r having had his breakfast, on the third day
after leaving home, Fred called at the house.

"Vell, vot it is?" asked Mrs. Stults, when he introduced himself.

"I have a letter of introduction from Mr. William Gardner," said Fred,
extending the missive.

"I don't knows such a man as dot."

"Don't know Mr. Gardner--Old Bill Gardner?" and Fred began to feel
disappointed, thinking he had made a mistake.

"Oh, so! You means dot Old Bill! Ach! Yah! I knows him vell. Vot you
say, he has wrotten me a letters?"

"It's about that Alaska treasure."

"Oh, dot treasure! I wish I never hear of him! He kill mine poor
husband, und he is more bodders to me as everyding; dot treasures! Vait;
I reads der letter."

Slowly adjusting a large pair of glasses, she carefully spelled out the
missive. Her face took on a more kindly look, and, when she had finished
it, she said:

"Vell, Fred, I do 'most anyding for you, after I read dot letter from
Old Bill. My husbands vos very fond of Bill. Vot it is you vants?"

"I would like to get a map of where the treasure is buried, and have you
tell me all you can about it."

"So? Vell, I don't know vere it is, only vot der map says. But listen,
how is a boy like you going to hunt for dot treasure? Maybe it don't be
dere no more. Maybe dose Indians vos took it. Ach! My poor husband! Dot
treasure vos der death of him, und I don't vant to see it kills any
more beples."

"Well, I shall have to take that chance, I suppose," said Fred. "But are
you willing I should hunt for it?"

"How can a boy like you vos, all alone, find somedings vot lots of mens
has failed to find?"

"I expect to have some men help me. My father is an old miner, and he
will advise me. Probably he would go, only he is lame."

"So? Dot's different alretty yet, if your fader vos a miner. Den you
knows somedings about der trouble. Und maybe you could get a party to
hunt it, only der last party vot vent for it vos frozen prutty bad, und
dey comes back midout der gold."

"Have you the map?" asked Fred, anxious to see the document.

"Yah, but if I consents to let you search, I vill only give you a copy.
If you don't come back, my map vould be lost. Maybe it vould be better
if it vos lost, den noboddies vould try for dot treasure, any more."

"If it's there it ought to be found, Mrs. Stults. The gold is no good
buried out of sight."

"Dot's so. Vell, maybe I gives you a copy of der map. I have to dink it
ofer. You comes b