The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1913-05-15

floor with it even while Pepperton trie
to discourage her further investiga
lions. We were ali ranged about be
with our candles. and these. with TIL
others | had thrust into the corners
lighted the room well.
I'm afraid you've seen the whole o
it. Miss HOLSTER" said Iepperton
THE old house was built after tn,
Revolution. judge. but your British
soldier was probably left hanging TO &
tree and never buried at ALL
Miss Octavia had been over the floors
of the two rooms twice and was about
TO desist She made her last stand In the
corner OF the smaller room. and as we
all stood holding our lights we were
conscious that the dull. monotonous
thump suddenly changed its tone.
DO you hear that. gentlemen"
She subdued her gratifica don In the
rebuking glance she gave us. Calm
and unhurried. she rested moment on
her stick. with the candles soft glow
about her. smile ineffably sweet on
her face.
THE timbers may have rotted away
underneath. We didn't raise these
6oors." said Pepperton. but we both
dropped to our knees and brought all
the candle light to bear upon the floor
ing. Dust and mortar. shaken loose In
the destruction OF the house, filled the
cracks. Pepperton. deeply absorbed.
continued TO sound the corner with his
knuckles.
1T really looks as though these
boards had been cut for some purpose"
he said, whipping out his knife
| ran TO the kindling room and found
a Ratchet. and when | returned he had
dug the dirt ont OF the edges OF the
floor planks. Silence held US all as |
set TO prying up the boards.
II beg OF you to exercise the great
est care. gentlemen. If bones are in
tered here we must do them no sacri-
lege." warned Miss Octavia.
By this time we all. | think. began to
believe that the flooring might really
have been cut in this corner of the old
room to permit the hiding of some
thing. The old planks chung stub
bornly to their jolsts, but after !
had loosened one the others came up
quickly, and the smell of dry earth |
filed the room. Pepperton had. at Miss
Octavia's direction. brought a chisel
and crowbar from the toolroom in the
cellar. and he stood ready with these
when tore up the last board. disclos-
ing an oblong space about five feet
long and slightly over three feet wide.
We were all excited now The edge
Of the bar struck repeatedly against
that resisted sharply 1t
might have been a root. but when Pep
Derton shifted the point of attack the
same booming sound answered to the
Pepperton now thought it
night be only an empty cask or box
If no interest whatever but Miss Octa-
Tia. lowering close with candle, en-
us to go on.
We worked on silently, Pepperton
oosening the soil with the bar while |
hoveled 1t out. In half an hour we had
evealed a long, fiat wooden surface,
which to our anxious imagina tons was
he lid of some sort of box
1t must have been nearly 6 o'clock
When we dragged out into that candle
GIFTED chamber stout. well fashion
d box. The earth chung to its sides
and 1t was bound with strips
( brass that shone brightly where the
craping OF our tools had FURNISHED it.
We pried off the heavy lock with a
God deal OF difficulty. and when it
'as free Miss Octavia asserted her t
ght to the treasure trove with much
almness. 8
81 should never forgive myself II i
llowed this opportunity to pass. You
lust permit me to have the first look il