.“Yes; and on west to Benson, in Arizona,
and thence south into Mexico by way of thh
Sonora Railwa ." . . '
Zlt runns to Guaymas?” . .
es. ,
“And when we get to Guaymas?"
' “I have come to ask
dea, old fel-'
..
I-IAPPY, DAYS.
“We will buy or rent a boat and go up
the Yaqui River to the east end of that
range of mountains.”
h‘;To the point where the red cross is,
ca
.1 e ," ’ . , -.
“All right. But, do you think we have
money enou h?" ,
“ guess so. I have three hundred dol-
lars. , gg
“And I have three hundred
'“That ought to be suiliclent.
“I think so, I don't want to write home
for money, for they would ask what I have
done with what I had."
‘Same here, old fellow.”
’ y got out a. map of the United
ftiiltea and Mexico, and examihed it care-
u
and fifty."
.
They decided that the
spoken of was the best on .
. They sat there and discussed their plans
an hour longer, and then got in bed and
tried to go to sleep. This they found to be
a ditiicult matter, however, for their minds
were very active. At last, just as the little
route they had
e
clock on their mantel chimed the hour of
twelve, they dropped off to sleep.
’ When they got up, next morning, they
looked at each other, and Bob said:
“ old man?”
’ “Yes, as soon as the afternoon ,session is
over." v
‘And this evening we'll go and see Viv-
ian and Aline and tell them we are going
or
S
“Yes. Bob.” -
“They'll be surprised." .
“They will, for a fact." '
, CHAPTER VIII.
A SURPRISE FOR THE STUDENTS, AND rm:
. ‘ GIRLS.
When the afternoon session was ended.
om Archer went to the study of Professor
Morton, who greeted the youth pleasantly
and invited him to be seated.
. “What can I do for you, Tom!" he asked.
for a leave of ab-
month, sir," was the reply.
leave of absence, you say?"
in surprise. ‘
sir-yfor myself and for Bob Vvilson
sence of a
“Ha! ’ '
staring‘
“Yes,
as we .
.Tbe professor placed the ends of his En-
gers together and stare at Tom over the
top of his specta s.
, ‘This is, ab, rather irregular, my boy,"
he said. . . '
“So I know, sir; but the business that we
have to attend to is important."
“Can't it wait till the end of the term?"
Tom shook his head.
“Not very well, sir,” he said.
‘Pray advise me regarding this-business.
You must understand that I cannot grant
such 2 favor blindly. You must bring
forth cogent reasons or else I cannot listen
to such an unheard-of propos‘ ion. - -
‘Very well, Professor Morton; I will tell
you all, and en I feel certain that you
will be willing to grant us the leave of
‘absence. v ,
‘Go on with the story, my boy; then,
as you say, I. shall be able to render a.
decision." -
Tom wentahead and told his story. He
told about the story of .“Greaser Joe"
garding the hidden treasure, and showed
the professor the map of the place where
the gold was concealed. ,
When he had dnished, he paused and sat
there looking eagerly at the professor, who
on his part was looking thoughtfully at
the door.
Tom was anxious, for he feared that the
professor might refuse to grant the leave of
E .
“Well,” said Professor Morton. present-
ly, looking keenly at Tom, “I have decided
to grant the favor you ask.”-
‘Oh, thank you, thank you!” cried the
youth - ,
‘After giving the matter careful con-
sideration, I have come to the conclusion
that there is a good chance that the story
of Greaser Joe is true, and that the treas-
ure was hidden in the cave, as he stated;
the only question is, has it been found and
carried away?"
“I thought of that, sir. I think, however,
that the other members of the robber hand
must have been killed or imprisoned by the
government of Sonora. And if that is the
case, then the probabilities are that the
treasure is still there.” " '
“You may be right, my boy. . I hope that
you are." V ,
“So do I, sir.”
.“When will you start?”
“As soon as possible; to-morrcw,-per-
haps.” - ,
“What are you going to tell your fellow
students, to account for your going?"
‘Th.-I have been called away on
business.” t ‘ ‘
see.
, Tom talked with the professor awhile
longer, and then, thanking him again for
granting Bob and himself leave of absence,
the youth bowed himself out and hastened
to his roo
m.
