The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-08-06

huu evening SVTOllSp anu hnOuiu huNO ~"
dulged in many pleasant walks but for
my great fear of snakes and lizards,
which were numerous in that locality,
though both reptiles were comparative
ly harmless. One morning, as there
was some new fencing to be seen to,
which lay beyond distant belt of pine
woods, proposed that my friend and
l should accompany her husband for
the sake of the walk. Although fer
advanced in the autumn, the day was n
beautiful one; and as we would be
gone some hours, took my sketch
book along, while Eva carried some
light sewing to while away the time
until Mr.. Evans was ready to return.
1.-THE evergreen of the pines gave lit
tie Indication of the season, and 1
missed the gorgeous coloring of my ma
tive woodlands at this time of the year,
but there was something indescribably
grand and imposing in the stately aisles
of pines, with the winds piping strange
and solemn anthems in ceaseless tones
among the lofty branches, as If a dis
tant organ were touched by invisible
fingers
ION the opposite side of the pine
woods large, white rock in an open
space offered us an inviting place for
rest, and, as the walk had been long
one, we sat down to await Mr.. Evans re-
turn. l opened my sketch book and
began to work, and had been engaged
on a sketch for some little time, when
l held it out at arms length to better
criticise it. All at once gave vent to
a sharp exclamation of surprise, then
joyfully waved the sketch book aloft.
'Eurekar 1 cried; i have found itp
" Found whatP What is the matter?'
asked Eva, coming to my side, with as
tonishment clearly portrayed on her
face.
Il have found it! have found it,
repeated, in intense delight.
What do you mean? cried Eva,
looking at me as if she thought l had
lost my senses, rather than found any
thing.
"'The mystery is soIvedr 1 exclaimed,
eXcitedly. I hold the key to the picture,
at last.
How?' she asked, in blank amaze
ment.
hOOh4 bllC
sketch book before her. DO you not
recognize the scene? The bowlder here
in the foreground, and the fantastic
stump; yonder the mass of honeysuclSle
that covers that pine log which has
been cut or had fallen, since the pic
ture had been painted. 1t all came to
me like flash when / held up the
sketch.
'By this time Eva was quite as ex-
cited as l, and we were both bending
closely over the drawing and compar-
ing it with the surrounding scene and
our impression of the picture at the
house, when Mr.. Evans returned.
"I wonder if it can be possible that
any valuables are buried at this spot?'
he said, thoughtfully, after he had
closely inspected my sketch and looked
about him.
'''I have not the least doubt of it!'
l cried, emphatically. The chest is
buried here, beneath this very rock.
Eva's uncle doubtless selected this spot,
as picture was painted of it, and he
thought it could be the more readily
found by her. The letter that he sent
her concerning this picture, and which
never reached her, would have made
everything clear.
II could scarce brook the impatience
of waiting until spades had been pro-
cured from the house and Mr.. Evans
set to work with a hearty will, assisted
by the husband of old Simon's niece.
In short while it became evident that
the bowlder was very large one, deep
ly imbedded in the ground, and cer-
tainly had not been disturbed for q
great period, perchance not since it's
Judgement there ages ago.
Though baffled by this fact for
time, / firmly maintained my ground
that somewhere near this spot, at least,
lay the buried treasure. At this point
Eva suggested that as the key was
found in the frame midway between
the rock and the stump in the picture,
perhaps the chest was buried between
the actual rock and stump. Acting on
this suggestion, the two diggers began
work at a place midway between the
two points, while Eva and looked
eagerly on and encouraged them.
at was slow work, but after awhile
they had excavated quite hole. They
dug down some two or three feet, and
then began to dig out in different direc-
tions. 1t was now past noon and both