Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-08-24

l have just recollected that there Is a
secret hiding place in Grandmother
Binpah's mahogany bedstead. lswill
conceal the jewels there and will de-
scribe their hiding place 50 that in
case anything happens to me one Of
our family may be able to recover
them. even if the bedstead should be
carried away.
"'First. one must observe the row
Of hideously grinning faces-"gar-
goyles." grandfather called them-that
outline the top of the headboard;
there are twenty-five of these gar
goyles in all. and one must press the
right eye Of the thirteenth gargoyle
from either end. when the face will
swing outward. disclosing a cavity.
Into this cavity have dropped the
leather bag containing the unset gems
they are worth many thousands of
dollars-and l hope to recover them
when the war is over"
Armed with hammer and screw
driver. husband and wife repaired to
the parlor and locked themselves with
in. greatly to the disgust Of the in
terested Norah. who availed herself
of the keyhole as the only salve to
her wounded self respect.
MY dear girl. how do you think I'm
going to handle this thing alone? 1t
weighs a ton: Why wasn't it put in
the guest room?"
sfNho inc Mt 7 z IN kho
knew it would never fit into that
room. so told them to put it in here.
We can remove it to the cellar after
ward-or store it."
1T fits in here" remarked Win
chester.
LET us rip off the covering-I be-
lieve | know just where to place my
finger on the spring: This is the head
board. Of course. and here are the gar
goyles:" cried Flora excitedly.
Winchester took out his knife and
leisurely opened the blade. He lifted
one corner of the bedstead. groaned
and dropped it heavily.
There was straining and swapping
Of cords as be applied his knife to the
wrappings.
"Oh: Oh: am just as nervous as
l can be-" cried Flora. regardless of
her husbands groan as he dragged
aside the covering and disclosed the
rounded. polished top outlined by a
semicircle Of hidiously carved faces.
"Jove. what a beaut!' calculated
Winchester. yet with note of respect
in his tone. What a nightmare!
Fancy wishing a guest pleasant
dreams and then introducing him to
that couch: Whew! Now. which face.
Flora. love?"
Mrs. Winchester triumphantly pro-
duced the paper from her Iaces and
read solemnly: 1.-The thirteenth gar
goyle from either end"
1.-THE one in the middle. of course, ~
announced Winchester.
"'Press the right eye.'" quoted Mrs.
Winchester breathlessly. II shall
| have them set in a glorious pendant,
Harry"
They hung expectantly over the
bed
Nov press" she whispered sibi.
lantly.
Winchester pressed.
Nothing doing" he announced fat
| ~.
"Press harder" urged his wife. 1.-THE
secret spring has probably rusted.
They do rust sometimes. don't they?'
II never heard Of one doing so. They
always. yield easily. and the door rolls
noiselessly aside and leaves an aper-
ture." said Winchester grimly.
1--WE must get it open" cried his
wife tearfully. TRY some of the 9th
er eyes. Harry"
| But why try the others, my dear?
It says the middle one."
''There is-there must be spring.
retorted Mrs. Winchester. why
should Nancy have put it in her diary
If there was not?''
Il give it up when you ask me to ex-
plain the vagaries Of the female
mind began Winchester as he vi
ciously jabbed the eyes Of all the gar
goyles in turn without result.
Flora burst into tears.
Don't cry, my darling" comforted
! her husband tenderly. "1'll find out
the truth if have to chop the con,
founded thing into kindlings:
II wish understood the meaning
of it anyway" said Winchester pres
emily when his wife had reached de-
gree of tranquility where she could
nibble bonbon approximately.
| Again the tears flowed. II might
| just as we'll have had another thou
sand dollars!' walled Flora.
Winchester's elbow knocked small
package from the table to the floor.
| what is this?" he asked. picking it
up.
| IAN express parcel that came this
afternoon Il haven't had time to look
at it,
| He ripped off the covers and looked
stupidity at small leather volume in
his hand.
THE Diary Of Nancy Gray!' he ex-
claimed. A letter fell from the book.
and he opened it eagerly.
Read it" commanded Flora impa-
tiently. And he read as follows:
my dear Mrs Winchester-Your uncle,
the late Mr.. William Gray. has placed
| this little volume in my hands with In
] structions to turn it over to you after
| his death. OF course you are aware that
| your uncle wrote this fantastical little
tale for his own amusement many years
| ago. but it was never published You
are probably in a position to recognize
that your uncle's clever wit enabled him
| to take great liberties with your family