Moundsville High School - Orospolitan Yearbook (Moundsville, WV)

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looms made quite an addition to the family collection. The money derived from the gold and silver enabled Mr. Richmond ti send Jack to Harvard, thus fulfilling the boy 'si greatest wish, and as Bob had helped so much in finding the treasure he insisted upon sending him also, so as to keep together the boys whose friend- ship had been formed in early child- hood, Thus everything ended happily for the boys who had found and solved the code to the lost treasure. FRANK STULTZ, '23. THE MYSTERIOUS PIT Several of my friends, and I, were seated around the fire, one wintry eve- ning, telling stories. One of my friends told a story that interested me very much. These are her words as nearly -as I can remember: Perhaps you will listen to a story of an incident which occurred at my birthplace, when I was yet a little girl. Our house was a large, old fashioned one. In its day it had been somewhat of a mansion, but now it looked far from that-being Worn by storms of many, many years. From the day I can remember, my brother and I were taught to fear a cer- tain opening in the large basement. There was a- trap door and We were cau- tioned never to go near it, for if once we stepped on the door, we would fall into a dark pit. They told us there were all sorts of ghosts in there, My mother and father were really afraid of the place, because of the superstitious tales that had been handed down from our ancestors My brother and I had discussed these tales, and had finally decided to ,solve the mystery and find if there were really any truth in it. We plan- ned a day to investigate. Brother asked his chum to share in the adven- ture t'Taking a flashlight, we all entered the basement. John, my brother, told me to tie a rope around his waist, and also that of his friend. 'Then'-said John, 'if I call you must pull me out, but if I donlt you must let me go, Then we will wander around and investi- gate !' So well I remember of his handing me a note and saying, 'Here Sis is a note-if anything happens to us, you give this to mama.' I must have turn- ed pale at the very thoughts, for he ex- claimed, 'Don't look so scared. I h'aint 'specting anything to happen' USO saying-they stepped on the door. At that instant they were lost to my sight. How frightened I was when I discovered that I had lost the ropes and that they Were in the pit with the rboys. But-O!-what could I do? I could no-t scream to them without moth- er hearing me. I didn 't know what to tell her and I knew she should know it. I lingered. about and finally mother call- ed me to dinner. 'VVhere is brother?' she asked. Witli a sigh I answered- 'I-I-er -'sp-ect he - is-er-playing. No-maybe he's over to -Iimmie's for

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-l42,000 silver, 10,000 jewels. Randolph Richmond. Bob seemed dazed but Jack cried, Let's go and started for the cellar, grabbing a yard stick 0-11 the way. He then measured five feet from the north wall and six feet from the west wall, but they came to the intersection of the lines they were greatly disappointed for the stone tioor seemed solid as ever and much tapping proved that it con- tained no secret hole. But Bob. who had been looking at the instructions, saw that they said north tive feet, and at once saw their mistake. They had measured from the north instead of to- ward the north. He remeasured cor- rectly and found that the lines inter- sected on a small block of stone not half as large as the others. This stone, the-y saw, was not cemented in place, and with the aid of a poker they lifted it out. A small iron chest greeted their gaze and although it was very heavy it was at last on the floor beside the hole. They did not dare take the risk of opening the chest by force, and ruining the jewels, as it was locked, so they dragged it up the stairs into the den belonging to Jack 's father, They hid their find beneath a couch and prepared to guard it, with their lives as Jack expressed it. Wliile waiting for the return of Mr. Richmond they thought they would find out some- thing about Jack's ancestor who had hidden the chest. Going to one of the bo-okcases in the library they soon found that for which they were hunting -a manuscript book, entitled, The Richmond Family. This book, or the original of it, had been in the family even before they left England, soon af- ter the Revolutionary Waii'. Jack's father had had the manuscript type- written, so the boys did not have to struggle to read many unfamiliar hand- writings, as the book had been handed down from father to eldest son since the sixteenth century. They imme- diately turned to the part written by Randolph Richmond and his son, George Richmond. They found that Randolph Richmond had been killed in the War of 1812, while fighting for his adopted country, by a cousin, who was with the British forces. It told of find- ing, when the estate was settled, that a large amount of money and many of the family heirlooms had disappeared and the supposition that they had been hid- den by Randolph. From time to time, George Richmond told of vain searches for clues to its hiding place. Jack knew that his father would be very glad, because, although a rich man, his two daughters at Vassar and himself at a smaller college, were a steady drain on the family resources. Eventually, after waiting years, as it seemed, Mr. Richmond arrived and they both started at once to tell him of their discovery. Wlien he at last un- derstood them he became almost as ex- cited as they were and tried to open the box with the keys on his ring, but this was impossible as none of the new fashioned keys would fit the old fash- ioned lock. He then remembered an old key ring and keys that had belong- ed to his grandfather and sent Jack for them. They were in the case of old family relics and heirlooms and he soon returned with them. The last key on the ring opened the box and before the wondering eyes of the boys the contents were displayed. In the first of three compartments was a large bag of Span- ish gold money, in the second was a package which contained all the miss- ing heirlooms, and in the third a bag of silver. The money when taken to an expert to be valued proved to be worth much more than what old Randolph Richmond had thought and the heir-

