The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1917-04-06
An
Heirloom
1t Once Served as
a Hiding Place
By SADIE oLcoTT

your Uncle Williams lawyer, and he
has inclosed a copy of the will"
ITO whom has uncle left his proper.
tyr asked Flora.
II can only speak for that enormous
mahogany bedstead by which he set
so much store-the gargoyle bedstead"
"Did he leave 1t to me1'
"0f course he did Don't be foolish,
my dear. Listen:
II. William Gray. being OF sound mind.
: etc. do give and bequeath to my grand
, niece. Isabel Gray, her heirs and assigns
forever, my Sheraton sideboard and the
sum OF 1900; to my grandniece. Flora
Gray Winchester. her heirs and assigns
the mahogany bedstead which stands in
my own chamber and which is known as
tho gargoyle bedstead, together with the
sum of $1,000"
where shall we put IL, Harry"
interrupted Mrs. Winchester breath
lessly.
Put iii You don't expect to get 1t
into this hatT'
I'VE must have It here. wouldn't
examine 1t there with Isabel looking
on. And, besides, 1t is such "A Journey
down to Richmond Anyway, yon can
not spare the time to go down now,
ana we must examine II together
want to get 1t here as soon as posi-
Bile. Who knows but Isabel or some
OF the others might thld the diary OF
Nancy Gray and learn the secretT My
Inheritance would be worthlessr Mrs.
XE;nnhnpfn,.'e ,s,fnn t,.ay,FLInI
"Oh, all right!' said Winchester trac-
tably but how the deuce you expect
to get 1t in here don'tquite see. lisa
very large piece OF furniture, isn't It'll"
Now. Harry, dear she cried, with
one plump hand upon his lips, that
how! First l will finish my letter to
Mr.. Chesley and let Nora post II ut
once. can hardly wait to see the bed
stead, Harry, and | don't dare dream
of what win be ours when the secret
of the bedstead is disclosed. Do you
think, dear, was wrong not to tell
Uncle William about the diary OF Nan
cy Gray | found in the garrett
We'll, truthfully speaking, I'm afraid
1t wasn't treating the old gentleman
quite on the square"
Two weeks afterward. while Mr.
Winchester was engaged in a most
important business transaction. he was
summoned to the telephone.
"Yes, this is Winchester. Whatf
oh, the bedstead there can't pos
sibly leave at present. | cant help ii.
Tell them to send 1t up tomorrow.
know it's important-the bedstead!
No, | didn't speak. Yes, will come
home early. Goodby."
When he reached the Etruscan apart.
ments that evening Winchester was
fortified with a box of candy and a
huge bunch OF violets. He stepped to
the elevator and pressed the button
A faint tinkle responded from some
depth below
Presently the janitor emerged from
an obscure doorway and surveyed him
with an unpleasant eye.
1T amt a-runnin'," he said grufiy.
Poor management" Commented Win
chester as he prepared to conquer the
eight flights that barred him from
home and dinner.
"Huhl' exploded the man. What
with the freight elevator out err order,
and people breakin' windows movin' In
big stuff, and them chumps a-tryin' to
put the feet board In my passenger
car and a-tearin' a lady's dress, and
her the landlords sister ln-law''- He
glared wrathfully at the vanishing
form of Winchester.
Opening the door OF his apartment.
disorder met his eye. A huge,
dark form almost covered the floor Of
the tiny parlor. which in its chaotic
looked strangely unfamil-
lar to the master Of the house.
In the library Flora rechned on
couch before the bright gas log, while
Nora applied wet cloths
to her mistress aching head. Wreck
age from the parlor impeded progress
ut every step.
my dear girl!' he uttered.
She turned woebegone face TO his.
Such time as they had trying to
get 1t in the window! They were
saucy because the window was too
small, and one of them pulled it I'm
with jerk, and 1t struck the chande-
Ter. The pieces Of glass fell ON my
Wedgwood vase, and that is brokenl
IL am quite discouraged"
With restless glance toward the
)arlor, where the gigantic bedstead lay
ike some dark shadow on his little
nome, and with an unpleasant recol-
ection Of the snorting janitor below
stairs and of the generous tip 1t would
'equire to reduce him to his customary
tate Of patronizing familiarity, Win
chester endeavored to soothe his wife's
shattered nerves. and together they
'beyed Morals summons to belated
Inner.
At table Mrs. Winchester drew fold
d paper from her gown.
"This is the page copied from the
iiary Of Nancy Gray, Harry" she
aid. spreading 1t open before her. 81
bought would refresh my memory
IS to the exact location Of the secret
pring.
Richmond, Va. April p. 1884, J
cad Mrs, Winchester IN solemn ac-
entg. "sI am rreatlv alarmed for tho