Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31

RED out in my shoyeul of ashes little heap in the
back yard and marked the spot with oyster shell.
1t,would be safe there:
:: took view Of our surroundings before going in.
sUM cottage stood at the very end of the struggling
village street The doctors cottage to the right of
u.s. open ground behind woods in front, and woods
the left which Up close the house and spread
along the beach. There no one in sight, and no
sound the still frosty air but the far off booming of
the surf upon the shore. Who had ever thought of
sending priceless jewel here?
THE day was long one, and broken by no incident
one. l woke in the late afternoon from doze
in the sitting to feel that looking at
Pauline l said, @is that your and peered into
the dusk. called again, and Pauline answered me
from upstairs went outside; but there trace
of footsteps the frozen ground. Then [ cleaned
up my pistol and cursed the owner of the emerald.
had forgotten to fill it. The other lamp also empty,
and we had candes SO we sat IN the freight bask
ing in the warmth forgefu of the emerald with long
silences between words. Suddenly aware Of
a tiny scrapng sound, of someone digging with
iron spoon gravel In an instant was at the window,
firing off my pistol, while Pauline shrieked. Our neigh
bor aroused by the racket, threw up his window and
an animated conversation ensued | explained that
feared burglars and few minutes later were patrol
ing the yard by the light of Chinese lantern hastily
caught up by the doctor while Pauline chung to with
her eyes shut. But before this had examined the ash
heap. Someone had been digging there: the ashes
scattered around felt for the treasureit was there
intact. | hastily pocketed it. and went the rounds.
borrowed the lantern and couple of candles from
the doctor, and Pauline and sat downstairs for the
rest OF the ght ana kept up the reS ana drank cOHee
We tried to be gay. Pauline played the mandolin.
and sketched her by the Pickering cand1eight; but
it was eery work We looked at the emerald; it scn-
tiated like green witch light and cursed the sender
l felt that had been foolish in making dis
turbance that would convince the spy that had the
jewel Yet my blood was up. would defend the thing
with my life, and outwit the creeping, stealthy in
fuence l felt at work around us! And was for the
first time touched by the confidence reposed in me. How
many would have coveted the treasure for their
own? But could be trusted to hold it for another
THE next day long strain upon the nerves.
Nothing whatever happened but the air was fraught
with strange suggestions. l did not leave the house
until late in the afternoon for necessary suppes while
the doctor, who thought extraordinarily agtated
over the last nights stayed with Pauline. had
kept the emerald in my pocket all day; but left it
behind at her entreaty.
The crisp, bracing air did me good driving away all
uncanny feelings, with the aid of common sense AS
back from the village the woods beyond
quite dark but little house was bathed in the
last beams of the setting AS admiring the
picture suddenly beheld something that held me spell
bound gigantic, wavering shadow PROJECTED from the
farther side of the house. and stretching half the
road the shadow of the body and head of
felt for my pistol and crept cautiously up but the
shadow had disappeared before could reach it. There