The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1917-04-06

uuNc just ItCOlitNitu Iuul there Is u
secret hiding place In Grandmother
Binpah's mahogany bedstead win
conceal the jewels there and win de.
scribe their hiding place so that In
case anything happens to me one Of
our family may be able to recover
them, even IL the bedstead should be
carried away.
First, one must observe the row
Of hideously grinning faces-"gar-
goyles," grandfather called them that
outline the top OF the 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 cavity. Into this
cavity have dropped the leather bag
containing the unset gems-they are
worth many thousands OF dollars-n 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 awaited herself OF
the keyhole as the only salye to her
wounded self respect.
My dear girl, how do you think I'm
going 10 handle this thing alone? 1t
weighs ton! Why wasn't It put in
the guest roomY"
THE instant | saw 1t in the wagon
| knew II would never iit into TINT
room, so told them TO put II In here,
We can remove It to the cellar after
ward-or store IT,
'it its in here" remarked Win.
chester.
LET us rip or the covering he.
lieye | know just where 10 place my
finger on the spring! This IS the head.
board, Of course aud here are the gar
goylesg" cried Flora exclte1B
Winchester took ont his knife and
ieisurely opened the blade. lie lifted
one corner OF the bedstead. groaned
and dropped 1t heavily.
There was straining and swapping
OF cords as he applied his knife TO the
wrapplngs.
"Oh, OH am just as nervous as
can bel' cried Flora. regardless OF her
husbands groan us he dragged inside
the covering and disclosed the round.
ed, polished top outlined by semi
circle Of hideously carved faces.
"Jove, what a beauty" calculated
Winchester, yet with note OF re-
spect In his tone what n night
mare, Fancy wishing a guest pleas
ant dreams and then introducing him
70 that couch Whewl Now. which
face, Flora, lover
Mrs. Winchester triumphantly pro.
duced the paper from her laces and
read solemnly: THE thirteenth gar.
goyle from either end F."
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, Harryr'
They hung expectantly over the bed
Now press" she whispered slbI-
lantly.
4 Winchester pressed.
Nothing doing, lie announced flatly.
Press harder" urged his wife. "The
secret spring has probably rusted.
They do rust sometimes, don't theyf"
II never heard OF one doing so. They
always yield easily, and the door rolls
noiselessly aside aud leaves an aIJer-
ture,' said Winchester grlmly.
I'VE must get II open!'' cried his wife
tearfully. "Try some OF the other eyes,
Harry"
But why try the others, my dcari
1t says the middle one"
There is-there must be a spring.
retorted Mrs. Winchester why should
Nancy have put II In her diary IL there
was notT'
II 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 turn without result.
Flora burst into tears.
Don't cry. my darling" conlforted
her husband tenderly. "I'll find out
the truth If have to chop the con.
iOuhutd tulhB iulO hlllullllkS4
II wish understood the meaning OF |
It anyway" said Winchester presently |
when his wife had reached degree OF |
where she, could nibble a
bonbon approximately.
Again the tears flowed. II might |
Just as well have had another thou
sand dollars" walled Flora.
Winchester's elbow knocked small |
package from the table to the floor.
What is this?" he asked. picking
i up.
IAN express parcel that came this
afternoon. | haven't had time to look
1t it."
He ripped of the covers and looked |
stupidity at a small leather volume In
his hand. I
THE Diary OF Nancy Grayr' he ex-
,laimed. A letter fell from the book.
ind he opened 1t eagerly.
Read it, commanded Flora impa- |
iently. And he read rs follows:
My Dear Mrs Wlnchester-Y Your uncle,
he late Mr.. william Gray, has placed
his little volume In my hands with in
tructions to turn II over to you after
lis death. or course you are aware that
your uncle wrote this fantastical little
ale for his own amtaement many vaarR