The Press., 1916-04-26

brush it rolled away, leaving a deep indentation in the ground.
 "The rest is easy" commented the captain, and fell to work. Ferdie Pratt, fired 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 sa a.#....
 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 a small iron bound box, long and narrow in shape.
 "'Taint 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 1t all; there goes my best bladev'
 "You can buy a hundred jackknives after you open 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 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 beloved child of her afflicted mother, Letitia Smith Riddle. Aug. 13, 1864"
 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 minta Agatha Alice had been buried in her best green silk dress with white silk bonnet shading her painted smirking features,
 The treasure hunters stared at the doll with growing indignation.
 "Who," breathed Ferdie Pratt at last, "who in blazes is Letitia Smith BiddleT'
 Captain Ham mopped his forehead and swallowed with difficulty.
 Said he in a husky tone, full of hid den menace, "Letitia Smith Riddle 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 it 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 backr
 For answer Captain Ham Tadskate replaced the linen covering over the smirking face of Araminta Agatha Alice, closed the lM of the box and dropped it back into the hole. They scraped in the soil and rolled the ''pud- ding stone" back into Its old bed
 Captain Ham wiped the blood from long scratch received among the. briery underbrush and shouldered his spade.
 "I reckon we can get home just in time for tea" he said briefly.
 Lefty Tadskate was standing in the porch when her husband rolled weari- ly up the front walk.
 Ham," she said, "when you mended my workbox did you find a bit of paper in the false bottomT"
 1T forgot to put it back. It's here" equivocated the captain as he meekly took it from his pocket. "'Taint anything important, only I missed it," said Lefty vivaciously. The workbox is fine, Ham. Thank you for mending it."
 "There wasn't much the matter with it anyway" growled the captain as he buried his confused face in a basin of soapy water. But dark suspicion lurked in his mind. Ferdie Pratt was right-women were perfidious crea- lures.
 Letty's bright glance had noted the black soil on her husbands hands, some of which had been transferred to the little map. If smile crinkled her lips Captain Ham did not see 1t.
 Hurry up, Ham," she said pleasant ly. i've got strawberry shortcake and cream for tea.''
 AS Captain Ham thrust his fork into the shortcake, delectable mountain of white and brown crust with layers of rich red berries and a snowy cap of cream he thought of Ferdie Pratt and his bitter remarks.
 "Wimmen may be perfidious crit ters," unused the captain, thinking of .Araminta Agatha Alice and the delu- sive map of her grave, ''but I'll be darned if this shortcake don't make m for inc hull husfneSsv
 At that moment his eyes met Let tvs, and they smiled understandingly.