The daily Alaskan., 1909-07-21
e+%%%+++++++++*+++' {. A DOUBLE COMBINATION !
 . TREASURE BOX. /!
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By HILBERT r. BENTLEY

"There's letter for you in the box, Billy" said the farmer. "Somepin im- portant, reckon"
 Billy Andrews, young farm hand, threw down q pitchfork with which be had been tossing hay on to wag- on. went to a rural delivery box on the road and took out letter. The printing referred to was the firm name and address of Cleaver, Cutie & Crane. attorneys at law. The letter stated that William Henderson, Billy's uncle, had died and before his death had executed an instrument giving his nephew. who had been named for him, a farm worth $l0,OOO. The deed was deposited in a safety deposit compa- ny's vault in the city. The key to the box was at the attorneys office, and Billy could have 1t by calling for 1t the next day at 3 D. m.
 Obtaining leave to go to the city at the appointed time, Billy put on his store suit, took train and in an hour was In the office of Cleaver, Cuttle X Crane. Mir. Crane received him and read him the document by which the farm was conveyed. It was n very singular paper. The box at the de- posit company was one usually rented to business partners. It had double combination lock, one-half of the com- bination being known to one partner and the other half to the other, so that 1t could only be opened when both were present. Mir. Henderson had given $10,000 in bonds to another per son, and. for the sake of economy, so said the instrument, had deposited the deed and the bonds together in one Of these double combination boxes. It was specified that either party should go at the others call to assist In open ing the box. Mir. Crane had notified the other party to be at the deposit company's vaults at i o'clock that day.
 This economical arrangement was certainly very well devised, though MT. Henderson had not been a money saver, and 1t seemed singular that he should so suddenly have shown such disposition. Mir. Crane sent clerk with Billy to the vaults, and the young farmer was shown Into parlor and asked to wait a few minutes. He spent them wondering what the "other fellow" looked like-if he were farm CT or city chap. While he was con jecturlng the door opened and the cus- todian ushered in as pretty country girl of eighteen or whereabouts as Billy had ever seen. She was Lucy Miller, the owner of the bonds.
 'I will take you two," said the GUS todian, ito your box and show you the process of opening It."
 Opening several doors composed of steel bars and several more of solid metal he took them into a place where boxes were ranged in profuslon. Turning n key !S the lock of their box, the custodian opened q small, thick door and exposed a knob. He gave Billy series of numbers and showed him how to turn the knob. Then he supplied Miss Miller with similar in- formation. The joint owners of the box were occupied casting sly glances at each other, and 1t required several lessons to enable them to get at their respective treasures. When the box was finally opened each took look at the contents. They expressed them selves satisfied, exchanged addresses and departed.
 In a couple of days Lucy Miller re- ceived a note from Billy saying the whole matter had been such surprise to him that he had not even thought to notice the location of his farm. Would she mind meeting him again at an appointed time? Of course she con sented-she was obliged to consent and four days after the first opening there was second one. Then Lucy wrote that some one had asked her if her bonds were "registered' or "cou- pon, and she didn't know. She would like him to help her unlock the box.
 During the second week of the joint ownership the boX was opened four times. On the fourth Billy told the custodian. that he needn't trouble him. self to come with them to the box since they now understood the opening process perfectly. The custodian smiled and reminded Billy that he had cer- tain unlocking to do himself. When they left the office Billy looked wist- fully at leather covered sofa in the parlor, wishing he and Lucy could sit there awhile together, but the deposit company was n place of business and nothing else. However, when Lucy wished to cut her coupons Billy was permitted to go Into a little 4 by 6 compartment with her while she did the clipping.
 Billy wished to take possession of his farm, but had no money for live stock or farming implements. This suggested Lucy's bonds. He couldn't steal them if he wanted to, which he didn't, for both Lucy and the custo- dian were present when they were open to him. Besides, what would he do on the farm alone? He wouldn't thinl, of runninp 1t without woman's