Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-24
CHAPTER XIX.-Continued.

I ran to the kindling room and found
Ratchet, and when 1 returned he had dug
the dirt out of the edges of the moor
planks Silence held us all as ! set 10
prying up the boards.
II beg Of you to exercise the greatest
care sgentlemen. It bones are inferred
here VIE must do them no sacrliege'
warned Miss Octavia.
By this time we all, l think. began to
believe that the flooring might really
have been cut in this corner of the old
room to permit the hiding Of something.
The room had grown, hot, and cecilia
openea the cellar windows outside 10 ad-
nit air The old planks chung stubbosniy
70 their joists, but after | had loosened
one the others came up quickly. and the
smell Of dry earth filled the room. Pep
merton had az Miss Octavia's direction,
brought a chiscl and crowbar from the
toolroom in the cellar. and he STOOD ready
with these when l tore up the last board.
disclosing IN oblong space about flve feet
lorx and slightly over three feet wide.
1t was possible that this was the whole
story, but Pepperton began driving the
bar vigorously into the .close-packed SOIL.
As he Ioosened the earth ,scooped 1t out,
and We soon had penetrated about SIX
inches beneath the surface.
We were all excited now. The edge OF
the bar struck repeatedl.. against some
thing that resisted sharply. 1t might
haye been a root, but when Pepperton
shifted the paint OF attack the same
booming sound answered to the prodding-
Pepperton now thought it might be only
an empty cask or box OF no lnterest
what but Miss ,Octavia. lowering
close with a candle. encouraged us to go
| on. and was fertile in suggestions as to
| the most expeditions manner OF resur-
rccting whatevcr might be buried there
We We're pretty we'll saisneq from ,ne
somewhat shorter and narrower than the
| hole itself.
"Ouite naturally So" observed Miss Dc
| tayia. for man who buries treasure
has to allow himself room Tor getting a.
| It,"
! We worked on silently. Pepperton
;oosenine the soil with the bar while
shoveled it out. In half an hour we had
revealed a long. fiat wooden surface,
which to our anxious u, , una ss'ha''ohs "a<
IT'S sound red cedar" pronounced Pep
perton. examining the wood where the
tools had splintered It,
..Of course it's cedar" replied Miss DC
,s od be bsn "easr dG II always 10 IS Isl knew
We paused to laugh at her confident
tone and Cecilia suggested that as there
was still a good deal to DO before we
could free the box, We should send tor
some Of the servants to complete the
work.
II wouldn't take a thousand dollars for
my chance at this" Pepperton answered.
and We fell to again.
| 1t must have been nearly ociock
when We dragged out into that candle
lighted chamber a stout. well fashioned
box. The earth chung to its sides jealous
~. and il was bound with strips or brass,
that shone brightly where the sc.aping
NJ an, tools had FURNISHED it. We pried
off the heavy lock with a good deal OF
difficulty. and when it was free Miss DC
tavia asserted her right to the treasure
trove with much calmness.
1 Il should never forgive myself il ! al
lowed this opportunity to pass: you must
permit me to have the first look.
Certainly. Miss, Hollister; i IT hadn'i
been for you thiS chest would haya Se'