Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-06

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 peo-
pie who lost them are willing to pay
$4,000 to get them back. l was sent
here from a great city, hundreds 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 l 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
lamp, like the one l have here. There's
man carrying it. 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 find 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 childs an
swer. That's to the east o. the lane,
an he's crawlin' along the west side"
Serena" l suddenly said. "can you
take me to that tin box without going
near the man out there with the
tlash!ght""
yes, ma'am." was the answer. IF
you don't mind the fences"
And could we get to the button
wood without danger from him."
The girl moved her head in assent
He amt anywhere near that log yet"
she explained. And again murmured,
GLORY be-"
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 unclean
barnyard, circled shadowy building
and CROPPED our way in through a door
with broken hinge. There 1 brought
my fiashlight into play, lifted back
the drape Of stained cotton and in
spected the still dusty car. in
spected it thoroughly, but it yielded
nothing Of Importance. From tire
catalogue under it's front seat. how
ever. I tore out a blank page. and
from the tool box unearthed the
stub Of a lead pencil. Then 1 sat
down on the running board. and while
Serena held the light l wrote, in as
uniformed a hand as 1 could manage
my carefully throughout message
This message said:
II had to take this loot. Spiders
mouthpiece sent word to hurry. for
there's singed cat stalling round
this farm. Missed you at The Bridge
but I'm beating back to the Big Burg
with the Tiffany ice. and the divvy
will be at Buck Tiernan's on Friday
night the Seventh. at IL pm. Be there
sharp. But shake this farm quick and
be leery of the Wellsburg rubes. for
county bulls have been tipped off,
Now. Serena" I said to the some
what mystifed girl. after I'd signed
the name of Chick Eberts" to that
message. well slip back to the tin
box and then on to the buttonwood
log and get right with our souls and
the world!'
The moon was down by this time,
and 1 knew better than to show a
light But the child was familiar
with every foot Of that ground. So
we went hand in hand until we came
to the end Of the lane. Then we edged
through the partly opened gate into
the wood lot.
ITS here" she said in a whisper.
And was able to breathe again.
We knelt down on the moist grass
together. l could tell by her move
ments that she was paving away the
earth along the bottom fence rail.