"Maybe he didn't have time. Maybe the article is self-explanatory. Here, let me pump the gas lantern for a bit more light."

Under a bannerline that stated, "MacArthur's Gold Request Questioned," the news clipping read:

New York City (WWNF)— An Army officer in the War Department during World War II said Wednesday that General MacArthur tried to raise $500,000 in gold to pay for guerilla operations in the Philippines and apparently got the money from then Philippines President Manuel Quezon —only to have the precious cargo disappear during shipment.

Retired Lt. Col. Milt Hokings disputed the account of Dr. Jose´ Miguel who has stated he saw an executive order signed by Quezon authorizing the transfer of funds as a "gesture of gratitude for past services of the general and his staff."

Hokings said that as a Major in communications during the early months of 1942, he saw several decoded messages concerning the exchange. "After MacArthur was told a credit had been established at the bank, he answered, 'Damn it, I didn't ask for credit, I asked for gold!' Apparently he wanted it for guerilla operations."

Continuing on, Hokings added, "If I remember correctly, the gold transfer did take place, or a least the Army did pick up a half million in gold bars, yet MacArthur complained to me that he had not received the shipment."

While Jenny read on to herself in silence, Jed slipped another log onto the fire and watched flames of orange and gold lick across the clean surface of a freshly split, but well seasoned, fir bolt. He supposed it was true that firewood like oak and hickory were more efficient as fuel, but the snap, crackle, and pop of occasional pockets of fir pitch exploding provided the warm feelings of security and home.

Because of this mood, Jed paraded across the room, wearing a blanket, Indian style, and using a home-made chair as if a ladder, reached up and opened the sliding cover of a hiding place built into the top of beam, a log that had been squared with an old fashioned toe-adze. He answered Jenny's questioning look by explaining, "My grandfather built a stash to hide the gold he panned, so I felt this spot rather appropriate. Since you seen to know everything that has happened, maybe you would like to see the gold bar I found?"

Jenny took the old-fashioned elk hide 'poke' bag from his hands, nearly dropping it on account of the unexpected weight, just as a loud knocking thundered upon the top half of the heavy wooden pegged dutch door.