te about one
million dollars."

Even to-day, no true American, at the thought of one million dollars,
can remain covered. His letter to me had said, "for our mutual benefit."
I became respectful and polite, I might even say abject. After all, the
ties that bind us in those dear old college days are not lightly to be
disregarded.

"If I can be of any service to you, Edgar, old man," I assured him
heartily, "if I can help you find it, you know I shall be only too
happy." With regret I observed that my generous offer did not seem to
deeply move him.

"I came to you in this matter," he continued stiffly, "because you
seemed to be the sort of person who would be interested in a search for
buried treasure."

"I am," I exclaimed. "Always have been."

"Have you," he demanded searchingly, "any practical experience?"

I tried to appear at ease; but I knew then just how the man who applies
to look after your furnace feels, when you ask him if he can also run a
sixty horse-power dynamo.

"I have never actually FOUND any buried treasure," I admitted; "but
I know where lots of it is, and I know just how to go after it." I
endeavored to dazzle him with expert knowledge.

"Of course," I went on airily, "I am familiar with all the expeditions
that have tried for the one on Cocos Island, and I know all about the
Peruvian treasure on Trinidad, and the lost treasures of Jalisco near
Guadalajara, and the sunken galleon on the Grand Cayman, and when I was
on the Isle of Pines I had several very tempting offers to search there.
And the late Captain Boynton invited me----"

"But," interrupted Edgar in a tone that would tolerate no trifling, "you
yourself have never financed or organized an expedition with the object
in view of----"

"Oh, that part's easy!" I assured him. "The fitting-out part you can
safely leave to me." I assumed a confidence that I hoped he might
believe was real. "There's always a tramp steamer in the Erie Basin,"
I said, "that one can charter for any kind of adventure, and I have the
addresses of enough soldiers of fortune, filibusters, and professional
revolutionists to man a battle-ship, all fine fellows in a tight corner.
And I'll promise you they'll follow us to hell, and back----"

"That!" exclaimed Edgar, "is exactly what I feared!"

"I beg your pardon!" I exclaimed.

"That's exactly what I DON'T want," said Edgar sternly. "I don't INTEND
to get into any tight corners. I don't WANT to go to hell!"