The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-04-07


IN tbe adja cmt plantations scar hih-
for buried treasure. aud ! am quite Ill
n Ioss to tind a safe place Tor our
heiIlUums
".April 22.-Such an excellent idea
I have list recuiic, ted that there Z
sacrrt hidi. place ia GrandmOther
Biupah's mahogany bedstead. VIII
coueeal the Jewels there and viii de
scribe their hiding place 50 that IN
case ANYTHING happens to me one Oh
our family may he able 10 recover
,bpm even if the bedstead should De
carried away.
".Fir>t. one must observe the row
of hdeOusly grinnins laees- gar
goyles. grandfather called them-that
outline the top Of the headboard; there
are twenty tive of these gargoyies III
all and one must press the rleht eye
of The thirteenth gargoyle from either
end VIXEN the face will swing out
war, disclosing "A cavity. Into TINS
cavity have dropped the leather bag
containing the unset gems-they are
worth many thousands OF dollars-and
hone 10 recover them when the war
Is over.
Armed with hammer and screw
driver. husband and wife repaired 10
the parlor aud locked themselves with
in. greatly To the disgust of tile In
terested Nora. who availed herself oil
the kcyhole as the only salve To her
wounded self respect.
My dear girl. how de- ou think I'm
going 10 handle this thin. alouet II
weighs ton, Why wasn't il put IN
the guest roOm:"
"The instant | saw it in the wagon
knew it would never tit into that
room. SO told them TO put il in here
We can remove it to the cellar after
ward-or store it"
1T fits In here" remarked Win
chester.
Let Us rip off the covering-l be
lIeve ! know just where TO place my
finger on the spring. This Is the head
board. of course. and here are the gar
goyles.'' cried Flora excitedly.
Winchester took out his knife ant
leisurely opened the blade. He liftet
one corner Of the bedstead. groanet
and dropped 1t heavily.
There was a straining and snappin.
Of cords as he applied his knife TO thu
wrappings.
"Oh. Oh. am Just as nervous as
| can ber cried Flora, regardless of he
husbands groan as he dragged asid
the covering and disclosed the round
ed, polished top outlined by q semi
circle Of hideously carved faces.
love. what = beautyw calculate,
Winchester. yet with q note of n
spect In his tone. What q night
mare. Fancy wishing a guest pleas
ant dreams and then introducing hir
to that couch, Whew! Now. whic
face, Flora, lover
Mrs. Winchester triumphantly pre-
duced the paper from her laces an
read solemnly: 1.-The thirteenth gal
goyle from either end"
The one In the middle. Of course.
announced Winchester.
Press the right eye,'" quoted Mr.
Winchester breathlessly. II shall hay
them set In a glorious pendant. Harry,
They hung expectantly over the be,
Now press she whispered sib
lantly.
+ Winchester pressed.
Nothing doing" he announced flatl
Press harder" urged his wife. "Tt
secret spring has probably ruste'
They do rust sometimes, don't they
II never heard of one doing so. The
always yield easily, and the door rol
noiselessly aside and leaves an ape
ture," said Winchester grimly.
I'VE must get 1t open" cried his vii
tearfully. Try some Of the other eye
Harry"
But why try the others. my deal
II says the middle one"
There is-there must be a spring
retorted Mrs. Winchester. why shou
Nancy have put 1t In her diary II the
was noty'
Il give 1t up when you ask me
explain the vagaries of the fema
mind began Winchester as he
ciously jabbed the eyes of all the ga
goyles In turn without result.
Flora burst into tears.
Don't cry. my darling" comfort
her husband tendcrly. "I'll find o
the truth II ! have to chop the CO
founded thing into kindlings,
II wish | understood the meaning
Il anyway" said Winchester Present
when his wife had reached degree
tranquility where she could nibble
bonbon appreciatively
, Again the tears flowed. Il mig
, just as well have had another tho
sand dollars" walled Flora.
, Winchester's elbow knocked a SIN
package from the table to the door.
What is this?" he asked. picki
II up
D An express parcel that came q
a afternoon | haven't had time to Ia
. at It,"
, He ripped of the covers and Iool
!. stupidity at q small leather volume
= his hand
!. The Diary of Nancy Gray" he
claimed \ letter fell from the bo
e and he opened II eagerly.