Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1907-12-12
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How Dorothy
Found the Treasure
BY MAY MYRTLE COOK
(Copyright.)


Pretty young Dorothy Vance real
ICED somewhat of the meaning OF
death as the clods fell heavily upon
the coffin that bore all of parent or
guardian that she had ever known.
And odd as was Miss Underwood, she
was acknowledged by all to have been
all that anyone could wish her to be
to the little orphan of her only sis.
ter.
She had taken the child Dorothy at
this sisters death and reared her and
educated her as if she had indeed
been her own. Now she was young
lady and engaged to Harvey Went
worth.
A few friends gathered after the
funeral and listened to the will which
the old lawyer read, giving "all my
property to my only living relative and
beloved niece. Dorothy Vance"
There were no minor legacies, only
this: When the old lawyer had FIJI
ished reading the short document, he
placed in the girls hands letter and
packet given him by Miss Jane on her
death-bed. Ito be given unopened to
my niece Dorothy on the day of my
funeral" -
The congratulations over, the small
company dispersed. and Dorothy was
left alone to brood over her loneliness
and count her wealth.
Eor owJi1o h., focuct oil oh0uf tho
letter and packet, in wondering over
what her immediate future would be
like.
Then she remembered and list
lessly opened both. The packet,
which she opened first, contained a
large purse, filled with bank notes and
coin.
Dorothy laid it aside while she read
the letter:
My Dear Dorothy: l expect you are
sorry that am dead, even if We never
did see much of each other. You did
not waste much love on me, but don't
think | blame you. l loved you for
your mothers sake first, and after that
for your own. But l never cared
much for love in return, so didn't get
any too much of it.
However, that doesn't matter now;
what does matter is this, that I am
dead and have left you all my prop.
erty. You may think the house and
the old place all there is for you, but
1t isn't There's money besides and it
is all yours, provided you can find it.
It's in the house somewhere.
Nobody else knows anything
about this, not even my lawyer, and
you are not to tell anyone. Remem-
Der. not mint even to Harry Went
WORTH
There's enough money in the purse
to keep you a year at least.
Keep all the old servants for this
one year, if they will stay, and pay
them the same wages that l did. Aft
er that you may DO as you please
about it. If you do not find the money
at all this year, you can tell your
husband, if you then have one, and
have him help you hunt for it.
You know how much always
thought of the old sewing machine;
keep it always, it is my wedding gift
to you, or birthday gift, if your lover
fails you. Keep it clean, too, the ma
chine, mean; do all your sewing on
1t this year, and for mercy's sake dust
1T at least once a week, and do it
thoroughly.
"keey the cut-glass molasses pitch.
er always on the table, and keep it
full; detest a half-fllled strip pitch.
err.
your loving old aunt,
Jane Underwood"
1t was a queer letter, and Dorothy
sat still few minutes, gazing at it
in comic dismay; then she read it over
again.
1t was not the hidden money that
made the most impression on her at
first, but the odd command relative to
the old machine and the molasses
pitcher.
The molasses-pitcher was full when
Miss Jane died, and it stayed full; and
Dorothy breakfasted, lunched and
dined with the handsome old cut
glass pitcher, full of golden-brown
molasses, always in the place of honor.
She searched day after day for the
hidden money. Very carefully she had
10 work for not even the servants must
guess her purpose, and servants, even
the best of them, are apt to be all
eyes and ears when a secret is con.
cerned, especially when it is no con.
Germ of theirs.
More than once during the first
week did Dorothy's small staff rejoice
over an entire afteraoon off, and little
did they imagine how kitchen. pantry
and cellar We're ransacked in their All
sence.
Dorothy received letter from ar
old schoolmate. The friend was
some years older than Dorothy anf
ha6 married when still quite young
She was now the mother of two littl,
"cherubs," whose charms and saying
Tiled most of her letters.
The mex: letter carried a long lette