Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1910-12-30
WORTHY A
KINGS RANSOM"

anu Will EeWbTu you WIN loWei1
worthy kings ransom.
Anne's eyes, the large. thoughtful
eyes Of the dreamer, sparkled as she
finished the story. and the group
around the driftwood fre stared
breathiessly as she handed the carved
box to its finder and whispered mys-
|. teriously:
Take good care Of II, Davy, for
the reward will be great"
Anne had a wonderful gift, the pow
er to weave enchanting tales Of the
countries from which this dotsam had
found its way. and this day, soft with
a promise Of rain; the magic seemed
especially in her blood and her words
and manner gave the story a strong
feeling Of reality.
Il wonder when the princess will
come for the box" Davy often asked
himself as day after day he carefully
busted 1t and examined it's curious
beauty.
AS the years went by and he grew
out Of the imagination and dreams Of
childhood. away from the weakness Of
a delicate boyhood to a man. strong
and kind. he kept the box in memory
Of those days by the river when the
world beyond the valley was a won
derful place indeed.
Anne, whose gift had drawn with
irresistible magnetism her group of
playmates about her. had Travelled
since in many lands, and now her
audience took in half the world. but
at heart she was still the same charm
ing girl She had been his boyish
idea. she was doubly so now, and the
box had become very precious, not
because Of the princess now, but be-
cause it was so encompassed with
the charm of Anne.
"If l could only take the Dunway
contract Ned" he confided to his
bosom friend, careless, good-natured
Ned, rich and idle, the opposite of
Dave, whom he worshipped.
It had been an evening of >conf-
denees, and for the first time Dave
had told the story of Anne, prompted
by Ned's interest in the carved box.
why can't you. Davss-it will
make youl" exclaimed Ned. aroused
to unwonted enthusiasm, for Dave
had unconsciously worked much
sweetness into the story. 'If it's the
money, Dave. I'll back you to my last
cent That's all right" as his friend
protested; ""you might as well be
using It. Whyl" he calculated, "it
will be more than doubled II you car
ry out your part"
A glad light entered Dawes eyes.
Ned. can't thank you now"-he
choked a little. Some day I'll tell
you what 1t means to me, and prom.
ise you that you win never be sorry.
for I'll work."
Work he did. Men stood back in
amazement at the young engineer and
the stupendous contract. Cautious
men shook their heads.
"He has bitten on more than he
can swallow" was their comment.
They did not know the wonderful
hope that was urging him on, and
then. too. with Ned behind him fail
ure was impossible.
Anne read Of his progress in the
daily papers.
Then suddenly came the end. One
raw March day Ned took a sudden
chill and in a few hours pneumonia
had claimed victim. II all happened
so quickly Dave scarcely realized until
he sat the evening after the funerat
in their lonely rooms. Outside the
winds were shrieking a requiem and
somehow he could not forget the fall.
ing gravel on the wooden box.
Not only was his friend gone. but
looming up was the horror Of the un.
finished contract. Difndence had kept
him from asking Ned to place his
promise In writing. In a day or two
he must go down to financial ruin.
never again to raise his head in the
business world.
AS for Anne-his eyes instinctively
sought the carved box. and black de.
spairl crept over him. He lay in a
stupor until he seemed to hear her
voice, "And the princess will reward
you with jewels worthy kings ran
SON."
He reused himself and struggled
bravely to his feet 81 must get a
grip on myself" He smiled the ghost
of a smile over a face which seemed
to have aged years in few days.
He took the box from the shelf with
fingers which trembled in spite of his
efforts to control himself. Anne!
Annel" he said, in a broken whisper,
"if You could only have known how
much l cared"
The box slipped from his fingers
and clatered TO the marble hearth.
stone. His face was white, his lips
we're tightly closed, but he had mas
tered himself After a few minutes
he stopped wearily and picked 1t up
the remainder of the old days and
what might have been.
It was badly damaged from its fall
and he saw something in a crack in
the bottom. Examining 1t closely he
saw that the box had a false bottom.
In wondering amazement he opened Il
and took cleaning handful Of pre-
cious stones from their hiding place
where they had lain for years undis-
turbed.
Unskilled as he was he could see
they were genuine, but 1t took him
some time to realize that itswas all
ending as gloriously as any fairy tale
of Anne's creation. for over the years
a loved voice foated, Jewels worthy a
kings ransom" Worthy, indeed!
For 1t meant 3 him loving remem-
brances Of hiS friend. suecsss IN his
chosen career. and-Annsi-AAR-
GARET e. DONNEII,AN.
iIIsQ on 1oS a,uIs sH-fmmoI