The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1917-07-21
An
Heirloom
1t Once Served a.
a Hiding Place
BY SADIE OLcOTT
By SADIE oLcorT


ITO whom has uncle left his proper
ty?" asked Flora.
II can only speak for that enormous
mahogany bedstead by which he set
so much store-the gargoyle bedstead."
Ibid he leave 1t to mel"
.'Of course he did. Don't be foolish.
my dear. Listen:
81. 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 $2O00 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 gargoyls bedstead. together with the
sum of 81. COO"
Where shall we put 1t, Harry?"
interrupted Mrs. Winchester breath
lessly.
Put it? You don't expect to get 1t
into this fat?"
I'VE must have 1t here. l wouldn't
examine 1t there with Isabel looking
OH. And. besides, 1t is such journey
down to Richmond. Anyway, you can
not spare the time to go down now.
anu VIC SAdIhihC ~ toSVthSh'
want to get it here us soon as posi-
bic. Who knows but Isabel or some
of the others might find the diary OF
Nancy Gray and learn the secret? My
Inheritance would be northeast" Mrs.
Winchester's voice trembled.
"Oh, all right" said Winchester trac-
tably. But how the deuce you expect
to get it in here don't quite see. Its a
very large piece of furniture, isn't itf'
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.. Chcslcy and let Nora post 1t at
once. l 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 Nam
cy Gray found In the garrett"
well, 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 il Winchester Whatf
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. l 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
IN obscure doorway and surveyed him
with an unpleasant eye.
1T amt a-runnin'." he said gruffly.
Poor management" commented Win
chester us he prepared to conquer the
eight flights that barred him from
home and dinner.
"IIuhv exploded the man. What
with the freight elevator out er 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' lady's dress, and
her the landlords sister-in-lnw"- He
glared wrathfully at the vanishing
form Of 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 unfamil-
lar to the master of the house.
In the library Flora reclined on q
couch before the bright gas log. while
sympathetic Nora applied wet cloths
to her mistress aching head. Wreck
age from the parlor impeded progress
at 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 1t In
with jerk. and 1t struck the chande-
lier. The pieces of glass fell on my
Wedgwood vase. and that is broken!
IL am quite discouraged"
With restless glance toward the
parlor where the gigantic bedstead lay
like some dark shadow on his little
home. and with an unpleasant recol-
lection Of the snorting janitor below
stairs and Of the generous tip it would
require to reduce him to his customary
state of patronizing familiarity. Win
chester endeayored to soothc his wife's
shattered nerves, and together they
obeyed Nora's summons to a belated
| dinner.
At table Mrs. Winchester drew fold
ed paper from her gown.
This is the page l copied from the
diary of Nancy Gray. Harry" she
said. spreading it open before her. ~
thought would refresh my memory
as to the exact location Of the secret