The Press., 1910-10-26

going to handle this thing aIoneS As weighs a ton. Why wasn't it put in the guest rOOmf'
 ''The instant Ilsaw 1t in the wagon I knew 1t would never at Into that room, SO I told them to put it In here. We can remove it; to the cellar after ward-Or store it.,
 "It dts in here" remarked Win chester.
 'Let us rip or, the covcring-T be- Meve I know, justa,where to place my knnger on the springi This is the head board, of course. and here are the gar goylesF'' cried Flora exeitedly. . Winchester took out his knife and leisureIy opened the blade. He lifted one corner of the bedstead, groaned and dropped iF heavily.
 There was stFainlng and snapping of cords as he applied his knife to the wrappings.
 ''Oh. Ohi am just as nervous as can be- cried Flora, regardless of her husbands groan as he dragged aside the covering and disclosed the rounded, 'polished top outlined by a semicirc4e of hidiOusly carved faces.
 ''JOve, what a beautI" ejacuiated Winchester, yet with note of respect in his tone.: "What . nightmaFel Fancy wishing q guest pleasant dreams and then introducing him to that'cOuch! whewl Now. which face,. Flora, lover
 Mrs. Winchester trinmphantly pro duced the paper from her laces and read solemnly: The thirteenth gar g0yle from either end'"
 ''The one in the middle. of course" announced Winchester.
 "'Press the right eye.'" quoted Mrs. Winchester breathIessly. "I shall have them set in a glorious pendant, HaFry!'
 They hung expectantly over the bed.
 .'NCw pressr' she whispered sibi- Iantly.
 Winchester pressed.
 Nothing doing" he announced nat- ly. ...
 Press harder. :" z urged his wife. '"The secret spring has probably rusted. They do rust sometimes, don't theyT'
 'I never heard of one doing 90. They always yield easily, and the door rolls noiselessly aside and leaves an aper- ture" said Winchester Rrimly.
 we must get 1t openr' cried his wife tearfuliy. 'sTry some of the Oth- eF eyes. HarFy''
 ''But why try the others. my dear7 It says the middle one."
 "There is-there must be a spring" retorted Mrs. Winchester. "Why should Nancy have put 1t in her diary If there was notT'!
 "I give it up when you ask me to ex- plain the vagaries of the female mind"- began Winchester as he vi- ciousIy 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. "I'n find out the truth if I have to chop the con- founded thing into kindlings!
 "I wish I understood the meaning of 1t, anyway" said Winchester pres ently when his wife had reached,a de- gree of tranquility where she could nlbble bonbon aEJpFeciatively. Again the tears flowed. T might just as we'll have had another thou sand dollarsg' walled Flora.
 Winchester's elbow knocked . small package from the. table to the floor.
 "WhGt is thlsY' he asked. picking it
 "An express, parcel that came this afternoon. I haven't had time to look at it."
 :. He ripped of the covers and looked stupidly at aa small leather volume in his hand,
 '~The Diary of Nancy Grayr" he ex- claimed. A letter fell from the book. and he opened 1t eagerly.
 ''Read itr's commanded Flora tmpa. tientIy. And he read as follOws:
 '.AGy dear Mrs; WincheateE- Your uncle; Ghis little volume in my hands with in- structions to- turn 1t over to you after his death. Of course you are aware that your uncle lwrote this fantasttcal little tale for his own amusement many yearp ago. but it. was never published. You ere probably in position to recognize that your uncle's clever wit enabled him Go take great liberties with your family history As the present owner of the GargoyIe bedstead. this little book will prove Co be of especial interest Co you. Congratulatlng you on the possesaion of such a valuable antique. and with kind regards. am, very sincerely yours,
 ss JEREMIAH CE1EBI4EY."
 The Ionaf silence was broken at last by a suppressed chuckle from Mir. Winchester.
 His wife, buried her face In the sofa pillows. 'sBf6te!" shs sobbed bitterly. And Winchester is still wondering whom she meant.