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THERE IS GOLD IN THAT THERE WRITING DESK...

I AM CONVINCED OF IT...

Written by Joe Devoy

IT IS THE GRAND OPENING, OUR BIG NIGHT...and I am telling the same story for perhaps the tenth time. Something I am inclined to do, the

telling of rich stories that is, and in all honesty I’m not sure how many times I’ve shared this

story over the course of the last two months, but let me paint the picture for you once more …

The reign of King George III was a time of innovation and overlapping styles. (1760-1820)

December 2010

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George III Mahogany Desk

Many drawers and secret compartments. Secret drawers exposed

We received this desk from Ireland the

week of Labor Day and I have been

convinced ever since I first laid eyes on it

that this cabinet possesses secret

compartments. The cabinet maker was too

precise in his craftsmanship to do anything

without a purpose. Therefore, my story

inevitably begins with me saying, “There is

buried treasure in this here writing desk; I

am convinced of it, gold or something. I

just can’t find it.”

As I begin to unfold the story, I show the

many reasons that I believe this to be true.

In front of us lies a desk with many hidden

compartments which we have been able to

reveal. Some are in plain sight – the pop-

out letter holders, the trim piece that

actually opens to reveal much narrower

compartments, the multitude of drawers –

everything made purposefully and

perfectly.

However, there are two anomalies, two

details that just don’t reconcile. The four

drawers on the left are all the same size.

Continued on Page 2

THERE IS GOLD IN THAT THERE WRITING DESK...! PAGE2

Tellus360, 24 East King Street Lancaster, PA 17602 | 717-393-1660 | www.tellus360.com

Of the four drawers on the right, the top

two are approximately one inch and a

half shorter than the bottom two even

though they finish flush to the front of

the cabinet.

Every opportunity that I could, I

revisited this desk. Perplexed and

convinced, I found myself intrigued by

the possibilities. I shared my beliefs

with everyone – my sons, my friends

and pretty much anyone who would

listen (something else I am inclined to

do). I showed everyone why I believed

it and I always finished the story with

“there is gold hidden in this here

writing desk.”

Now I need to make a confession here.

I never actually believed that there was

buried treasure in the secretary’s desk. I

believed there were compartments but

the thought that they may contain

something never truly crossed my

mind.

So, here I am telling the story for the

tenth time, with the same punch lines

and pauses, at the grand opening.

Enthralled by my story, as most people

are, Josephine and Laura are intently

following along. I am passionately

explaining my theories on secret

compartments, adding my thoughts on

buried treasure because it makes the

story that much better.

Suddenly, Josephine reaches into one of

the openings where we have removed a

drawer on the right. She starts to pull

her hand back out and the drawer

support starts coming with it. This is all

happening in slow motion at this stage

and my jaw is rubbing off the floor, my

mind racing and my only thought is that

someone must be messing with me.

Secret Heart Locket

Continued on Page 3

“Slowly I unfold the cloth. Inside,

a beautiful bracelet with a locket reveals itself. Still the

bracelet remains locked...holding

dear its own secrets.”

THERE IS GOLD IN THAT THERE WRITING DESK...! PAGE3

Tellus360, 24 East King Street Lancaster, PA 17602 | 717-393-1660 | www.tellus360.com

I can feel my heart beating inside of my

throat, my hands are sweaty and I am

stunned. I remove the cloth and can

instantly feel the weight of something

inside. A crowd has now begun to

gather, everyone sensing our

excitement. Some know all of what has

transpired, others intrigued by the pure

and total amazement on our faces. It

feels as though the entire event

unfolded over the course of several

hours and in slow motion. Slowly I

unfold the cloth. Inside, a beautiful

bracelet with a locket reveals itself. The

bracelet feels heavy, like it is real gold.

Its inscription so tiny, we are not able to

read it and its simplicity is its real

beauty. Still the bracelet remains

locked, holding dear its own secrets.

FLABBERGASTED, STUNNED, AMAZED,

thrilled and contemplating how the

story only gets better we are left with a

new set of mysteries. Who owned this

beautiful locket? Did her lover secretly

give her this gift? Or, was it proudly

worn to signify a beautiful lifelong

passion? How was it lost to the desk?

Did it signify the joys of true love

found or the pain of a lost forbidden

relationship?

It is possible, if we are able to open the

locket, that the beautiful bracelet will

tell us its secrets. It is also possible that

its secrets will remain just that …

beautiful secrets that shall remain

untold and stories that we can

only suppose to know.

I am going to continue to

tell my story of how there is

gold in that there desk, I am

sure of it. I am going to

continue to show people

why I believe so. To this

story I will add our story of

the beautiful locket that we

found on the right side of

the desk and how we have yet been able

to unlock the secrets held in the left

side of the desk.

I do, however, continue to wonder if we

will ever figure out the secret of the left

side of the desk....And if we do, will it

have the key to all the locket's secrets?

Gold Heart Locket, discovered in the desk.

Can this really be happening?IT COMES BACK SLOWLY AND WE START TO SEE A COMPARTMENT ON THE

DRAWER SUPPORT...THE SUPPORT AND THE COMPARTMENT COME ALL THE

WAY OUT AND THERE IS A BIT OF CLOTH INSIDE...

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