, “Well,” queried Bob,‘ eagerly.
"it's all right.”
“lie said we can go, eh!"
Yes.‘
‘ “Now. the next thing is to go and tell the
girls, eh, old man!
1f‘Yes; we'll go around there this even-
ng."
“Are we going to tell them rcgardingthe
business that is taking us away?" .
,“They'll keep the secret, all right.”
“Yes, indeed.” -
“We'll go to-marrow, Tom?"
‘Yes; we want to get away
as possible.
‘All right; let's pack our grips.” .
Very well; we will just about have time
to do that before supper is read ." .
They went to work at once, and were
hard at work, when the door opened and
Bert Spellrnan stuck his head through the
opening. .
He stared in amazement. .
“What in the world are you fellows
doing?” he exclaimed. .
‘Packing our grips; can't you see!‘1 re-
plied Bob.
“Yes, but-what are you doing that for?”
“We’re going away "
as quickly
'What;" Bert stared in open-mouthed
amazement.
“That's right," nodded Tom.
“Where-when-why‘! I don't under-
stand!
‘We are called away by business," said
“important business,” added Tom.‘
‘Well, well! Say, this is sudden, lsn’t
lt"' .
' “Rather sudden," acknowledged Bob. .
“When are you going?"
“To-marrow.” .
“When will you be back?"
Dont know exactly." said Tom; “in a
month, though. likely."
“Fhew ay, we want both of you on the
football team, and that will.keep you out of
all the preliminary practice, and of course
you could not go in, raw, and do yourselves
justice.” , .
‘N ," agreed Tom; “I guess we'll have
to cut the football out for this season."
Bert
“I see our finish," he grumbled; “it's
down and out with us, when we bump up
against Bluifton for the championship."
, u can beat them without us,"
said Bob, encouraglngly.
‘Nixie! ever! It can’t he did! Oh.
but it's the soup
the truth!" -
“Bosh!” said Tom.
ton easily. Cheer up." .
be little chap would not believe it.
and he refused toebe comforted.
The two told him as much as they wished
to tell, and then, as they expected, Bert
hastened away to tell the news. It was
soon known to all, and great was the sur-
prise manifested by the students. And like
Bert, many of them 3 bved, because it
would take away two of the best men for
the football eleven. ’
At supper, that evening, the two were put
through a cross-examination that was
rather trying. but they did not give up any
more information ghan they had vouch-
safed Bert Speliman. udents were
not satisfied. but they could not help, them-
selves; they could not, of course, ask out-
what the business was that was call-
ng the two away.
“Well. on two will be back in time to
get on the basket-ball team, anyway," said
Ben Thomas, who was the last years can-
tain of the football team, and who woul
probably f be
m. .
tureen for us, and that's
“rbxru beat Blun-
D‘
m
'5
-n
m
m
m
H
0
tea
, e
tioubtedly,” agreed Tom.
Soon after supper Tom and Bob dressed
with scrupulous care and, just as it was be-
ginning to grow dark, they left the dormi-
tory and set out for, the village at the foot
of the hill. . .
They were soon at the home of Aline
Ardner. and as good luck would have it.
they found Vivian Winter there also. .
The girls gave the two a cordial greeting,
and the four were soon seated in the parlor,
talking and laughing and enjoying them-
selves hug y.
hey had been there perhaps an hour.
when Bob turned to his comrade. during
a lull in the conversation, and sai : ,
‘You tell the girls the news. old fellow."
now,
“ivhat have you boys been doing now?"
queried Vivian. ."Have you captured some
more robbers?”
They shook their heads.
‘No, nothing like that.” said Bob.
‘Well, tell us quickly!" urged Aline.
“Yes, we're. dying of curiosity!” from
Vivian. - ‘
“The news that we have to tell you is,
that we are going awa girls," said Tom.
The girls gasped in amazement. A look
of consternation appeared on the face of
e .
ac .
“But where‘!-why?" asked Aline.
“Tell us, quickly!" from Vivian.
“We are going to Mexico," said Tom.
“To Mexico!" cried Aline.
“What for?" queried Vivian.
‘Will you promise not to tell a soul, if
we tell you why we are going?” asked Bob.
