Part 6 (2/2)
”What kind of a paper?”
”You must promise to bear all of der expenses of der expedition, you und your friends, und I must have half der treasure, if you finds him. Vill you do dot?”
”That I will, Mrs. Stults.”
”Den come here dis afternoon, und I vill haf der map copy und der papers ready for you. You vos a smart boy. Maybe you vos succeed vere der oders fail. Anyhow I trust you, because of der letter from Old Bill. Now come back dis afternoon. Good-by, w.i.l.l.y. Vos dot your name?”
”No, my name is Fred--Fred Stanley.”
”Vell, Fred, den. Vos you any relations to dot man vot discovered many t'ings in Africa?”
”You mean Henry M. Stanley?”
”Yah.”
”No. I think not.”
”Vell, anyhow, maybe you vos be as better a discoverer as him. Come dis afternoon.”
CHAPTER VI
THE OLD GOLD HUNTER
Fred thought the hour would never arrive when he might again call on Mrs. Stults. But, of course, it came around in due course, and he was there on time. He found the widow seated in her parlor, with a bundle of papers on a table near her, and a man sitting in a chair by a window.
”Here is dot Fred boy, vot I tell you about,” said Mrs. Stults to the man.
”Ah, yes. He seems quite young to undertake such work as hunting for the lost treasure.”
”Dot's vot I tells him.”
”I'll grow older,” remarked Fred, with a smile, ”and I am used to hard work and exposure. I have done considerable camping out.”
”Yes, but not in such a cold country as Alaska, young man.”
”No, sir, but I expect to prepare for it.”
”Dis is mine lawyer,” explained Mrs. Stults, ”Mr. Ackerman. He vill make out der papers.”
”Mrs. Stults has told me what you want to do,” went on Mr. Ackerman. ”I see no objection to it, provided you can get your father or some other men interested. I have drawn up an agreement by which you are required to give Mrs. Stults half the gold you discover.”
”I am willing to do that.”
”Then if you will sign it, I will give you a copy of the map, and such directions as the late Mr. Stults left. I must warn you that they are not very clear, and, even with the aid of the map, many men have tried to find the gold, but have failed.”
”I may fail also,” admitted Fred, ”but I am going to try.”
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