The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1917-07-21

are digging up every inch OF groun0
OH the adjacent plantations searching
for buried treasure. and l am quite at
a loss to find a safe place for our
heirlooms.
".April 22.-Such an excellent idea!
I have lust recollected that there ~
secret hiding place In grandmother
Binpah's mahogany bcdsteal. Will
conceal the jewels there and will de-
scribe their hiding place NO thnt In
case anything happens to me one OF
our family may he able to recover
them. even If the bedstead should lie
carried away.
"'First. one must observe the row
Of hideously grinning faces-"gar-
goyles," grandfat! her called them-tbat
outline the top sTthe headboard; there
are twenty-five of these gargOyles In
all. and one must press the right eye
of the thirteenth gargoyle from either
end, when the face will swing out
ward, disclosing a cavity. Into this
cavity have dropped the leather lag
containing the unset gems-they are
worth many thousands OF dollars-and
| | hope to recover them when the war
Is over"
Armed with hammer and screw
driver. husband and wife repaired to
the parlor and locked themselves with
in, greatly to the disgust Of the In
terested Nora, who availed herself Of
the keyhole as the only 'salve to her
wounded self respect.
MY dear girl, how do you think I'm
going to handle this thing alone? 1t
weighs a ton! Why wasn't 1t put In
the guest room?"
1.-The instant l saw 1t in the wagon
| knew 1t would never fit into that
room, so l told them to put 1t in here.
We can remove it to the cellar after
WARRIOR store It.
1T fits In here" remarked Win
chester.
Let US rip off the covering-l be-
lieve l know just where to place my
finger Oh the spring! This is the head
board, of course. and here are the gar
goyles!'' cried Flora excitedly.
Winchester took out bis knife and
leisurely opened the blade. He lifted
one corner of the bedstead. groaned
and dropped it heavily.
There was straining and swapping
Of cords as lie applied his knife to the
wrappings.
"Oh. Oh! l am just as nervous as I
can be!' cried Flora. regardless OF her
husbands groan as he dragged aside
the covering and disclosed the round
ed, polished top outlined by a semi
circle of hideously carved faces.
"Jove. what a beauty! calculated
| nj nj
spect in his tone. What q night
mare! Fancy wishing guest pleas
ant dreams and then introducing him
to that couch! wbew! Now. which
face, Flora, lover
Mrs. Winchester triumphantly pro-
duced the paper from her iaces and
read solemnly: 1.-The thirteenth gar
goyle from either end"
1.-THE one in the middle. of course"
announced Winchester.
"'Press the right eye" quoted Mrs.
Winchester breathlessly. II shall have
them set In glorious pendant, Harryw
They hung expectantly over the bed.
Now press" she whispered sibi-
lantly.
Winchester pressed.
Nothing doing" he announced fatty.
Press harder" urged his wife. THE
secret spring has probably rusted.
They do rust sometimes. don't they?"
II never heard of one doing 30. They
always yield easily. and the door rolls
noiselessly aside and leaves an aper-
ture," said Winchester grimly.
I'VE must get 1t open" cried his wife
tearfully. "Try some of the other eyes,
Harry"
But why try the others. my dear?
1t says the middle one"
There is-there must be a spring.
retorted Mrs. Winchester. why should
Nancy have put 1t in her diary II there
was notT'
~ give 1t up when you ask me to
explain the vagaries of the female
mind began Winchester as he Vi
ciously jabbed the eyes of all the, gar
goyles in turp without result.
Flora burst into tears.
Don't cry. my darling" comforted
her husband tenderly. an and out
the truth II l have to chop the con-
founded thing into kindlings!
81 wish l understood the meaning Of
1t anyway" said Winchester presently
when his wife had reached a degree Of
tranquility where she could nibble 4
bonbon appreciatively.
Again the tears flowed II might
just as well have had another thou
sand dollars!" walled Flora.
Wholesalers elbow knocked a small
package from the table to the hoor
What is this?" he asked. picking
1t up.
IAN express parcel that came this
afternoon. haven't had time to look
at it."
He ripped of the covers and looked
stupidity at a small leather volume in