Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-16

leather bag containing the unset gems
they are worth many thousands of
dollars-and i 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? II
weighs a ton. Why wasn't it put in
the guest room?''
"The instant 1 saw it in the wagon
knew it would never fit into that
room, so told them to put 1t in here.
We can remove it to the cellar after
WARRIOR store it,"
lit fits in here" remarked Win
chester.
Let US rip Off the covering-I be-
Iieve / know just where TO place my
finger Oh the spring: This is the head
board. of course. and here are the gar
goyles"'cried Flora excitedly.
Winchester took out his knife and
h"TTF.y opened the blade. He lifted
49, brner of the bedstead. groaned
and dropped it heavily.
There was a straining and swapping
of cords as he applied his knife to the
wrappinGs.
"Oh: Oh. ] 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
semicircle of h.diously carved faces.
"Jove. what beaut" calculated
winchester. yet with note Of respect
in his tone. What a nightmare
Fancy visiting a guest pleasant
dreams and then introducing him to
that couch. Whew: Now, which face,
Flora, love-"
Mrs. winchester tr:umphantly pro-
duced the paper from her laces and
read soIemnly: 1.-the thirteenth gar
goyle from either end"
THE one in the middle. of course"
announced Winchester.
press the right eye" quoted Mrs.
Winchester breathlessly. 81 Shall
have them set in a glorious pendant,
Harry"
They hung expectantly over the
bed.
Now press"' she whispered sibi-
lantly.
Winchester pressed.
Nothing doing" he announced fat |
ly.
press harder" urged his wife. "The |
secret spring has probably rusted. |
They do rust sometimes. don't they?"
81 never heard of one doing so. They /
always yield easily. and the door rolls /
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:
1t says the middle one"
There is-thcre must be a spring"
retorted Mrs Winchester. why
should Nancy have put it in her diary
If there was not:"
II give it up when you ask me to ex-
plain the vagaries of the female
began Winchester as be 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. iii find out
the truth If / have to chop the con-
thing into Eindlings.
81 wish / understood the meaning
Of it anyway" said winchester pres
emily when his wife had reached de-
gree of tranquility where she could
nibble a bonbOn Approximately.
Again the tears flowed. Il might
lust as well have had another thou
sand dollars!" walled Flora.
Winchester's elbow knocked a small
package from the table to the floor.
What is this?' he asked. picking IT
Up.
"An express parcel that carle this
afternoon. / haven't had time to look
1t it,
He ripped of the covers and looked
stupidity at a small leather volume in
lis hand.
1.-THE Diary Of Nancy Gray he ex-
laimed. a letter fell from the book.
md he opened it eagerly.
Read it," commanded Flora impa-
ientIy. And he read as follows:
My dear Mrs. Winchester-Your uncle.
he late Mr.. William Gray, has placed .
his little volume in my hands with in
tructions to turn ii over to you after
is death. OF course you are aware that
our uncle wrote this fantastical little
ale for his own amusement many years
so, but it was never published. You
re probably in a position to recognize
hat your urcle's clever wit enabled him
, take great liberties with your family .
istory. As the present owner OF THO
3rgoyle bedstead. this little book WHY
rove to be of especial interest to you.
orgratulating you on the possession Of ,
lch a valuable antique. and with kind ,,
,gards. am. very sincerely yours.
"JEREMIAH CHESLEY."
The long silence was BROKEN at last
Y a suppressed chuckle from Mr..
I
His wife buried her face in the sofa {
ilows. "Brutev' she sobbed bitterly.
4.