The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-04-24
A DOUBLE COMBINATION
TREASURE BOX.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
By ELBERT Y. BENTLEY.

BY EBERT Y. BENTLEY.
fEopyright. 1899. by American Press Asso-
oiation.l
There's a letter for you In the box,
Billy sald the farmer. "Somepin I'm
portant / reckon"
billy Andrews, young farm hand,
threw down q pitchfork with which
be had been tossing hay on to wag-
On. went to q rural delivery box on
che road and took out letter. The
printing referred to was the firm name
Dad 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.
9 farm worth $4,000. The deed was
deposited in q safety deposit cOmpa-
ny's vault in the city. The key to the
box was at the attorneys Office, and
Billy could have it by calling for it the
next day at 3 p. m.
Obtaining leave to 60 to the city at
the appointed time. Billy put on his
store suit, took train and In an hour
was in the ofhce Of Cleaver, Cutie &
Crane. Mr.. Crane received him and
read him the document by which the
farm was conveyed. II was a 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 ether half to the other, so
that II could only be opened when
both we're present. Mr.. Henderson had
given $4,000 in bonds to another per
son, and, for the cake Of economy, so
said the instrument. had deposited the
deed and the bonds together in one Of
these double combination boxes. Ii
was specified that either party should
70 at the Others call to assist In open
ing the box. Mr.. Crane had notified
the other party to be at the deposit
company's vaults at 4 O'Clock that day.
This economical arrangement was
certainly very well devised, though
Mr.. Henderson had not been money
saver, and Il seemed singular that he
should so suddenly have shown such
disposition. Mr.. Crane sent clerk
with Billy to The vaults, and the young
faKmaF was shown into a parlor and
asked to wait a few minutes. He
spent them wondering what the "other
fellow looked lil1e-if be were a farm
ar or city chap. While he was con-
jeetur1ng the door opened and the Gus
tcdian ushered In as pretty country
girl of eighteen or Whereabouts as Billy
had ever seen. She was Lucy Miller,
the owner OF the bonds.
Il via take you two" said the Gus
todian, ito your box and show you the
process Of opening 1t"
Opening several doors composed OF
steel bars and several more Of solid
metal, he took them int a place
where boxes were ranged in profusion.
Turning a key in the lock Of their box,
the custodian opened a small, thick
door and exposed knob. He gave
Billy a 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
bog were occupied casting sly glances
at each other, and it 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 couple of days Lucy Miller re-
ceived ! note from Billy saying the
whole matter had been such a surprise |
to aim that he had not even thought /
to notice the location Of his farm.
Would she mind meeting him again at
an appointed time? 0fcourse she con-
sented-she was obliged to consent
and four days after the drst opening
there was a second one Then Lucy
wrote that some one had asked her II
her bonds were registered or .'cou-
pom 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
ana reminded BILLY that he had GER
tain unlocking to do himself When |
they left the office Billy looked visit
fully at leather covered sofa in the
parlor. wishing be and Lucy, could sit