The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.2003, Page 38

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THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Vol. 58 #2
just 3 inches from the northwest corner of
the crooked house. But the ditch that was
by the riverbank was in a straight line from
the stake and the log cabin ruins across the
river.
“It must be here” said O’Brian in a low
voice to Mr. Iceland, “ and it has to be dug
out from the inside—in the basement.”
I have never seen O’Brian as light of
foot and happy as now. It was as if he had
instantly shed 30 years or more. His dark
eyes reflected that there was sun and sum-
mer and jubilation in mind and heart. He
nearly jumped with joy.
“Now your take is finished Mrs.
Turneau” he said smiling, and placed a ten
dollar bill in her hand.
“What nonsense is this, Mr. O’Brian”
said Madeleine Vanda. “I am not going to
accept money for riding here in a fancy
coach and looking at my childhood
haunts.”
“You own the money and more” said
O’Brian gently,’’because you have today
done a great favour for me and my friends.
If you had not shown us the root of the oak
tree west of us I would not have bought
this crooked house tomorrow and the lot
on which it stands.”
“Oh, it is that way is it?” said
Madeleine Vanda and smiled, “but I still do
not own this money.”
“Yes, you own it by right — and much
more” said O’Brian, and he danced around
her. “And now I am going to support you
while you step up into the carriage. The
driver knows he is to take you home to
your front door. Give my warmest greeting
to your dear husband and children.” He
then almost lifted her up into the carriage
as if she were a little girl.
Then Madeleine Vanda said good-bye
to us all, —O’Brian, Mr. Iceland, my cousin
and me, and started off for home in the
fancy rented carriage. And our best wishes
followed her like a large flock of snow
white doves.
“Well now” said O’Brian when
Madeleine Vanda had left, “ Now I know
for certain that the treasure is found at last,
and it is under the northwest corner of this
crooked house, exactly where that girl
Mabel was digging this spring. But I do not
want to move anything until Arnor and
Edna Trent can be present and receive the
money as soon as it is recovered. They will
be arriving within three days with all speed.
Then all that are now present will meet
again in this place, and bear witness to the
most remarkable event, that of finding the
treasure. We all agreed to this plan. Then
O’Brian and Mr. Iceland started off toward
the west end of the city, but my cousin and
I went into the house and discussed this
matter for a long time.
That night O’Brian sent a telegram
forth to Minneapolis. The next day a
lawyer in Winnipeg was preparing a deed,
that showed that O’Brian was now the
owner of the crooked house and lot on
which it stood. He had paid $950.00 for it
and felt it was a good bargain. Three days
later Arnor and Edna Trent came to
Winnipeg. O’Brian quickly informed Mr.
Iceland and they both came along with
Arnor and Edna to the crooked house just
after noon on the 28th of October. My
cousin and I immediately accompanied
them down to the so-called basement, and
we began digging immediately under the
northwest corner of the house. O’Brian
went to work, the rest of us stood in a row
as close as possible and watched all his
movements with great interest. As for
myself, I can state that I was literally
breathless while this was happening. The
main task was to remove the stone that
Mabel Campion had begun to loosen. As
soon as the stone was freed and had been
rolled on the floor, the tin mug belonging
to Halfdan the castaway came into view. It
was on the west side of the stone and
pressed up against it, and was about 1 1/2
feet underneath the dirt floor. The tin mug
was small and square with a lid and the lock
was sealed shut with varnish and well
wrapped. The outside was wrapped in a
patch of animal hide and something had
been written on it but it was so blurred that
it was impossible to read.
O’Brian handed the mug to Arnor as
soon as he had removed the hide. Arnor cut
through the varnish with a small pen knife,
took the lid carefully off the mug and then
handed it to Edna. We all watched silently
and almost in awe at all this ceremony