The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-03

: he ftntWdI bl Il SltudiltH WHICH
would again have TO be ended HI
might be returned 10 Canada. but from
+ there would 20 anywhere SO long as il
was not back 10 her. While he was
waiting he thought of the hole he had
fallen into when knocked out of the
tree and was seized with a desire tC
knew nrrre of his iron pillow. There
was not much change In the situation
of the British and German lines, and
he thought it likely that he might be
able to visit the spot
one day he went out in search of
it and found that his comrades had
dug a line Of trenches about a quarter
of mile in advance of it. There was
the hustle usual TO the rear of an
army Men, nurses. horses, motor
cars, everything, anything, going and
coming. He found the tree and rec
ognized it by its shape. Standing I'M
der it, he looked down into the hole
where he had lain wounded. 1t was
sufficiently deep to admit of his going
down into it without much likelihood
Of being seen. This he did, and, sit
ting down near the spot where the
iron had been barred. he began to shove
the earth with his heels.
1t was not long before he uncovered
the top of an oblong sheet iron box or
trunk about three feet long by two
feet wide. Scooping the earth away
from before the lock, he looked about
for stone with which to break 1t
open; but, testing it, he found that it
was not locked. Lifting the cover, he
saw sight that surprised him. Low
ering the lid, he kicked the dirt over it
again and, making his way out of the
hole, went back to his place among
those discharged men waiting for
transportation.
What he had found in the box was
the vauables usually contained in the
home of rich man. Such as We're not
too bulky to go into the limited space
had eventually been hurriedly placed
there.
Keeping his secret, George the next
day borrowed a needle and thread and
remnants Of cloth and began to make
pockets in his garments, though they
were rather bags. When night came
he returned to the hole and, uncovering
the box, removed much of the con
tents, which he placed in his pockets.
He did not need light; the sense Of
touch was quite enough. He could
only take the smaller articles, the 9th
ers being too bulky. He had brought
a shovel with him, and when he closed
the box he put a couple of feet of
earth on its top.
One day Ellen Barry was washing the
breakfast dishes when. looking out
through the window beside her, she
saw man coming in at the gate. He
was well dressed, one sleeve being pin.
ned to his coat front. When he came
nearer she recognized her lover. Run
ming TO the door, she threw her arms
about his neck, while he embraced her
with his single arm
"Oh, Georgew she exclaimed rueful.
ly, looking at the empty sleeve.
I've got something for it." he said.
Come into the house and III tell you
all about 1t"
When he had told her what has been
thus far recounted he continued:
When | opened the box | saw at
once that some one, doubtless In view
of an army coming. had put the family
valuables In It and, taking 1t to the
base of the tree from which / was
picking off Germans, had buried It
there, intending to recover it after the
war. There was gold plate and loose
jewels. On my second visit l took the
jewels, leaving the gold plate. The
owner had buried his treasure five feet
under ground, not dreaming that It
would be uncovered by bursting shell.
The jewels ! have brought back
with me, only having turned into cash
those l needed for expenses. doubt II
they are more than fraction I'm value
OF what remains in the box. When the
war ends l shall return to France and
doubt 1t, and make return of his
property. l shall expect reward large
enough to enable you and me to be
married and set up housekeeping with.
out risk. | have had the jewels valued,
and they have been pronounced for
tune in themselves. Whatever we need
while the war lasts will come from
the sale of such articles as will produce
the required amount"
Ellen approved of her lovers way of
looking at 1t. They were married and
set up small store. Their little home
and their business are all they re-
quire to make them content, for 1t is
not great possessions that bring happi
ness-indeed, quite frequently such
sudden visits of fortune destroy hap
piness. Besides, to the couple falls
measure of comfort that they are ap-
proprlating from the treasure acct
dentally found only what the owner
should have given them for their stew
For George argues that had
he not covered the box containing the
treasure it would have likely been dis
covered and looted.
George is looking forward to the tlay
when the war win be ended and he
will go to France to make a settlement.
He and Ellen often wonder whether
the box viii be there Likely this de
ponds upon whether another shell will
expose 1t. When either side attempts
to demoliSh its enemy's trenches it
hurls so many explosives that should
the location of the treasure be bonn
barded it is quite likely that its con
tents will be scattered to the winds.
Recently correspondent sent to a
London newspaper an account of the
finding. after battle which took place
on the English German lines, Of scat
tered articles of great value. They