Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1916-08-04

IL ana round tnat MS cOmrhueS Huu
dug n line of trenches about quarter
Of mile in advance of 1t. There was
the hustle usual to the rear of an
army. Men, nurses, horses, motor
cars, everything, anything going ana
coming. He found the tree and rec
ognlzed it by its shape. Standing UNI
der It, he looked down into the hole
where he had lain wounded. 1t was
sufficiently deep to admit of his going
down into 1t 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 1t, he found that 1t
was not locked. Lifting the cover, he
saw sight that surprised him. Low
ering the lid, he kicked the dirt over II
again and, making his way out of the
HOlt, NtHl DuNh W BluNt alhohH
those discharged men waiting for
transportation.
What he had found In the box was
the valuables usually contained In the
Acme OF rich man. Such as were not
too bulky to go into the limited space
had eventually been hurriedly placed
there.
Lyonninc. hIS oaorat GanrUa tho nayt
day borrowed needle and thread and
remnants of cloth and began to make
pockets In mis- 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
q shovel with him, and when he closed
the box he put 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 n 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 hel
with his single arm.
"Oh, Georger she exclaimed rueful
| ly, looking at the empty sleeve.
1--WE 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 | opened tho box l saw at
once that some one, doubtless In view
Of an army coming, had put the family
valuables in 1t and, taking 1t to the
base of tho tree from which l was
picking off Germans, had buried It
there, intending to recover 1t after the
war. There was gold plate and loose
jewels. On my second visit took the
jewels, leaving the gold plate. The
owner Ind buried his treasure five feet
under ground, not dreaming that 1t
would be uncovered by bursting shell.
1.-THE jewels | have brought back
with me- only having turned into cash
those needed for expenses doubt II
they are more than fraction In value
of what remains In the box. When the
war ends / shall return to France and
see If can find the owner, though l
doubt It, and make return of his
property. 1 shall expect a 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 a for
tune I'm themselves Whatever we need
while the war lasts will come from
the sale OF such articles as will produce
tho required amount"
Ellen approved of her lovers way Of
booking at It. They were married and
set up a small store. Their little home
and their business are all they re
quire to make them content, for It IL
not great possessions that bring happI.
ness-indeed, quito frequently such
sudden visits of fortune destroy hap
piness. Besides, to the couple falls n
measure OF comfort TINT they are ap-
proprlatlng from the treasure acci-
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 IL looking forward to the dap
when the war will be ended and he
win go TO France to make settlement
He and Ellen often wonder whether
the box will be there. Likely this de
ponds upon whether another shell will
expose It. When either side attempts
TO demollsh its enemy's trenches II
hurls 30 many explosives that should
the location Of the treasure be bonn
barded 1t Ia quite likely that its con
tents will be scattered TO the winds
Recently correspondent sent 10 q
London newspaper an account Of the
finding, after n battle which took place
on the English German lines, OF scat
tered articles Of great value. They
were picked up by British soldiers and
appropriated by them. Some Of them
were purchased from the men by Off
GERS. This looks ms II another shell had
burst near the treasure box and blown
the contents over the battlefield De
spite George Elliott's honesty, IL Ia
doubtful II he will ever be able TO
asaN Nrxa NUaNs. - IA -. n..A