The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1916-08-10


beloved Ellen again, but it would only
be q renewal of a situation which
would again have to be ended. He
might be returned to Canada, but from
there would go anywhere so long asst
was not back to 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 to
know more 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 line Of trenches about quarter
of a 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 it's 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 seem 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. SceOping the earth away
from before the lock, he looked about
for stone with which to break it
open; but. testing it, he found that it
saw a 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 valuables usually contained in the
too bulky to go into the limited space
had eventually been hurriedly placed
there.
Keeping his secret, George the next
day borrowed 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 a 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, Georger' she exclaimed rueful-
~, looking at the empty sleeve.
give got something for it" he said.
"Come into the house and I'll tell you
all about it."
When he had told her what has been
thus far recOunted he continued:
"When l opened the box l saw at
once that some one, doubtless in view
of an army coming, had put the family
valuables in it and, taking it 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 I 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 l have brought back
with me, only having turned into cash
those I needed for expenses doubt if
they are more than fraction in value
Of what remains in the box. When the
war ends 1 shall return to France and
see II I can find the owner, though 1.
doubt it, and make a return of his
property. 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 it. They were married and
set up small store. Their little home
and their business are all they re-
Quire to make them content, for it 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-
propriating from the treasure acct
dentally found only what the owner
should have given them for their stew
ardship. 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 day
when the war will be ended and he
will go to France to make a settlement.
Hn