The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-24

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hidden treasure.
ITO think Of It being under that old
stone all these years." marveled Ferdie
Pratt as hc pried ut the stone with thu
iron bar, while the captain leaned On
the spade and directed operations.
Half and half-share and share
alike encouraged Captain Ham q
Ferdie persptred at his task
you might share some Of the work. y
grumbled Ferdie.
| The captain stirred and thrust the
blade OF his spade under the stone.
"Heave hog' he roared heartily.
The old pudding stone lifted reluc-
family from its black. moldy bed OF
earth With a crash of broken under
brush 1t rolled away. leaving 4 deep
| indentation in the ground.
/ Tho rest is easy" commented the
captain. and fell to work.
| Ferlie Pratt. fred by the same en-
/ thusiasm, fell to with the iron bar. and
! it was not long before their ears were
rejoiced by the musical clank OF metal
on metal.
! Great smoke! It's herer' triumph
ed the captain.
| They fell upon their knees and grub
bed In the dirt with their bare hands.
At last they brought to light small
iron bound box, long and narrow in
shape.
"Tain't SO mortal heavy" comment
ed Ferdie as they sat down on the
ground with the box between them.
Maybe it's all in precious stones.
They wouldn't weigh much" reassur-
ed the captain, prying at the lid with
the blade Of his knife. Blame it all:
there goes my best bladew
You can buy hundred jackkntves
after you opan that box" comforted
Ferdie Here, Ham; try mine. I'll
risk breaking 1t for a handful Of dia-
monds and emeralds."
The stouter blade released the rusted
lock Of the buried chest, and the lid
creaked upward and displayed to the
avaricious eyes of the two men a care
fully smoothed covering OF yellowed
linen, to which was sewed a white
card.
With goggling eyes Ferdie Pratt read
the inscription on the card:
Here lies the mortal remains Of Ara
minta Agatha Alice, most belovedchild
Of her afflicted mother, Letitia Smith
Biddle Aug. Is, 1854"
Captain Ham snatched away the lin
en- covering and discovered the primly
disposed body OF an ancient wooden
doll Of a much earlier generation. Ara
ninta Agatha Alice had been buried
in her best green silk dress with a
white silk bonnet shading her painted
smirking features.
The treasure hunters stared at the
doll with growing indignation.
who" breathed Fertiie Pratt at
Bidder
Captain Ham mopped his forehead
! and swallowed with difficulty.
Said he in a husky tone. full OF hid
den menace, ''Letitia Smith Biddle is
now Lefty Tadskate."
Ferdie Pratt gasped like fish.
And that's how you happened to
/ find the map in her workbox. Why.
Ham. she put 1t there herself to re-
member the place where she buried
| her favorite doll. I've heard OF girls
burying their dolls when they get too
old to play with 'em any more. What
| you going to do-put 1t backT'
! For answer Captain Ham Tadskate
replaced the linen covering over the
/ Sinking face Of Araminta Agatha
Alice. closed the lid of the box and
dropped 1t back into the hole. They
scraped in the soil and rolled the ''pud-
ding stone" back into its old bed
I Captain Ham wiped the blood from
long scratch received among the
brfery underbrush and shouldered his
spade.
! Il reckon we can get home Just in
time for tee" he said briefly.
Lefty Tadskate was standing In the
porch when her husband rolled weari-
! ~ up the front walk.
| Ham" she said, when you mended
my workbox did you find q bit OF
paper in the false bottomT
Il forgot 20 put 1t back. It's here"
/ tquiNocdteu the EapIhln as ne meekly
took 1t from his pocket.
"Tain't anything important. only I
missed It," said Lefty viyac3ously.
'-1'he workbox is fine, Ham. Thank
you for mending it,
There wasn't much the matter with
1t anyway" growled the captain as he
buried his confused face In a basin
Of soapy waiter. But dark suspicion
luxked In his mind Ferdie Pratt was
Eght-women were perhdious eEea-
lures.
Letty's bright glance had noted tNe
black soil on her husbands hands,
some OF which had been transferred to
the little map. II smile crinkled her
lips Captain Ham did not see It.
Hurry up, Ham" she said pleasant
". I've got strawberry shogtcaks
and cream for tea"
I As Captain Ham thrust his. fork into
the shortcake, a delectabie mountain
Of white and brown crust with layers
-.