Marion Meredith tapped the edge of the ragged map spread across the table. "I got it from my neighbor before he died." He glanced up at the grizzled looking man known only as Clawson. The two huddled in a dark corner of a rustic diner near Port Arthur, Texas on a warm evening in the early 1920s.

"It came from an old Mexican woman who was eager to be rid of it," Meredith added. "Her uncle got it from one of the Jean (John) Lafitte's men before the Civil War." He watched Clawson's eyes brighten as the older man inspected the chart. "They say it dates back to the early 1800's."

"Could be." Clawson stroked his sandy-gray beard as he nodded. "Could be from 'bout 1814 when a navy flotilla routed them pirates at Barataria Bay. Could be one of them schooners escaped. Made it back in here." He traced an arc on the map to outline a section of the Sabine Lake just off the Gulf.

"That puts it at just over a hundred years old," Meredith replied. "But the old woman said it was the Spaniards that chased Lafitte's ship into those bayous. Said the ship anchored here, at the mouth of the Neches River. Two crewmen carried the treasure into the marshes and buried it." Meredith lowered his head and voice. "She said they carved a heart into a nearby tree to mark the spot then cut anchor and hurried from the harbor."

Clawson matched Meredith's tone. "Might be able to find that anchor. Them marshes can get pretty dry this time of year." He grinned and leaned back.

Meredith smiled as he squeezed his palms. That's exactly what he wanted to hear. That's why he'd sought this crusty old dog. He'd heard Clawson had grown up around these marshes and knew them better than anyone. But Meredith's excitement waned as he considered the rest of the story, wondering how the old man would react. He cleared his throat.