The Utah County Democrat. [volume] (Provo City, Utah) 1898-1909, 1908-09-17

came down from canada to talk over
matters with me and receive some Of
the articles in my custody. We made
an inventory OF these. and some he
packed In his satchel along with his
law books, to carry back with him
Some, however, he decided to leave
with me until certain questions rela
tive 10 their disposal should be set
tied. Among these articles was q
small but valuable diamond In green
velvet case. lie informed me that
there was some dispute about the title
TO this Jewel. and that he preferred
leaving II In my charge until he had
completed some negotiations by which
ne might become its possessor We
examined II carefully. then replaced
II In the green velvet case. and my.
self locked II up In the heavy iron.
bound oaken box, about is inches long
and six inches high, which answered
for the Conyngham family jeweLbox.
Five months aftorward, Mr. Conyng.
ham wrote saying that the negotla.
tons were completed and asking me
TO send him the diamond. went to
the safe. took out the oasket, and
opened IT, The diamond was gone,
i could not believe my eyes. OK.
amined every nook and corner of the
easket. i had carried the key on my
own person since the moment | had
locked the box In the presence of Mr..
Conyngham. and yet there was no sign
OF the jewel. took out every article
In the box. There were various heir.
looms-a necklace OF pearls and dla-
monds, an exquisite miniature OF the
time OF the first empire, earrings
and brooches OF finely wrought gold,
knee-buckles set with brilliants-such
things as accumulate In an old fam.
lily OF wealth and position. took
out my copy OF the inventory and
carefully compared II with the con.
tents OF the box. Everything was
there except the diamonds. locked
up the box once more and sat down TO
do a little hard thinking, and then I
wrote as follows:
Dear Sir; As you ana closed the lew
81 casket together II seems TO me advis-
able that we should open Il together. I
therefore await your coming. which
trust Will be soon,
Your obedlent servant.
ELLIOTT STRONG.
There" said to myself, "thatI TX
him. II he doesn't come, but sends
word he can't for any reason under
heaven, I'll know he is guilty. II he
plays blum and comes, I'll watch him
open the box, and n he doesn't betray
himself to me then I'm cabbage lead,
that's ALL"
Two days later came telegram
from Conyngham announcing day and
hour when he would be ON hand.
Promptly at the appointed time he APP
peared. He came directly to the
house, greeted me with his usual cor
diality. the cordially OF son OF the
house toward man more than twice
his age. and the trusted friend and
adviser OF his family for 30 years.
and went with me Immediately TO my
office. ! opened the safe, took out the
box and handed II TO him. He fitted
the key In the lock, turned Il, lifted
the lid and looked up at me with such
surprise. dismay and horror written
on his face that sprang forward In.
voluntarily, exclalming: Good heavens,
Conynghaml What is III"
He pointed down into the box. I
gazed and gaspsd There, inclosed In
an inner box Of glass lay a tiny, beau.
tlfully shaped living baby. There
seemed TO be some sort OF breathing APP
paratus connected with II, for could
see bubbles of air passing continually
into the inner box. On one side OF the
glass lay piece OF yellow parchment
On II were these words In a queer. but
legible hand;
October II, 1863
To him who may open this box. ! am
q benofactor OF the human race I have
solved Rrent and momentous problem
After years OF trial and experiment I
have perfected my devices and learned
how TO preserve the young OF the human
species In cold storage until they are
wanted. when they can be taken from
their receptacles and given 90 an anxious
~ waiting world. Iienceforth no family
need suffer, as now, from an alternate
superabundance and scarcity OF children
No family, unless utterly and irreclaim-
ably bad. need entirely die out.
When children are plenty. and as usual
at such times OF better quality both
physically and mentally. let few be
carefully put up for future family use, to
draw upon when the supply IN both scant
and poor The advantages OF my inven-
ton are patent TO the meanest under
standing,
II would be well TO put this child i'm
mediately into an incubator and summon
an experienced physician 20 oversee the
process Of restoration to normal state
II Il llve-but ! win not write an A. II
win live. and live 10 demonstrate TO an
idiotic world the greatness OF
TERAH FAIRwEATHER
read this document aloud. in be.
w1iderment. Conyngham was striding
up and down the room, fairly blazing.
Poor little beggari" he cried Made
the subject Of beastly experiment by
some bloody saw.bones! Strong. how
long do you suppose he's been I'm
there2'
Lord! how do ! know / groaned
This paperd make IL q years, and
II says put him In an incubator imme-
diately Have you got such a thing
as an incubator handy? II we don't
put him IN. and he dies. some fool DO
liceman will arrest US as accessories
after the fact and there Will be five
experts 10 swear that that parchment
Is in your handwriting and four that
It's IN mine. II stands us In hand to
move lively
Incubator groaned Conyngham
What do ! know about incubators and
whore to find them In this beastly
town? Cad I'd look pretty trotting
after an incubator at ten o'clock at
MIMI MIN III. .Luu.. ~ L - -.