Post on 08-Mar-2016
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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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