The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-08-18

and all the rest of the available space,
except only a narrow way which leo
from the door to the bed, was literally
crammed with boxes and packages OF
every shape and size. remembered
now that when the Hall was being
renovated this room, by the special
| request of Adams. HAD been sunered
| to 20 untouched. l had not expected
to come to such a large storehouse OF
miscellaneous property, and was at
a loss what to examine first. After
casual glance round, my eyes lighted
upon a strange looking chest, painted
dull red, with some neatly obliter-
ated Oriental characters in gold upon
the lid, and that chest determined to
open.
That this chest had belonged to my
ancestor Roger, had not the smallest
| doubt; and my belief was confirmed
when, after cutting the cords with
which it was bound, removed the lid
| and took out from it a Turkish robe,
elegantly embroidered with gold, the
color IS fresh as ON the day it was
made. AS | held this garment up to
examine it there fell from out its folds
a fez ornamented with a gold cres-
cent and three diamond stars, and an
aigrette composed of various magnii-
cent stones and birds of paradise feath-
ers, the latter for the mcst part broken
and crushed.
| 1 was now in such 4 frenzy of ex-
element as to be almost incapacitated
| for continuing my search. Was all
the property in this thief's den stolen
from us? and if so, was it all as valua-
bic as this? In my eagerness turned
the chest upside down that might the
quicker acquaint myself with its con-
tents, which l found 10 consist Of two
other robes similar. TO the first but,
of different pattern, several more dia-
mond stars, and five daggers Of various
sizes, all of them with richly jeweled
| handles.
Having replaced the things in the
chest as carefully as my agitated state
fOulu dllON llc, L Sll tOh Ou tAC Co6S
of the bed and wiped the perspiration
from my forehead. What should
examine next? 1 had already abund-
ant poweDto compel Adams to restore
the sequins and whatever else he had
stolen from us under threat of imme-
diate prosecution. Why, my object
was already half accomplished. My
father would now have to abandon
his scepticism; the wong uncle Sam
had done the Wolseys would be bal
anced by the wrong my father and Mr..
Wolsey had done uncle Sam; we should
all be rich together; enmity would
cease among us and everything hence
forth 60 as merrily as the marriage
bell which my Connie and l would
cause to ring.
No, 1 would not LOOK any further
now. When my father returned this
room should be emptied, and every
thing in it thoroughly examined. Mean
while l would take with me the aig-
rette, stars and daggers; would close
the window, and nail the door up on
the outside.
Having carefully executed these ar
rangements placed the ladder where
l had found 1t, and went again into
the kitchen, where left instructions
that old John was to be sent to me In
the parlor the moment he returned,
and that nothing was to be said to him
about my having been into his bed
room.
And then, with feelings similar to
thos. which l suppose must animate
a victorious general after battle, I
paced round and round our garden
hour after hour, waiting for the return
Of Adams, which / hoped might be
before my father and Mr.. Wolsey came
home.
After what appeared an interminable
time a maid came ou: to inform me
that Adams had, returned, and was
awaiting me in the parlor, and thither
l at once went.
The old man was standing just in
side the door, holding his hat in one
hand, and letter in the other. took
the letter from him and opened it,
but finding that it was long put it into
my pocket for the present without
reading it.
John, how long have you been a
servant here" I asked
The old man looked up wonderingly,
and after a brief pause replied:
Nigh on forty-six year. Your grand
father was just married when come.
and your father wasn't born until
eighteen months after"
And though you have been well
treated and cared for all those years,
you must needs rob your benefactors
of everything valuable you can lay
your hands ON. Look at those things
which have just recovered from your
room," l exclaimed, throwing the aig-
rette, the stars, and the daggers on the
table. And tell me, you lying thief,
what you have done with those gold