The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1909-08-31
SE4E.BA

The bottle bobbed about with
sort Of inviting joyiaiity amidst th
wavelets Of the river. The sturd,
young surveyor noted that a blob G
red sealing wax held the cork ant
that a narrow red ribbon dangle.
from the neck. He saw that it con
tanned a Dit Of folded paper ant
promptly shattered the glass on
rock. No water had reached the pa
per, on which he found these words
written in handwriting that ramblet
between the skyscraper letters Of 5
maiden and the cramped scrawi Of Z
boy:
/ I'm a Jewel worth more than the
diamond mines OF King Solomon
Beneath the big red rock under the
sycamore tree you Will learn more"
First time | ever knew Solomon
was in the diamond business" com.
mented the young fellow.
This rock jutted out among the
lesser ones further along the river
bank, and the surveyor was soon peer
ing intently into cavity worn be-
meath II by the frequently rising wa
ters. The young man pulled out a
gilded pasteboard box that once had
held bonbons- A red ribbon was
wound around 1t.
More ribbon" commented the sur
yeyor, as he raised the lid. Within
was a small sheet Of paper. 1t read:
The queen Of Sheba was beautiful,
and still Sheba is beautlfdl. Seek We
tne cave Of the woodchuck, where the
rock and the bridge meet"
Now what the dickens is all this
about, anyway queried the surveyor,
with show Of eagerness. "At any
rate, ! know where the rock and the
bridge meet. But I'm not sure OF
the cave Of the woodchuck."
The woodchuck cave proved to be
another cavity beneath a bulging
powlder at the bridge, and In IL he
found another bonbon box with the in.
evitable red ribbon, and in the box
this time the note read:
Solomon could solve riddIes-can
you solve them, too? Come where
the apple blossoms bloom in the or
chard beyond the hill"
Now, it's apple blossoms. com.
mented the surveyor. becoming still
more curious. Well. there's the hill.
but I'm not sure of the orchard The
hill was soon climbed, and In the vale
below spread out great glory of
blooming apple trees. With elaborate
~ assumed unconcern the young man
descended to the orchard. The CLINT
OF a white dress flashed between the
somber trunks Of the low trees. and.
nat in hand and heart unsettled. the
surveyor walked heroicaily toward
the white dress, Suddenly he paused
and muttered e1sltediy ms sheba.
all right; only finer ! guess.
Then he bowed low to the white
Dress, above which radiant face
smiled, and he said: Il beg your
pardon, but I'm Just strolling through
your orchard. ] hope I'm not in the
way
Why. you're quite welcome. These
blossoms are beautiful. don't you
think2e
"A fit bower for queen sheba. in.
sir"
"oh. ! beg your pardon again
meant 70 say, like you. that these
blossoms are fine. Sos the day; SOS
he diamonds; SOS King solomon.
The girl looked mystihed and
startled Tor moment. and then after
gazing more intently at the young
fellows face, broke into merry
augh and said: "Oh. aren't Won one
y the gentlemen fixing up things for
he new railroad across my fathers
arm?'
NOW it's not in the nature OF things,
Tor in the things OF nature. for two
handsome, buoyant young folks of the
sex to talk gayly together
becoming well acquainted
md soon the surveyor and Sheha
we're on chatty terms, indeed. Then
avs later, time and time again. he
allied at the home OF Farmer Hander.
on, and at last one evening after q
but triumphant interview
'ith the farmer. he sat with Sheba
nd her solemn-faced brother on the
ig porch. And for the first time he
sked: "Sheba. what was your ro-
lantic scheme in connection with the {
e-ribboned bottle, the diamond mines
Solomon, Queen Sheba and the
ave of the woodchuck ?"
Why indeed | don't know what
on mean-what you are talking I
bout replied Sheba, bewildered IL
II do said the solemn-lookipg / 1
oung brother. in solemn tones Il
D worked up that scheme all about
y own sweetheart"
AND where Is your sweetheart
'eamer?' asked the surveyor
She lives far up in those golden