The Young Treasure Hunter | Page 9

is now, and I have a letter of introduction to her," and he showed the
epistle given him by Mr. Gardner.
CHAPTER V
MRS. STULTS CONSENTS
Fred's announcement took his parents completely by surprise. Mr.
Stanley extended his hand for the letter, and read it over slowly.
"That ought to get you a hearing, at any rate," he said at length. "I
understand that Old Bill Gardner is quite well acquainted with the
widow of the man who buried the fortune to save it from the Alaskan
Indians. But, Fred, don't build your hopes too high. I don't see how you
are going to get to Denville, and, even if Mrs. Stults should consent to
allow you to hunt for the treasure, how are you going to do it?"

"I thought I might get some of your friends interested, father, and we
could form an expedition to go to Alaska."
"But that will take considerable money."
"So it does to start a mine, and this is just as sure as a mine is."
"I admit that. But whom could you get?"
"I thought you might be able to propose some one. You see, father,
there is no use of me staying around here. There is no work to be had in
Piddock, and if I have to go off some distance to look for a job, I might
as well go a little farther, and hunt for the treasure."
"But Alaska is a good way off."
"Not so very far."
"You'd think so, if you had to walk," added his mother. "Besides, Fred,
I hate to think of you going off to that terrible place."
"But think of it, mother! I might come home with a fortune in gold!
Then you wouldn't have to work any more, and dad could have better
treatment, so he would get well."
Fred spoke earnestly, and there were tears in the eyes of his father and
mother at his words. He wanted so much to help them, yet he could do
so little.
"It might be done," said Mr. Stanley, musingly, after a pause. "I
suppose I could talk to some old miners I know, and get them interested.
They place a good deal of confidence in me, and they would believe
anything Old Bill Gardner said. But I don't see, at present, Fred, how
you are going to get to see Mrs. Stults. The railroad fare costs more
than we can afford."
"I can walk it, father."
"What? Walk twenty-five miles--yes, fifty, for it would mean that."

"Oh, I could do it. But I may be able to get some work, and earn my
car-fare."
"Well," said Mr. Stanley, after thinking it over, "the matter will have to
be discussed considerably more at length, before I can consent to let
you do anything."
"May I go see Mrs. Stults, dad?"
"Yes, if you can arrange it. I have been promised a little job as
watchman at the old Owl mine. There is a lawsuit over it, and the court
has ordered that it be guarded, pending a settlement. The wages are not
much, but it is about all I can do. The offer only came to me this
afternoon. With what I can earn there, and with what your mother takes
in, I think we can spare you for a few days, if you want to try and see
Mrs. Stults. But, if you walk, you must take at least two days at it. I
don't want you to get sick."
"I don't either, dad. I'll go slow, so I'll be in good shape to start for
Alaska with the expedition."
"I'm afraid it will be a good while before the expedition starts, my son."
But Fred had no doubts to worry him. He felt confident that he would
succeed, and he did not consider the many obstacles in the way. He
only looked ahead, and saw himself, in fancy, bringing home a great
treasure, to delight his father and mother.
Fred mapped out a plan for himself. Now that his father had a little
work, the boy did not worry so much about matters at home. He
decided he would try, harder than ever, to get odd jobs to do, so that he
might earn money enough for his railroad fare to Denville. In this he
was more successful than he hoped. In about a week he had the
necessary cash, and then, on second thoughts, as there was no great
hurry, he decided to walk after all.
So, taking only part of the money he had earned, and giving the rest to
his mother, he set out, one fine morning, on his long walk.

He had cash enough to buy his meals, and he knew he could find
sleeping places in the mining camps,