Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-04

He led the way forward, his naeh
light playing on the big central con-
crete pier. some eight feet square,
in front ot him. He was chuckling
ilshed that the old maniac's hiding
place was here under the boathouse
a hiding place that was opened by
key. and that. except at low tide
was inaccessible. the precise loca
tlor OF that hiding place became
obvious even 10 child. The row
Of little piers that supported the
structure At the sides and front
were ali individually too small 10
be hoIlow-snd there was absolutely
nothing else here except the big
center support.
With Eunnoll- beside him now. he
began 10 examine this center pier
under the ray VI his nashlignt lie
walked once completely around &c,
making quick. preliminary ex-
animation. The pier was some six
or seven feet in height. and the
concrete construction was Ts-en-
FORCED with massive iron bands
placed both horizontally and trans
Nersely between two and three feet
apart. the small squares thus formed
giving sort OK checkerbOard ef-
feet TO The mass. The lower portion
was green with sea slime. There
was no apparent evidence OF any
opening.
But Captain Francis Eewcombe
lad not expected that there would
be.
Look FOR little hole, RunneIIs. -
NJ said. Anything. FOR instance.
fEht might appear TO be no more
thnrt q fault in the concrete. And
t..s ~
mark. The opening 10 below be-
Cause the old man could only get in
~ low tide. but the keyhols is more
likely 20 be above out OF the rea oh
"t Tho water because II must be
wa'rrtight inside"
"F"a.' said Runnclls
They made second circuit Of the
pier. but carefully now. searching
infinitely over every inch OF surface.
II took "A long ttmc-n very long
tine--a quarter OF an hour--a half
Eouf--morc.
And stil there was no sign OF
either knyhole or opening.
"StriE" me pink" grumbled Hun
nclia. n looks like n VAS sticking
IN us tonight This IL what call
rotten luck"
And | was thinking that II was
exccllent--even beyond expectations
Eunnells, said Captain Francis
Newconhe smoothly. The old man
ms done his work 80 we'll that Il
IL certain no one would stumble on
It,
Therefore, when we get away.
We do so with tho absolute knowl %
"dge TINT an empty hiding place
VIII mover be discovered You Rot q.
low that don't YOU. Runneils. No
ono Aph
know that the money was ever
foun'l or taken"
Yes. saii Runnells grufiy, but
Ne Mint got II yet. Ana we must
have been At II good hour already
aud tho tides coming hnck In
row"
quite So soid Captain rranci,
N"Nromhe evenly. But IL We don't
get 1t tonight. there i. tomorrow
ntEhi-and the night after that again.
There are always the woods. and
Hour ability "a thief guarantees
us plenty To cat Meanwhile. we'll
stick, 20 this aide here fronting the
se1~-lia the logical placc---onr
'nuidut -" seen even from undor
Tho t'randa back there 90 over
every bit Of iron work now"
Mother quarter Of nm hour passed
IN sIcnce--saVN Tor tho Imp OF the
water that, with the tide OF the
Turn now. had crept np almost "a
tho base ot the ,ic, ~, " oa's,, 70
moved slowly an ana down ana to
tho tight and lsft os ,ba ,vn ,.,
crourhcd there hent tnrw,rn ,hot'
hnser9. auCinentng thu sense OF
steht feeling over the surface -, ,h.
'eh"nt And iron that here was
hArn0rie coated. and there covered
Win rcstcans ~ tho rrrrn siin,e
rs no unnd'" s.Id pnn,,nu.
pcasimISticarv At Iast 49,. ,.,.
around on the other Aide and 90,
cat n the waier-l'm st.r,tnv -, :,
now
FPS hero and noNbcre alec" at,
captain Francis Newrnnhs ao,S a,'
". "Nud. furthermore I'm rc,t,',
it's huc ot these sn,arc. ,ns,a. IN ,,,n
'intcrsccting pieces OF iron. II wo,,id
Ia H,st enoueh - s,i. IL "outn
"rawl IN md out and not TOO his W ~
too heavy for one man 10 h,naJa
alone. u can't I've rnythips sts.
Nhaicrer's here thu old man made
htmsoltN~no ono helped him. under
stand. ltunuells" lis secret
wouldn't he worth anything In ths,
Hat Runuclls. instead HAD .,as.,
j. Strengthened M ''''e"-
thought heard .cne,b,,r 49,.
There. hhe-like a loud snln. L,,.
he said tcnsotv.
captain Francis \cwcomha nat,
H. need, He was LAUGHING low.
Jurtlantlv. triumphantlv. WV
I've got Il. Runnells'" h. cr,ns
~ '' psS %<'' Look to one s ,,a1 ,5s il,