The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-07-19

! lamp. like that one you've got there.
an unlocked the toolbox on his car,
and took out a tin box an started
snealdn' down our lane toward the
bush-lot- was scairt, but I jest
couldn't help sneakin' after him. I
thought, this time. that he was goin' to
poison the milk cows. I guess that's
what made me follow him. right to the
bush Then I seen him walk an feel
around, an step of so many steps firm
the fence. an then so far firm the
other fence. Then he started Z scrape
a hole in the ground, at the end of an
OF buttonwood log near the pig-swale.
An I crept up a little closer. while he
was busy. 1 could see him bury the
box. fr he'd left his light tilted up
! b'tween two stones. An then 1 saw
him smooth down the earth an scatter
leaves over where he'd been diggin'.
Il couldn't forgit about that box he'd
buried there. An the next night, when
I went FIR the cows. slipped over Z
look at the place. I never intended
touchin' anything, I never intended
diggin' it up. But when 1 got thinl1in'
about it I jest couldn't hold myself
back. I scratched away the leaves an
dirt, same as a woodehuck does. An
then I came t the tin box
And you opened it?" I asked. run
| ninS ahead or mylplloc.
Yes. ma'am." was the tremulous an
swer.
And what was in it?"
"Joolryi" was the answer, in a
ridiculously awed whisper. $50 much
joolry that it scared me until I was
shakin'- But couldn't stop lookin' at
| it and studyin' IL. An stole it,"
Serena" said tell me quick, where
is that jewelry now?"
IT'S where hid it in corner o. the
rail-fence," she acknowledged with
averted face.
"An of it?" demanded. with a sud
den tightening of the heart.
"All but the ring an the thing with
/ the green stone that Uncle Eph took
away firm me-" she confessed. HE
doesn't know"
Now listen to me, Serena" I said.
You've trusted me. and I'm going to
| trust you. You were right about that
man who came here in the car. He
was an evil man. a wicked man. He
stole those jewels. They are worth a
great deal Of money. far more money
than you could imagine or understand.
They are worth so much that the people
who lost them are willing to pay four
thousand dollars to get them back. I
was sent here from a great city. hun
dreds of miles away, to see il couldn't
find them. And they have to be found. "
Yes, ma'am," said the girl at my
side, with a gulp.
The girl did as I directed, plainly
puzzled as turned her about until she
faced the north.
Now. do you see that flash OF light
away down there. in the field to the left
of the lane? It's gone. No. there It
comes again. That's a pocket flash
| Al
a man carrying 1t. And that man IS
the second wicked man. who was sent
here TO get those jewels. He's been
told just where they're buried. And
he's trying to ind the spot, without
even waiting until morning.
But is he anywhere near the spot
where you buried the tin box in the
fence corner?" I demanded.
mo. ma'am," was the child's answer
That's to the east o. the lane. an he's
crawlin' along the west side"
Serena" I suddenly said. ''can you
take me to that tin box without going
rear the man out there with the flash
Hght?"
Yes, ma'am." was the answer. at;
you don't mind the fences"
And could we get to the buttonwood
without danger from him?"
The girl moved her head in assent
HE amt anywhere near that log yet,
she explained. And again 1 murmured
GLORY bel"
Then, Serena, well go there. But
before we do that I want you to show
me the way to the cowshed."
We went down through the unclear
barnyard, circled a shadowy building
and CROPPED our way in through door
with a broken hinge. There I brought
my flash light into play, lifted back the
| drape Of stained cotton, and inspected
| the still dusty car. I inspected it thor
oughly, but it yielded nothing of impor-
lance. From a tire catalogue under its
front seat, however. tore out a blank
page, and from the tool-box / I'M
earthed the stub Of a lead penciL Their
I sat down on the running-board, and
; while Serena held the light wrote, II
as uniformed hand as could manage
my carefully thought-out message. Thii
message said:
81 had to take this loot. Spider.
mouthpiece sent word to hurry, fol-
there's a singed cat stslling round thi.
farm. Missed you at The Bridge. bui
I'm beating back to the Big Burs
with the Tiffany ice, and the dfvvI' vii
be at Buck Tiernan's on Friday nigh
the Seventh, at IL P. NJ Be taert
sharp. But shake this farm quick ant
! be leeFy Oh the w eHSDurg ruDes toi
county bulls have been tipped off,"
Now, Serena" I said to the some
what mystified girl. after I'd signed tn,
name of Chick Eberts" to that mes
sage. wen slip back to the tin boz
, and then on to the buttonwood log and
get right with our souls and the wor:dI
The moon was down by this time, ant
I knew better than to show a lieat
But the child was familiar with eve-,
foot CT that ground SO we went hane
in hand until we came to the end o
the lane. Then we edged through tn
partly opened gate into the wood-iot
Its here" she said in q whisper. An,
} was able to breathe again.
We knelt down on the moist grass to
gether- I could tell by her movement
that she was paving away the eartl
along the bottom fence-rail. Then cam,
, faint rafting sound and a sigh O
relief from the STOPPING child TIL,
I ~ I,-I