Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 85, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1919 — Hidden Treasure [ARTICLE]

Hidden Treasure

By T. B. ALDERSON

(Co»yrl<ht. 191*. Wwtera Nawapspsr Onto*.) “Bld up, gentlemen I” rang out the ■trident tones of the auctioneer. "What am I offered for this remarkable work of art? It suggests a theme of moonlight on the water. At all events there’s a moon and a brook, and—" “Fifty cents!” pronounced a casual voice, and idlers about the room facetiously commented on the framed daub presented “One dollar,” nodded Ray Martin. He had strolled into the place out of curiosity. ' A sign at the door had advertised the sale of an art collection “gathered up nt large cost from famous ateliers.” Some fair pictures had brought quite pretentious prices. “Last of the lot, perhaps it’s a gem,” resumed the auctioneer, and he swung aloft a small framed oil painting feebly presenting a conventional willage scene. Just as a bid of k dollar had been made, Ray noticed a 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 neatly dressed. Her lips parted eagerly as her glance swept the picture. “Two dollars," she spoke almost breathlessly. At that moment a hook-nosed, hunchshouldered man, evidently a professional picture broker, glided covertly to her side. Watching her Intently, his small, beady eyes twinkling as he promptly raised the bld to $4. The girl bid again, nervously fidgeting with her shabby little purse. Her face fell as the picture broker called out $6. Evidently 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 $lO. “Sold,” rang out the auctioneer’s tones. The picture broker shrugged his shoulders and the girl with a despairing face started to leave the place. « “Pardon me,” spoke Ray, hastening after her, moved by an inexplicable impulse 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. .“Yes,” she said in a 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 a second picture. I cherished it just because it was his work.” “I see,” said Ray. “Well, it is yours, Miss Dalton. I bid it in for you because I fancied you wanted it. There was another one,” and he pointed out the moonlight canvas. “You shall have that, too.” “Oh ! Indeed —” “Give me real pleasure by accepting both,” he urged. “The moonlight picture was one my father kept always hung in his room,” said Inez. “I know not why. Yes, those are the two pictures I do cherish. lam very poor, but lam working, and may soon be able to pay you back. What have you expended?” “A mere trifle,” declared Ray. “Give me your address and I will send them to you—or bring them?” he added half interrogatively. That was the commencement of a charming love idyl. It grieved Ray to find this lonely orphan girl living in a 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 Inex grew into the truest regard. One day when Ray called upon her a man left the apartment whom he at once recognized as the ferret-faced picture broker. He looked askance at Inex, who at once explained the visit. , “He is Blaclie, picture broker," she explained to Ray. He has called here several times. He Insists that ago my father purchased a rare painting for SSOO, investing all his money In ‘The Mourners,’ the noted original picture of Vicenzo Grattl, the Italian master artist. That was his interest in the sale of my father’s picture. He says he will give SIO,OOO for the painting, and is sure some mystery covers its disappearance.” At Just that moment there transpired what Ray Imd ever feared. There was a crash. #S»*Sold structure fyad settled on its foundations. » The building shook, awl Ray seized Inez just in time to save her from the deluge of falling plaster. They had removed her poor effects from the ruined room to a safer apartment when Blaclie appeared on the scene. The frame of the moonlight picture had broken in its fall. Inspecting it, Blaclie uttered* a joyous, ringing cry. “Two canvases!” he cried, "and behold the under fine! 'The Mourners!’ ” Thus Paul Dalton hid find held safe his precious treasure. A true artist at soul, he could not beat to part with it, even amid his But poverty for Inez no longer—, only happiness, and love, and the husband' sh% idolized, Ray Martin.