"Good morning!" It was young Riggins who joined us. "I read that story of yours, sir. It was good, I must say. It is just like something that happened in my own personal experience. A few months ago, I was down at h.o.m.osa.s.sa, Florida; and, while I was there, some clam diggers discovered a large chest of old Spanish coin. They sold them to the Government for thirty thousand dollars, and have now retired from the clam business."
That was a tale rather to the point, and Jamesby received it soberly; but I laughed out of sheer appreciation of another good yarn.
I did not see Jamesby for several days. I knew it was his busy season; but I really wished to know how he fared. So, I decided to look him up.
He was a happy, enthusiastic, ingenuous young fellow, and I had become quite accustomed to having his cheerful company occasionally.
I found him sitting at his desk in intense abstraction; but he soon observed me standing before him, and quickly arose with a hearty welcome, such as he alone knew how to extend.
"I tell you, sir," he said enthusiastically, "it is a magnificent project!"
"What is?" I answered. "I don"t know--"
"Oh," he continued, absently, "I forgot; it was my brother I was talking with. But I have investigated thoroughly the whole subject of those blockade runners, and I believe the prospect of success is worth a giant effort for the recovery of some of that money from the sea. There must be untold quant.i.ties of it lying there, inviting even a meagre attempt to get it. The boats can be chartered cheaply; and I have learned that the necessary divers can be secured on an equitable division of the spoils. There are many details of the organization of the enterprise which I have thought out."
His voice had an eager ring, and his eyes sparkled with interest.
"Jamesby, my boy," I answered calmly, "you are decidedly on the right track. I wish you all good fortune."