Find BadBird's Treasure

At the 29 August meeting of BadBird’s Treasure Hunting Society we discussed the possible meaning of the 4th clue and reviewed suggestions received by email.

It was noted that each message seems to contain one word or phrase in the main body that leads to the decryption of the clue in the last few lines.

Our thanks to the mailed advice that the term "Arab" might mean a follower of Islam that would "bow" towards Mecca six times daily in prayer. Generally this is considered to be bowing towards the East. We then surmised that "March at dawn towards hell," could refer to the rising Sun giving a Biblical impression of flames from Hell. (Alternatively, the line could be yet another "red herring" or phrase designed to throw searchers off the track that leads to the treasure.)

Since last BTHS meeting, a group has returned to the former location of the "Wildcat Saloon" at dawn and searched Eastward with the following results:

Due East of the Saloon is the S.F. Travis Company hardware store with an alley between the original Travis building and the former theatre on the corner of King Street and Delannoy Ave. The alley has an iron gate but there was no sign of the last clue’s "there’s a Bell at the gate." bell.

A careful search of the surrounding wooden structure led to a small pocket seemingly carved between a post and lintel in the structure. The crevice held the 5th Clue in the hunt for BadBird’s Treasure.

5th CLUE Found wedged in the wood framework over the Travis alley gate

(This is the shortest clue so far and is in pencil from Bell not as assumed meaning that there was a physical bell.)

TRANSCRIPTION of Deposit Slip 8

8

I’m writing this one for the Mate.
He’s patriotic as of late.

Bell for X

END OF TRANSCRIPTION

Wrapped with the message was a silver 1911 United States Quarter Dollar. The original clue and the quarter are now on display in the window of BadBirds gallery for your analysis.

We admit that we are stumped by this message. If you have any idea or suggestion as to what the message means, please contact me via email at kak@dol.net

BadBirds Treasure Hunting Society will meet again at 6:00 PM, on Friday the 5th of September, to discuss progress in the search for BadBirds Treasure.