New-York tribune., 1912-03-31

rcd it out in my shoveul of ashes to little heap in the
back yard and marked the spot with an oyster she'll
1t would be safe there.
| took a view of our surroundings before going in.
Our 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 on
the left which up close to the house and spread
along the beach. There was no one in sight and no
sound in the still frosty air but the far off booming OF
the surf upon the shore Who had thought Of
sending priceless jewel here!
THE dav was a long one, and broken by no incident
save | woke in the late afternoon from doze
in the sitting room to feel that someone looking at
me. "Pauine' | said, "is that YOU: and peered into
the dusk called again. and Pauline answered me
from upstairs went outside; but there no trace
Of footsteps on the frozen ground. Then cleaned
up my pistol and cursed the owner OF the emerald
That night our lamp went out rather early. Pauline
had forgotten to fill it. The other lamp also empty,
and we had no candles; so sat in the freight bask
ing in the warmth forgetfu Of the emerald, with long
SenceS between words Suddenly we were aware or
a tiny, SCrapng sound, as OF someone digging with an
iron spoon in gravel In instant was at the window,
firing off my pistol while Pauline shrleked Our neigh
Dor, aroused by the racket threw up his window, and
an animated conversation ensucd. | explained that |
feared burglars and few minutes later we were patrol
ing the ward by the light Of Chinese lantern hastily
caught no by the doctor while Pauline Clung TO me with
her eyes shut But before this had examined the ash
heap Someone had been digging there: the ashes were
scattered around felt for the trcaSure-1t was there
intact hastily poclcted it, and we went the rounds
| borrowed the lantern and a couple Of candles from
the doctor and Pauline and sat downstairs tor the
rest Of the night and kept the fires and drank coffee
We tried to be gay. Pauline played on the mandolin
and | sketched her by the fickering candelght but
it was cery work. We looked at the emerald 1t scn-
tlated like green witch light, and cursed the sender
anew felt that had been foolish in making dis
turbance that would convince the spy that we had the
level. Yet my blood was up. would defend the thing
now with my e and outwit the creeping Stealthy IN
fuence felt at work around u.s. And | was for the
first time touched by the confidence reposed inme How
many men would have coveted the treasure tor their
own But could be trusted to hold 1t tor another
THE next day was long strain upon the nerves.
Nothing whatever happened but the air was fraught
with strange suggestions. did not leave the house
until late in the afternoon for necessary supplies while
the doctor who thought me extraordinarily agitatei
over the last nights scare stayed with Pauline had
kept the emerald in my pocket all day; but LETT it
behind at her cntreaty. .
The crisp bracing air did me good, driving away all
uncannv feelings, with the aid of common sense. AS |
came back from the village the woods beyond were
quite dark; but little house was bathed IN the
last beams Of the setting As | was admlnng the
picture suddenly bched thing that held me spell
bound-a gigantic wavcring shadow projected from the
farther side OF the house and, stretching halt across the
narrow road the shadow Of the body and head OF man
felt for my pistol and crcpt cautiously up; but the
shadow had disappeared before could reach 1t. lherc