The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1919-07-24
Hidden | reasure
By T: B. ANDERSON
Copyright. 1918. Western Newspaper union.)

IBID up, gentlemen !" rang out the
strident tones of the auctioneer.
tWhat am offered for this remark
able work of art? 1t suggests theme
of moonlight on the water. At all
events there's a moon and brook.
and TIA
Fifty cents!" pronounced casual
voice, and idlers about the room face
tiOusly commented on the framed daub |
presented.
Zone dollar" nodded Ray Martin. |
He had strolled into the place out Of
curiosity. A sign at the door had adj
vertised the sale of an art collection
gathered up at large cost from ia
nous ateliers" Some fair pictures
had brought quite pretentious prices.
Last of the lot. perhaps it's gen."
resumed the auctioneer, and he swung
aloft small framed oil painting feebly
presenting a conventional village
scene. Just as bid of dollar had
been made, Ray noticed young lady
hasten through the doorway She
looked worried and anxious. He noted
the fair face and graceful form, and
that she was poorly. though neat
ly dressed. Her lips parted eagerly
as her glance swept the picture.
1.-TWO dollars" she spoke almost
breathlessly. .
At that moment hook-nOsed, hunch-
shouldered man, evidently profession
al picture broker, glided covertly to her
side. Watching her intently, his small,
beady eyes twinkling as he promptly
raised the bid to 81. The girl bid
again, nervously fdgeting with her
shabby little purse. Her face fell as
the picture broker called out Sc. Evil
IDENTIFY she had named the limit of her
cash possessions. The picture broker.
kept his eyes fixed upon her as though
striving to discover her interest in the
picture. He was so absorbed in this
analysis that Ray had time to bid $40.
Sold" rang out the auctiOneer's
tones. The picture broker shrugged
his shoulders ana the girl with a de-
spairing face started to leave the
place.
pardon me-" spoke Ray, Fastening
after her, moved by an inexplicable i'm
pulse he could not resist, you were
interested in that picture" =
The girl turned her tear-filled eyes
upon him. She seemed to read the
sympathy and chivalry expressed in
his clear open face.
EYES," she said in low, broken tone.
They have been selling off pictures my
father owned. He was Paul Dalton an
art connoisseur, and they seized what
was left when he died, for debt. There
were two pictures I hoped to recover,
valueless, but mementoes. The one
you purchased was the only one he
ever attempted to paint. It proved
him to be no artist, and he never tried
second picture. cherished it just
because it was his work.
II see," said Ray. swell, it is yours.
Miss Dalton. bid it in for you be.
cause fancied you wanted it. There
was another one," and he pointed out
the moonlight canvas. ''You shall have
that, too
ooh! indeed"
"Give me real pleasure by accepting
BOTH" he urged.
"The moonlight picture was one my
father kept always hung in his room.' .
said 1nez. II know not why. Yes,
those are the two pictures do cher.
ish. am very poor, but am work.
ing, and may soon be able to pay you
back. What have you expended?'
"A mere trifle," declared Ray. "Give
me your address and will send them
to youor bring them?' he added half
interrogatively.
That was the commencement of a
charming love idyl. It grieved Ray to
ind this lonely orphan girl living in q
| room in an old tenement so rickety
| that it was almost unsafe, but she said
frankly that it was the best she could
afford until she had got ahead with
some Photographic coloring work she
had undertaken. The two paintings
had been hung upon the wall, and day
by day the earnest gratitude of Inez
grew into the truest regard. One day
when Ray called upon her. man left
| the apartment whom he at once rec
| ognized as the ferret-faced picture
broker. He looked askance at Inez
who at once explained the visit.
| "He is Blaclie, picture broker" she
explained to Ray. He has called here
several times. He insists that year
ago my father purchased rare paint.
ing for $500, investing all his money in
The Mourners,' the noted original pic
ture of Vicenzo Craft, the Italian mas
ter artist. That was his interest in
the sale Of my fathers picture. He
says he will give $4,000 for the paint
ing, and is sure some mystery covers
its disappearance"
At just that moment there trans
pired what Ray had ever feared. There
| was a crash The old structure had
settled on its foundations The build.
Ing shook, and Ray seized 1nez just
/ IN time to save her from the deluge
| Of falling plaster.
They had removed her poor effects
from the ruined room to safer apart
ment when Blaclie appeared on the
4 Tho Frame nf tho moonlight