The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-08-30

The weight OF these valuables exceeded
three hundred and fifty pounds avoirdu-
polls: and In this estimate / have not IN
cluded ono hundred and ninety-seven
superb gold watches: three OF the num-
hr being worth each five hundred dollars.
IL one. Many OF them were very old. and
as iime-keepers valueless. the works hav-
ing suffered. more or less. from corrosion:
but all were richly iewclled and in cases
OF great worth. We estimated the en-
tire contents Of the chest that night. at
a million and n half OF dollars: and. upon
the subsequent disposal OF the trinkets
and jewels "a few being retained FOR our
own use). II was found that we had
greatly undervalued the treasure.
When, at length. we had concluded QUE
examination, and the intense excitement
OF the time had In some measure subsid-
ed. Legrand. who saw that I was dying
with Impotence for a solution OF this
most extraordinary riddle. entered into a
full detail OF all the circumstances con-
nected with It.
You remember" said he, "the night
when T handed You the rough sketch
had made OF tho scarahaeus. Yon Tecol-
lect, also that ! became qulte veNcd at
Won for insisting that my drawing reSem-
bled a death's-head. When you first made
this assertion thought you were testing.
but afterwards called to mind the pecu-
liar spots on the back OF the insect. and
admitted 10 myself that your remark had
some little foundation I'm fact. stu. the
sheer at my graphic powers irritated me.
for am considered a good artist.-and.
therefore, when you handed me the scrap
OF parchment. WAS about 10 crumple II
Up and throw Il angrily into the fire.
1.-THE scrap Of paper. you mean" said
I.
mo; It had much OF tho appearance OF
paper. and at first / supposed II TO DO
such but when I came to draw upon II.
discovered II, at once. 10 be piece OF
very thin parchment. IL was quite dirty.
you remember. Well, as I was in the
very act Of crumpling 1t up. my glance
fell upon the sketch at which you had
been looking, and you may imagine my
astonishment when I perceived In fact.
the figure Of a deaths-head. just where,
IL seemed 10 me. I had made the drawing
OF the beetle. For moment was too
much amazed 70 think with accuracy.
knew thai my design was very different
I'm detail from this although there was
a certain similarity in general outline
Presently I took a candle. and seating
myself at the other end OF the room. pro-
ceeded to scrutinize the parchment more
closely. Upon turning II over. / saw my
own sketch upon the reverse just as |
had made II. My first idea, now, was
mere surprise at the really remarkable
similarity OF outllne.-at the singulaS
coincidence involved In tho fact that. I'M
known TO me. there should have been q
skull upon the other side OF the parch-
ment. Immediately beneath my figure OF
tho scarabaeus. and that this skull. not
only In outline. but IN size. should 50
closely resemble my drawing. T say the
singularity of this coincidence absolutely
stupehed me for time This Is the
usual effect Of such Condolences. The
mind struggles to establish CONGESTION.
"a sequence OF cause and enect,-and,
being unable 70 DO % suffess a specssr
a ss0pssary paraHSs. Bot, vhu1 -