Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-05-13

bedding. He first placed a quantity of
dry wood on the hearth, then heaped the
clothing upon it and set fire to the pile.
Next he removed the bedding from the
bedstead. The latter was nothing but
rough framework of planks, apparently
taken from the barn and nailed together
in a careless fashion.
In taking off the mattress he saw in
the cavity beneath it a small oblong
chest. 1t looked shabby and battered,
and was secured by double strap, with
a loop attached to fasten it on the shout
ders. It must be, Keppel supposed. the
box in which the dead man had kept
his wardrobe. It must 60 on the fire
with the rest
He laid hold of the strap, to lift the
box out. 1t was unexpectedly heavy.
He took both hands to it and jerked it
up; it came down on the floor with
bang that Jared the house. "What can
be in it," said Keppel, pausing to take
breath. Then thought came to him
that turned him pale and trembling.
What if this should be the chest that
contained the treasure? He had taken
it SO for granted that the box was buried
outdoors that this possibility had not
at first occurred to him. But now that
it had occurred to him, it seemed quite
natural A dying man could not put
his treasure in a safer place than be-
meath his bed. AS long as he remained
alive he would know that it was safe.
Now that the critical moment had ar
rived Keppel felt an almost invincible
reluctance to take the next step. The
fear of disappointment. which had hith-
erto seemed insignificant, now dominat-
ed verything else, and Keppel doubted
whether he could endure to find it con-
firmad. On the other hand, the idea of
success was SO stupendous that he feared
that too.
But, after all, uncertainty was worst
of all.
With nervous hands he unbuckled the
strap. The key was in the lock and he
turned it, AS he lifted the lid he closed
his eyes.
When he opened them he saw some
old flannel shirts, carclessly stuffed into
the box. He threw them ont with
feverlsh impotence. What did he see?
A quantity of wax food arranged in
rows and layers. There were wax
peaches, plums, apples, pears. He thrust
his hand into them, cropping underneath.
There was nothing else but wax fruit in
the box.
With cry of rage he grasped hand.
full of the fruit and dashed it furiously
on the floor. It broke in flashes and
CLEANS of rainbow light. Half dozen
immense diamonds, rubies and sapphires
lay sparkling on the bare boards. There
were scores of thousands of dollars
worth of precious stones in that one
handful.
Keppel, with a shrill ejaculation,
dropped on his knees on the floor and
picked up one of the gems. 1t was
huge sapphire, and was still partly en-
bedded in the wax that had covered and
concealed it. He took up another; it
was diamond. He reached over to the
box and pulled out an apricot On
breaking it open there was revealed an
emerald as large as an acorn. He picked
up plum from the bottom of the box.
Within it was another diamond OF the
finest water.
He passed his hand over his forehead.
II am the richest man in the world he
said in whisper; "the richest man in
the world!"
He rose to his feet and walked about
the room. He went outdoors and wan
dered about, staring at the sky, the
earth, the sea. The sun shone. The
air was soft and warm. He spoke his
own name aloud; he repeated parts OF
the multiplication table; he recited
verses of poetry. 1t was no delusion; he
was in his right mind; he was awake
He re-entered the house, and there was
the box, the wax N'uit and the jewels,
Just as before. He examined them once
more. They were real, there was no
mistake. From helpless vagabond and
outcast, an escaped convict, man sup
posed to be dead, he had in a moment
become hundredfold millionaire. He
broke into frantic laugh; he stamped
about the room, tossing up his arms and
shouting. He flung himself down with
his head on the box and burst into sobs
and tears. When at length he arose
he was calm and pale.
"Olympia, Olympia!' he said. THE
I ~. &.