Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-08-30

The Gargoy|e
BedStedd
1t Was q valuable Heirloom.
By CLARISSA MACKIE.
Copyright. 1910, by American Press
Association.
1t Was . valuable Heirloom.

Z Copyright. 1910, by American Press :
Association.
oAA1aa4AAAAA4aaAsaAaaasasa.aaaAaad
"Flora, here is q letter from Chesley
your Uncle Williams lawyer, and he
has inclosed copy Of the will.
did he leave 1t to me-"
"Of course he did Don't be foolish,
my dear Listen:
Il. william Gray. being Of sound mind.
etc. do give and bequeath to my grand
niece. Isabel Gray. her heirs and assigns
forever. my Sheraton sideboard and the
sum Of 5000: to my grandniece. Flora
| Gray Winchester her heirs and assigns.
the mahogany bedstead which stands in
my own chamber and which Is known as
the Gargoyle bedstead, together with the
sum Of 81. .000."
"Where shall we put 1t, Harryi" in
terrupted Mrs. Winchester breathless.
ly.
Put it? You don't expect to get It
into this fat?"
1--WE must have It here. l wouldn't
examine 1t there with Isabel looking
on, and, besides. 1t is such journey
down to Richmond. Anyway you can
not spare the time to go down now,
and we must examine 1t together. /
want to get It here as soon as possible.
Who knows but Isabel or some Of the
others might find the diary Of Nancy
Gray and learn the secret? My In
heritance would be wOrthlessw Mrs.
Winchester's voice trembled.
"Oh, all right" said Winchester tract
ably. But how the deuce you expect
to get 1t In here don't quite see. It's
very large piece Of furniture, isn't
itY
"Now. Harry dear" she cried, with
one plump hand over his lips. that
bed must be gotten into this fat some
how! First. will finish my letter to
Mr.. Chesley and let Norah post 1t at
once. can hardly wait to see the bed
stead. Harry, and don't dare dream
Of what will be ours when the secret
Of the bedstead Is disclosed. Do you
think. dear. was wrong not to tell
Uncle William about the diary Of Nam
cy Gray found In the garrett"
swell. truthfully speaking, I'm afraid
1t wasn't treating the old gentleman
quite on the square"
Two weeks afterward. while Mr..
Winchester was engaged In most I'm
portant business transaction. he was
summoned to the telephone.
"Yes. this is Winchester. Whatf
Oh. the bedstead there? can't posi-
bly, leave at PRESENT. can't help 1t
tell them to send It up tomorrow
know it's important-d-- the bed
stead. No. didn't speak. Yes. / will
come home early. Goodby"
When he reached the Etruscan apart
ments that evening Winchester was
fortified with box Of candy and
huge bunch Of violets. He stepped to
the elevator and pressed the button. A
faint tinkle responded from some
depth below.
Presently the janitor emerged from
an obscure doorway and surveyed him
with an unpleasant eye.
ut amt a-runnin'." he said gruffly.
"Poor management" commented
Winchester as he prepared to conquer
the eight flights that barred him from
home and dinner
"Huhw exploded the man. What
with the freight elevator outer order
and people breakin' windows movin'
in big stuff and them chumps a-tryin'
to put the feet board in my passenger
car aud a-tearin' lady's dress and
her the landlords sister-ln-law"- He
glared wrathfully at the vanishing
form Of Winchester.
Opening the door Of his apartment.
rampant disorder met his eye. A huge.
dark form almost covered the floor Of
the tiny parlor. which in its chaotic
disturbance looked strangely unfa-
miliar to the master Of the house.
In the library Flora reclined on
couch before the bright gas log. while
sympathetic Norah applied wet cloths
to her mistress aching head. Wreck
age from the parlor impeded progress
at every step.
"My dear girl"' he uttered.
She turned woebegone face to his.
Such time as they had trying to get
It In the window! They were saucy
because the window was too small.
and one of them pulled 1t in with jerk.
and It struck the chandeller-the pieces
of glass fell on my Wedgwood vase.
and that is broken! IL am quite dis
rOuraged"
With restless glance toward the
parlor. where the gigantic bedstead lay
like some dark shadow Gu his little
home. and with an unpleasant recol-
lection of the snorting janitor below
stairs and Of the generous tip it would
require to reduce him to bis custom
ury state Of patronIzlng familiarity.
Winchester endeavorcd to soothe his
wife's shattered nerves. and together
they obeyed Norah's summons to be-
lated dinner.
At table Mrs. Winchester drew
folded paper from her gown.
This Is the page I copied from the
diary Of Nancy Gray. Harry" she
said. spreading 1t open before her. II
thought would refresh my memory
as to the exact location Of the secret
spring.
"'Richmond. Va. April Fl. 1854
read Mrs. Winchester In solemn ac-
cents. ~ am grently alarmed for the
safety of Grandmother Binpah's dia-
monds. and have vainly tried to find
hiding place for them. The Yankees
are digging up every inch Of ground
on the adjacent plantations searching
for buried treasure. and am quite at
a Ioos IN And anfe Mace for our