218 NOVEMBER 



the apple tree. But they stood still and laughed 

 unabashed. 



" Look at Meshach Werge an' his treasure !" they 

 said. 



" Where ? " cried Meshach. But the girls had 

 passed and Nancy was blushing. 



" What do they mean, Nancy ? " 



" How can I tell you, Meshach ? " 



" Ain't there a treasure after all ? " 



" Not if you think there ain't." 



" But be there, do you think?" 



" I think maybe you might come to think 

 there is." 



" But where, then ?" 



Nancy went up to the wall of the house and 

 stood beside it, and tapped the earth with her foot. 



" I think it might be just here," she said. 



" But I've looked just there." 



" An' there ain't no treasure ? " 



" Nary," replied Meshach mournfully. 



Nancy went close up to the apple tree and stood 

 beneath it. 



" I think you might find it just here." 



" But I've looked just there. I've dug it all up. 

 I don't believe there isn't no treasure. Is there, 

 Nancy ? " 



" Not if you think there isn't, Meshach." 



11 He said it was under the apple tree." 



-Well?" 



" An' there's nothin' under the apple tree." 



" Nothin', Meshach, except me." 



Meshach looked stupidly at her for the space 

 of a minute, and then a great light overspread his 



