The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-07-28

whin we built the shanty we put II
over biz hole that was already there,
because il made an Elegant cellar to
keep pertaties an the like. can't
know who digged the hole IN the first
place. but the back end of Il was board
ed up at the time we found It, Well,
thin, pulled one OF thin boards loose,
an put me money In behind, in an
ould tay-kettle. Wen, fool that
was I kept putin In the money in
there, mostly in silver, until such times
as we should made H. But to-day,
whin ! went to look for it, / found
some thaivin' villin had dug a tunnel
from the other way an took most of
the money"
An why didn't he stale It ALP
asked Mrs Halliday, eXcitedly,
IT'S yersut that can answer that as
well as me, responded Mrs, McQualde,
IN accents OF deep gloom. THE thafe
left the tay.kettle, an some change in
it-had cess 20 him."
Several OF the ladies' husbands had
Joined The group by this time, and
heard The tale of woe. Among them
was lIr OToole. As he listened his
face suddenly frightened.
81 nivor thought Of it until now,
abou. that tunnel, he said, but
think have the eXplainin of IT, It's
am ould coal mine Pat Driscoll, who
I{sra. H.,.4t. l.4r tE.. ,r,tsr t,,r- t,uII
me woust that years back the railroad
had run a tunnel back into the hill,
an used TO run the coal out on small
cars to the track After a bit they
quit workin' an boarded up the end Of
the tunnel An I'm thinkin', Mrs. Nc
Quaide, that's the fine cellar that ye
have; it's at the end Of the ould
mine"
But who was the thafe of the
money! interrupted Mrs. McQuaide.
This. however Mr.. O'Toole could not
explain, and after a few discursive re-
marks the whole party repaired to Mrs
McQuaide's cellar to investigate. A
little vigorous effort in removing the
boards revealed the opening behind
where Mrs. McQuaide had so carefully
concealed her treasure, and also veri-
fed the statement of Mr. O'Toole
There was the tunnel sure enough,
with The timber supports yet in posi-
ton and portion of the car track in
place at the bottom.
As the party stood looking into the
tunnel there emerged from the dark
ness a small figure whose wide blue
eyes viewed them with innocent Won
Gcr, and whose small hands were hid
den behind his back. It was the
Halliday baby, For a moment the
surprise was so great that its mother
almost tainted, while Mrs. O'Toole and
Mrs McDermott piously crossed them
selves. Not so with Mrs, McQuaide.
Seized by a sudden inspiration, she
rushed forward and caught up the
child in her arms.
The saints be praised!" she ex-
Claimed. This be the thafe that's got
the money, / can't know Look at his
hands!"
Sure enough, the little pink fists
were clasped tightly about some sill
Yer coins, and upon going into the
tunnel Mrs. OToole soon found, a
short distance away, a small opening
to the surface above At some time
the baby had discovered this opening,
which was in a thick clump of black
berry bushes near his mothers door,
and through it he had made his fre-
queIt disappearances, returning thence
laden with treasure. Thus the mys-
terry Of the robbery and the silver dol
lars vas explained and in spite Of
Fathe? Murphy's refusal of a charm"
peace was restored to Nineveh, and
the spell lifted from Tim Hallidays
baby