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dinner.' 'Perhaps he isg' agreed mother. 'But come on to dinner Mary. What 's the matter dear you look so pale VZ' she went on to say. Nothing, I assured her, 'only I feel sorta-sick. Don't want any din- ner todayf So saying, I went out., try- ing to think of some plan by which to rescue my brother. Mother being un- easy about me, came out and called, 'Now Mary, you must tell me what is wrong. You're crying. Come tell me,' she continued, fwhat is that piece of paper in your hand?' Then she came over to me taking the note that brother had given me. In amazement she read the following aloud: Dear Mama and All: Now I'm tired of this mystery, and Jimmie and me are going to try our best to find out what is in the dark pit. If anything happens to us-just remem- ber you've got a son that hain't afraid of ghosts like his paw is. Jimmie is just as brave as me, Now-don't cry if we don 't-for we are sure of getting to heaven-for I 've heard many times that if you're not afraid and trust- you'll get there. From your boy what hain't afraid of ghosts like his paw. By,By-John. ' H011 finishing the note, mother ex- claimed, 'Does this mean that my only son is in that terrible pit of darkness? Oh-my-brave son l' So saying, she fell to the ground and I ran for father. I explained to him the best I could, and then seeing that mother had recovered, he went for men to come and help get the boys out. They concluded it would never do to go down through the trap door for they would all likewise be swallowed up like the boys. They decided the best plan was to dig into the earth, where they thought the pit might be. The men dug as fast as they could. Finally they found the pit-but to their amazement they found only utter darkness, with the exception of some light that shone in through the hole they had dug. They immediately got lights and searched every place, but in vain, for the boys were not there. The mothers of the boys were nearly frantic and were reading the note over and over, Each one was telling the other how brave their sons- were. , Then to the astonishment of everyone, the two boys appeared, each smiling, and carrying a little budget. H tNow,' cried teh men, who had been digging so faithfully, 'You boys were never in that pit and we have dug for you until we are about dead. Who started that false report anyway?' ' 'We were so,' exclaimed John, 'And if you'll listen I'll tell you all about it. We were scared nearly to death when we tumbled down-and -Oh-it was dark-but I soon put a tiash light to use. We knew we had to be brave and find some way out. We screamed, but no one came or answered. Finally we found a little door, and up- on opening it we discovered a passage and that is how we got out. Papa you rt-member those willows, down by the le-rc-ok? Well-that is where the pas- sage led to. Now look what we found in a little opening in the wall I' USO saying he opened the little bud- get and poured out on the ground coins of silver and gold. At this everyone opened their eyes, 'Now,' said John tYou men shall be paid for your dig- ging that you were sweating about.' 'Well-Well,' said father, 'I've always heard that some of our ances- tors, centuries ago, kept their money down in this pit, but I never supposed any would still be there. You are brave boys, much braver than your fathers, I must admit. And you shall have the money as your own.' F. T. '22,