The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-04-07
An
Heirloom
Ii Once Served as
d Hiding Place
n cAD,c OvcO"
By SADIE OLCOTT

10 whom has uncle left his proper
tyr asked Flora.
Il can only speak for that enormous
ma hogany bedstead by which he set
SO much store-the gargoyle bedstead."
Did he leave II to meY'
"Of course he did. Don't be foolish.
my dear. Listen:
Il. 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 5000. to my grandnece. Flora
Cray 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 81. CO.,"
Where shall we put II, Harry
interrupted Mrs. Winchester breath
lcsSly.
Put ity You don't expect to get 1t
into this fatT
We must have 1t here. | wouldn't
examine 1t there with Isabel looking
on. And, besides, it is such "a journey
down to Richmond. Anyway, you can
not spare the time to go down now.
and we must examine II together.
want to get it here as soon as possi-
BILE. Who knows but Isabel or some
OF the others might find the diary OF
Nancy Gray and learn the secret? My
Inheritance would be worthless" Mrs.
Winchester's voice trembled.
"Oh, all rightw said Winchester trac-
tabiy. But how the deuce you expect
to get 1t in here don't quite see. It's q
very large piece Of furniture. isn't it?"
Now. Harry, dear" she cried. with
one plump hand upon his lips. that
bed must be got into this fat some
how! First l will finish my letter to
Mr.. Chesley and let Nora post 1t at
once. | can hardly wait to see the bed
stead, Harry. and don't dare dream
Of what will be ours when the secret
Of the bedstead Is disclosed. Do you
think. dear. l 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
it 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. What7
Oh, the bedstead there! can't pos
sibly leave at present. can't help 1t.
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 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 gruffiy
Poor management" commented Win
chester as lie prepared to conquer the
eight flights that barred him from
home and dinner.
Huh" exploded the man. What
with the freight elevator out er order.
and people breakin' windows movin' in
big stun. and them chumps a-tryin to
put the feet board In my passenger
car and a-tearin' lady's dress, and
her the landlords sisterin-law"- He
glared wrathfully at the vanishin.
form uf Winchester.
Opening the door OF his apartment,
rampant disorder met his eye. A huge
dark form almost covered the floor OF
the tiny parlor. which In Its chaotic
disturbance looked strangely unfaInil
lar 10 the master of the house.
In the library Flora reclined on q
couch before the bright gas log. while
sympathetic Nora applied wet cloth.
to her mistress aching head. Wreck
age from the parlor impeded progress,
at every step.
My dear girl" he uttered.
She turned a woebegone face TO his
"Such a time as they had trying I,
| get it In the window! They wen
| saucy because the window was to-
small, and one Of them pulled II Il
with jerk. and 1t struck the chande
lier. The pieces of glass fell on IN,
Wedcwood vase. and that Is broken
IL am quite discouraged
II With restless glance toward tn
parlor. where the gigantic bedstead la
Ike some dark shadow on his littl
home. and with an unpleasant reco
lection of the snorting janitor belo,
stairs and of the generous tip 1t woul
require 10 reduce him TO his customar
state of natronizing familiarity, VIII
chester endeavored to soothe his wife
Il shattered nerves. and together the
obeyed Nora'S summons to belate
dinner.
At table Mrs. Winchester drew a fol,
ed paper from her gown.
This i the page I copied from ii
diary Of Nancy Gray. Harry" ST
said. spreading it open before her. :
thought | would refresh my memoI
as 10 the exact location OF the seer,
spring.
sichmcnd. Va. April 81. 1864.
read Mrs. Winchester in solemn a
cents IL am greatly Aarrned for Il
4