Graham guardian., 1913-10-03

TO discourage her further inyestiga-
tons. We were all ranged about her
with our candles, aud these. with the
Others ! had thrust into the corners
lighted the room well
I'm afraid you've seerf the whole OF
It, Miss Hollister," said Peppertou.
"The old house was built after the
Revolution. judge. but your British
soldier was probably left hanging, to n
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 qualification in the
rebukipg 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
floors" 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, filed the
cracks. Pepperton, deeply absorbed.
continued to sound the corner with his
knuckles
''ft really looks us though these
boards had been cut for some purpose"
he said, whipping out his knife.
rnn to the kindling room and found
hatchet. and when returned he had
dug the dirt out 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. II 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 joists, but after ]
had loosened one the others came up
quickly, and the smell of dry earth
filled the room. Pepperton had. at Miss
Octavia's direction, brought 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
something that resisted sharply. Ii
might have been root. but when Pep
perton shifted the l&int Of attack the
same booming sound answered to the
prodding. Pepperton now thought It
might be only an empty cask or q box
Of no interest whatever, but Miss 0cta-
via. lowering close with candle, en-
US to go on.
We worked on silently. Pepperton
loosening the soil with the bar while
shoveled II out. In half an hour we had
revealed a long. 6at wooden surface,
which to our anxious imasinations was
the lid of some sort OF box.
1t must have been nearly O'Clock
when we dragged out into that candle
lighted chamber stout. well fashion
ed box. The earth clung to Its sides
jealously, and Il was bound with strips |
Of brass that shone brightly where the
scraping of our tools had FURNISHED 1t. |
We pried Off the heavy lock with a
good deal of difficulty, and when It
was free Miss Octavia asserted her
right to the treasure trove with much
calmness
81 should never forgive myself II
allowed this opportunity to pass. You
must permit me to have the first look