Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1917-03-29

are digging up every inch of ground
on the adjacent plantations searching
for buried treasure, and / am quite at
a loss to find a safe place for our
heirlOoms.
April 22.-Such al excellent idea!
] have just recollected that there is a
secret hiding place in Grandmother
Binpah's mahogany bedstead. l will
conceal the jewels there and will de-
scribe their hiding place SO that In
case anything happens to me n Of
u family may be able to recover
them, even If the bedstead should be
carried away.
First, n 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 a cavity. Into this
cavity I have dropped the leather bag
containing the unset gems-they are
worth many thousands Of d%ollars-and
l 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 it put in
the guest room?"
The instant l saw it in the Wagon
l knew it would never fit into that
room, so l told them to put it in here.
Ward-or store it,"
1T fits in here remarked Win
chester.
LET us rip off the c%overing-1 be-
lieve l know just where to place nv
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 and
l%elsurely opened the blade. He lifted
II corner of the bedstead, groaned
and dropped it heavily.
There was a straining and Swapping
Of cords as he applied his knife to he
wrappings.
oh, Oh! am just as as l
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
Winchester, yet with a note Of re-
spect in his tone. What a night
mare! Fancy wishing a guest pleas
ant dreams and then introducing him
to that couch! Whew! Now, which
face, Flora, love?"
Mrs. Winchester triumphantly pro-
duced the paper from her laces and
read solemnly: 1.-The thirteenth gar
goyle from either end"
The one in the middle, of course
announced Winchester.
Press the right eye,'' quoted Mrs.
Winchester breathlessly. II shall AVE
them set in a glorious pendant, Harry
They hung expectantly over the bed.
Now press she whispered sibi-
lantly.
Winchester pressed.
Nothing doing" he announced fatty.
Press harder" urged his wife. 1.-THE
secret spring has probably rusted.
They do rust sometimes, don't they?'
Il never heard of one doing so. They
always yield easily, and the door rolls
noiselessly aside and leaves an aper-
ture," said Winchester grimly.
I'VE must get it open!" cried his wife
t%earfully. "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 sprinp!'
retorted Mrs. Winchester. why should
Nancy have put it in her diary if there
was notY'
II give it 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 comforted
her husband tenderly. TN find out
the truth if / have to chop the con
founded thing into kindlings!
Il wish l understood the meaning of
it anyway" said Winchester presently
when his wife had reached a degree of
tranquility where she could nibble a
bonbon approximately.
Again the tears flowed. Il might
just as well have had another thou
sand dollarsw! walled Flora.
Winchester's elbow knocked a small
package from the table to the floor.
What is this?' he asked. picking
it up.
AN express parcel that came this
afternoon. l haven't had time to look
at it," 9
He ripped off the covers and looked
stupidity at a small leather volume in