The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.2003, Blaðsíða 40

82
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Vol. 58 #2
before Christmas in 1886 that she was sent
$500.00 instead of the $200.00 that Halfdan
had promised her, because Edna added
$300.00 of her own money. It was O’Brian
who presented Madeleine Vanda this
money and explained how this had come
about.
As soon as O’Brian said good-bye to
us on this memorable wonderful festive
evening, he asked me to tell my cousin
though not before he had set off for home,
that since he was now the new owner of the
crooked house, she would not need to pay
any rent while she stayed there. It came to
light, as before, what an excellent man of
many good qualities and generous nature
that Mr. O’Brian possessed. My cousin
always remembered him with gratitude,
and his friendly nature. But Arnor and I
loved and treasured him.
CONCLUSION
So the treasure that was hidden under
the crooked house was found in Point
Douglas in Winnipeg. Now thirty four
years have passed. I have little more to add
after going quickly over the story. But I
really would like in closing, to mention a
few people who have been a part of this
story. I also think that the reader would
like to know what happened to them.
The first ones to be mentioned are
Arnor and Edna who returned south to
Minneapolis two days after the treasure
was found. They asked O’Brian as was pre-
viously told, to take all the money to a
bank in Winnipeg, and then send them a
draft for a bank in Minneapolis after
$500.00 had been deducted for Madeleine
Vanda, and all expenses in regard to with-
drawing the money that was in Halfan’ s
bank book. O’Brian got a lawyer to assist
him to withdraw Arnor’s money, and all
went quickly and well, and was completed
before Christmas. Arnor and Edna were
able to deposit all their money in a bank in
Minneapolis the day before Christmas Eve
1886. If they had had their way the other
half of the money would have gone to the
three of us - O’Brian, Mr. Iceland and me.
But Mr. Iceland and O’Brian made it clear
on the day that the treasure was found, that
they should never be offered any of this
money because they could not accept any
of it, either as a gift or a loan. They would
however, certainly accept Arnor and Edna’
s friendship. On the other hand, I often
received large gifts from Arnor and Edna.
My cousin received $200.00 as a Christmas
gift from Arnor. Edna sent Mable
Campion $200.00 in January 1887. It is
possible she also sent her aunt Mrs.
Colthart a large sum of money though I am
not aware of it. It was certain that the
money from Arnor and Edna gladdened
many a poor person, not only then, but
later as well. Arnor became an enthusiastic
student at the University of Minnesota, and
graduated as a physician in 1888. A short
time later, Edna and Arnor were married,
and that summer they moved to Brooklyn
and settled there. Arnor soon earned a rep-
utation as a good doctor because he
showed such interest and sympathy to his
patients. He was especially good at work-
ing with nervous disorders. It might be said
that he specialized in that field. He was
particularly good to all who were poor and
suffering. He sent his sister money every
year, and he wanted the best for everyone.
Edna was a fine housewife, both hospitable
and charitable and the couple were
extremely congenial. Their home was
exceedingly pleasant, and well-located in
the city with a lovely view, very impressive.
I stayed there twice and was treated so
well--two months each time— and have
never had better days. In the summer of
1912 Amor died suddenly of heart failure.
Edna is still living in February 1921. They
had four children—two sons and two
daughters,— and they are now all grown, all
married, well regarded and well-to-do.
I will say here, that Arnor and Edna
gave me full permission in the fall of 1909
to write about their search for the treasure,
and gave me two letters that Halfdan wrote
that I could keep permanently, also the old
diary that is first mentioned in the story.
But they did not want to be mentioned in
any other way than that which directly
concerns the search and I have kept that in
mind.
Of O’Brian there is this to say—that he