The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-18
BET1Y's GREAT FIND
Ry FLOYD CLAY.

L
1t was the biggest garnet for fifty
miles around. He who had planned
and built the house had not paid spe-
cial attention to the rooms anu halls
below. but he had provided garrett
that all who came after him should be
proud Of 1t was long and wide ana
contained treasures beyond enumera-
tion in the shape of spinning wheels
and bedsteads and bureaus and chairs
and what not of the long ago.
An antiquarian who came one day
and was allowed to look but not 10
touch, said to the eldest sister;
There is nothing like<it under the
sun. If you will let me dig here for
a week l win give you hundred col
lars"
"Nct for a thousand" was the re-
ply.
But why?"
Because you would make dust
and litter"
When Retty Lawrence. a cousin, at
the age of ten had visited the Misses
Shaw and become homesick and shed
tears, the sisters comforted her by
promising:
Nov, Petty, chirk up and be good
girl, and you shall see our garnet.
Now. at nineteen, she was visitor
at the cid house again. She had
lively remembrance Of that quaint
room, and was determined to over
n,I chcn Shp
/ dweit upon the idea so constantly
that she came to believe that some
where in that collection Of musty
! relics of the past there lay concealed
document which would bring
treasure to its finder. She even pic
tured herself standing before her
startled cid cousins, document in
hand, this announcement on her lips;
MY dear cousins, | have found
great treasure
One day while waiting her oppor-
tunitv to exrloro the garrett young
man known to the sisters called "a
an err:rd for his mother and was IN
troduccd to Miss Betty as Mr.. Ford
Kirkwood The following day while
she was cut for "A walk. he turned
UP as If by accident This happened
again on the third day, and on the
fourth he forgot to offer an excuse
for it's rather marked recurrence.
Within a week it had happened so
frequently that neither saw anything
unconventional in the matter.
This rapidly developing acquaint-
ance did net escape the vigilant eyes
, of the cousins. One day the elder
sister observed frankly:
| II suppose l ought to warn you
against love at first sight
"nut as you never loved at first
sight or second sight or any other
sight, how can you, Cousin Phoehe?'
}. At this the gentle old woman
smiled feebly.
!, Ford Kirkwood is fine younf
man, but he has no money" she wen'
On dutifully.
"Nor have l. shall not fall In love
dear cousin. shall not elcpe shall
never marry--at least not until"
l. Until when, Betty"
l. Until | find treasure" declared
the girl as II she meant it. In he
p soul she believed there was treas
= ure in that garnet. She felt like dc
8 handing the privilege Of exploration
d but still she bided her time.
o Her opportunity came suddenly.
g There came day when the sister
y were called away on matter of bus
J; ness which demanded their persona
g attention.
II am so afraid you will be lonely.
n said the elder sister sympatheticall!
a. we shall be away at least thre
o. hours"
n ooh, no; | can take long wal
1t and then read awhile after comm
O. back" said Rctty trying hard to kee
Ia her voice steady.
t, Scarcely was the vehicle bearin
I'd ''s sisters out of sight when Bctt
te "ew to the garrett Once within tn
forbidden treasure house she stco
to fer a long five minutes feasting he
g. ewes. Then she selected the oldo'
Mt and most battered trunk OF the e
ut tire lot fer inspection.
to Letters ard documents? Why, Il
lg trunk was full to repletion with thef
80 There were deeds. mortgages, r
ceipts, bills of sale, private letter
.r- grants and what not, and the girl ha
only a glimmering Of what had on'
n been their legal value. Three hcu
had gone by and the return of Il
lie sisters might be expected at any m
an ment when she selected a parchme
ell almost at random, replaced the OF
ce ers in the trunk and left the fascins
Id ing spot
lc- Nobody but an old pirate cou
have written a hand like that, and
ed course if he was a pirate he Inu
have written about treasure.
on shall ask Mr. Kirkwocd tic help
ill unravel it,
tic When he saw it Ford Kirkwo
81 agreed with Betty that 1t was Z
IN, work of an old pirate, but he a
he mitted frankly that he was not
SO adept at dcciphering hieroglyphics.
se ut will nave to be dcne," sa
Betty, deterni2edly. "before-befo
ed -"
lie "Why not postpone it until"
Ter "Until?"
ms Until after we are married.
ok finished heroically.
he Put have promised Cous
:'hoeba ! shall never marry until
We have found treasure she said wi
IN a great attempt to be serious.
We'll. haven't you found me?"