“Yes, yes! " nodding.
r e ected fo 1
m %r t.h'at,‘nn--
. ‘. . 0
f‘All right; go ahead and tell them."
Tom."
“Seems to me you are putlng most of the
work on me!‘ grumb d Tom. -
"‘ h,' go on; you can talk better than I
can. ,
“ ll right," said Tom. “But you must
remember your promise to keep this to
yourselves."
“We will!”
‘!We won't tell a soul! " >
"Good!" Then Tom told them about
it, and the girls listened with the deepest
interest. They were greatly excited, an
told the youths that they were glad they
were going. and that they hoped the two
would and the treasure.
“So ," grinned Bob: “for then we
will be rich enough to get married.”
Both girls blushed, ‘and Bob got a slap
from Vivian.
‘Slop your foolishness and tell us all,
everythlng:".crlcd Aline. .
ouaprnn xx.
IN MEXICO.
The time passed swiftly. The girls were
as greatly interested in the trip that was to
be taken as were the two youths, and they
talked of the affair eagerly. '
They gave Tom and Bob much advice and
told them to be careful, and not get into
any trouble., '
“Oh, we'll be careful," said Bob. “We will
be eager to get back to you girls safely.‘
“That's so," nodded Tom. ,
“All we'll have to do will be to keep clear
of the Mexican soldiers." said Bob. ‘Yo
see, they would claim the treasure, it they
knew of it and were to catch us getting
away with it.’ ‘
“Then you musn't let them catch you,"
said Vivian. ' -
“We won't." .
When eleven o'clock came, the youths
bade the girls good-night and good-by, and
took their leave. .
“We-probably won't see you again be-
forewe go." said Tom. ,
-“Say, Torn,’ said Bob, as they were mak-
ing their way toward the college dormitory.
“there is something else that we will have
to look out for, besides the Mexican sol-
d ers.
‘What, Bob?”
“The Yaqui Indians."
“Yes?” ‘
“Yes. I looked it up this evening, and
I learned that the Yaqui Indians have con-
trol of the country along the Yaqui River.
where we are going. and that they are the
most savage people on the American Con-
tinent.“
“Is that so?’ r
Y .
quered by the white poop]
“Hum'
trouble down there, ob!"
“You are right: but of
want to tell the girls abou i .
the time, old man." ‘
“ a we will. I tell you, I don't care to
fall into the hands of the barbarous Ya-
quis; if the half is true of them that the
book said, that I was reading,"
‘Well, it probably is true."
"Doubtless." > ,
“We can learn something rega ding the
Yaquis after we get to Guaymas.”
They reached the dormitory, now, and
entered and made their way to their room,
Fifteen minutes later they were in bed and
rasiee . ,
Next day they took their departure, and
while their fellow students supposed that
they were bound for home, the fact was
that they were started on their long jour-
ney down into Sonora, Mexico.
They went by the way of El Paso, and in
due time found themselves at Benson,
where they alighted from the Continental
Limited, and took a train for Guaymas.
Later they arrived in Guaymas, which is
quite a large city, on the Gulf of California.
As they aiighted from the train, a med-
ium-sized, dark-complexioned man, with a
long beard and fierce mustache, who was
leaning against the depot-building, gave a
start and eyed the two keenly and eagerly.
They did not observe this, and went on
their way happily unconscious of the fact
that they attracted notice from anyone.
.They walked along till they came to an
American hotel,’ and here they entered, and
the dark-skinned, bearded man was close
at their heels. r
Tom and Bob signed their names on the
register, and then went to their room and
made their toilet, after which they came
down and ate supper.
After supper, they went out and spent
two hours strolling about the city, looking
at the sights. They were down at the
wharf, and they looked at some of the
smaller craft with interest. They intended
to rent a sloop, if possible, to make the
trip up the Yaqui River in.
E they went, they were fol-
lowed by the dark-skinned man, nor did he
lose sight of them until they had entered
the hotel and gone to their room.
ext morning, after breakfast, the
youths went to the clerk and asked him
The Yaquis have never been con- '
my .
s as if we may have some '
course, I didn't
it 1.". A -
“we will have to be on our guard an‘ ’