Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1891-03-19

with us a pickaXe and spade. With
some difficulty we effected an entrance
Within, the rooms were dark, owing to
the closed blinds, but Sam fortunately
found the end of a candle in his overcoat
pocket. He lit it, and we proceeded to
the back room.
AT this point Raxworthy's agitation
was almost beyond his control. | my
self not little excited. Sam alone
seemed impassive, but he was circum-
spect and alert, and as he stopped over
the hearthstone | thought l saw the in
dication of the butt of a revolver in his
pocket.
SO far everything had conceded with
the ghosts prediction. Street, house,
room and hearthstone, all were right.
it? Was it possible that, as we lifted
the heavy slab of limestone, the light of
our pickering candle would fall upon a
flashing heap of jewels and gold? If so,
what was one to think of spiritualism?
Could any test be more convincing?
"Give me the pick" said Sam. "Stand
by to help me with the spade when | get
the slab started. In she goes! Now,
then, all together! Up she comes! Lay
it down there out of the way. Well,
what have we got?
We all went down on our hands and
knees and peered into the cavity re-
vealed by the uplifted stone.
Raxworthy, with sort of desperation,
finally thrust in his hand and pulled out
some folds of old oilcloth. Apparently
this was all that the hole contained. The
bottom was covered with dirt and rub
bish. RaXworthy groaned.
"Twenty-five hundred dollars for a
scrap of oilcloth!"
"You are too previous" said Sam
coldly. "We may not be at the bottom
of this thing yet. What's this? And he
laid hold of a tuft of something project
ing out of the dirt, which resisted his
effort to pull it out.
'sBear hand, will your said he.
"I'm the only man among you that has
any faith, after alln'
We all now laid hold of the projecting
tuft and heaved amain. Up came large
and very heavy bag of coarse canvas,
which the dirt aud rubbish had con
cealed. 1t was as much as two of us
could lift conveniently, and when we
dropped it on the floor beside the hole,
there was juggling sound as of many
pieces of metal. Raxworthy's face be-
came CHASTITY pale, and he painted as if
he had run up a flight of stairs. Sam
seized the mouth of the bag, which was
tied up with string, and tore it open. We
looked in and saw mass of gold coin
and the sparkle of precious stones. Rax-
worthy emitted wild screech and
plunged his hands into the mass.
$50 it's all true" remarked Sam COM
posedly. "Td take the ghosts word for
thousand pounds. There must be at
least hundred thousand dollars worth
in that bag. Well, this is no place to
count it over. Let's get it up to your
rooms, Mr.. Raxworthy, and examine it
there
Somehow or other we got the bag out
of the door. Somehow or other hack
happened to be standing before the door,
into which we got with the bag And
somehow or other got the impression
policemen, who happened to be there,
before he got in after us and slammed
the door.
In Is minutes we were in Raxw orthy's
rooms with the box. He threw off his
coat and wiped his forehead.
"I'll tell you what I'll do,'' he said.
"I'll fetch out my strong box, and we'll
count this stuff into it. That'll save time
and make all safe. If it turns out as
good as it looks I'll make Mrs. Selkirk a
present of $5!'
"Don't be rash," said SAM
swell, So, anyway! Will one of you
gentlemen help me with the box? It's
as heavy as the bag
"Just about, should say,' muttered
Sam. He followed Raxworthy to door
beside the fireplace, which was fastened
by a couple of iron bars and big lock.
Raxworthy had his keys in his hand,
but on applying them to the locks they
would not turn, and further investiga-
ton showed that the locks had been
! forced, though externally there were no
signs of it. Raxworthy stopped, and
have seldom seen human being betray
symptoms of such awful CONSERVATION.
ooh! what does this mean? p he STAN
mered, in thin, croaking voice. "My
soul! What is it?'
cit looks like burglary said Sam, in
vestigating here and there. eyes, sir,
thieves have been at work, and fellows
who know their business, too! Open
the door and let's see what they've
taken"
The door was opened. There stood
the box. Raxworthy grasped the handle
at one end and lifted it. 1t came up
easily. ne pulleu III Oub Ou Iue loOT LII d
fury and dashed back the lid. 1t was as
empty as an inventors pocket-book.
| Neither words nor Outcries could eX-
press RaXworthy's feelings. He simply
sat huddled up on the floor staring into
the vacant chest, voiceless and almost
| lifeless.
ga clean job, wasn't it?'' Sam OBJ
served. 6 However, they did leave the
box, and if you've lost one treasure
you've got another. Just pour what's in
the bag into the box and say no more
about it,
"Ruined! All my gold" gasped Rax-
worthy, with husky sob.
''Stuff and nonsense!'' cried Sam, TAX
ing the bag in his arms and pouring out
the contents on the floor. "What do
you call that Ruined, indeedr
My stars! What splendid heap of
treasure it was! Doubloons, moidores,
double eagles, nuggets, diamonds, rubies
and all the rest of it. "It's Just your
own pile over again." Sam declared.
"Neither more nor less.'
The rattle and glitter of the royal
metal drew Raxworthy's attention in
spite of himself. He picked up one of
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