The Press., 1916-08-03

tba ion of an Oblong sheet iron Do4 or tr,,nk about three feet long by two : faat wide. Scooping the earth away from before the lock, he looked aDout for stone with which to break IL onen. but. testing it, he found that It was not locked. Lifting the cover, he i saw a sight that surprised him. Low erinp 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 Tor transportation.
 What he had found in the box was +be valuables usually contained in the home of a rich man. Such as were not
 too bulky to go into the limited space
 had eventually been hurriediy placed there. Keeping his secret George the next day borrowed needle and thread ana remnants of cloth and began to make pockets in his garments, though they were rather bags. When night came ba returned to the hole and, uncovering the box. removed much of the con- tents. which he placed in his pockets. He did not need a light; the sense of touch was quite enough. He coulo only take the smaller articles, the oth- CTS being too bulky. He had brought
 a shovel with him, and when he closed the box he put a couple of feet or | earth on its top.
 One day Ellen Barry was washing the
 breakfast dishes when, looking out through the window beside her, sne
 saw a man coming in at the gate. He
 was we'll dressed, one sleeve being pm 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. George!' she exclaimed rueful- lv. looking at the empty sleeve.
 eve 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 I opened the box saw at
 once that some one, doubtless in view
 of an army coming, had put the family
 yaluables in it and, taking it to the
 base of the tree from which l was
 picking off Germans, had buried 1t
 there. intending to recover it after the
 war. There was gold plate and loose
 jewels. On my second visit took the
 Jewels. leaving the gold plate. The
 owner had buried his treasure nve Tee,
 under ground, not dreaming that II would be uncovered by bursting sheil s"The jewels I have brought baci with me, only having turned into casf those I needed for expenses. doubt I they are more than a fraction in valu' } of what remains in the box. When tn } l war ends I shall return to France ant . see if I can find the owner, though doubt it, and make a return Of hl t property. shall expect reward larg x enough to enable you and me to l married and set up housekeeping with l out risk. have had the jewels valued 7 and they have been pronounced rol !, tune in themselves. Whatever we nee = while the war lasts will come froI the sale of such articles as will produc l. the required amount"
 - Ellen approved of her lovers way c n looking at it. They were married an r. set LID a small store. Their little nom E and their business are all they rt r ouire to make them content, for 1t y not great possessions that bring happ + ness-indeed, quite frequently sue n sudden visits of fortune destroy hal s piness. Besides, to the couple falls o measure of comfort that they are al .- propriating from the treasure acc l. dentally found only what the owne d should have given them for their stew E. ardship. For George argues that ha l. he not covered the box containing tn IS treasure it would have likely been d1 ls covered and footed.
 z George is looking forward to the da le when the war will be ended and e will go to France to make settlemen
 He and Ellen often wonder wheth' Id the box will be there. Likely this d or bends upon whether another shell wi Ut expose 1t. When either side attemp Ot to demolish its enemy's trenches of l hurls so many explosives that shou al the location of the treasure be bol ct barded it is quite likely that it's co lg ! tents will be scattered to the winds. ht Recently a correspondent sent to as london newspaper an account Of e. finding, after a battle which took pia
 on the English German lines, of SCI Id tered articles of great value. Tn en were picked up by British soldiers al ce appropriated by them. Some of the m were purchased from the men by O 1t cers. This looks as if another shell h nv hurst near the treasure box and blo1 to the contents over the battlefield. l w. spite George Elliott's honesty, it is doubtful if he will ever be able to make a return of his find.