The Legend of the Bent Organ Pipes

About the Book

Deep inside the Organ Mountains located in New Mexico, a treasure of gold and silver has remained hidden for hundreds of years. A Spanish soldier divulged the location of this cache as he died in the arms of the local padre, who scribbled the information on a scrap of paper. This fragment of yellowed paper remained obscured, lodged between pages of a prayer book at a monastery over many decades. The elusive information—the subject of enduring folklore, rumors, and gossip—gradually became known as the Legend of the Bent Organ Pipes, a formation of vertical columns of granite in the Organ Mountains. Then, in the 1940s, this obscure paper is discovered by a German priest who is serving at the monastery. He requests that the information be inscribed on a pewter medallion and cut into five pieces to ensure secrecy. Alas, a former German Panzer Tank commander, Colonel Helmut Schmidt, alias Red Fox, and the nemesis of detectives Sam Hames and Howie Newbald, learns about the legend. Determined to be the first to find the treasure, he entices two of his former soldiers to assist him. He thinks the five separate pieces of the medallion may now be located in Indiana, but where exactly? Sheriff Neverfine, chief law officer in Gurant County, Indiana, becomes involved. He directs detectives, Sam and Howie, to investigate the legend and nab the crafty Red Fox. Who will be the first to locate the five pieces of the medallion, follow the directions, and find the treasure? You will have to read every chapter to find out.

About the Author

The author, George S. Haines, reared on a working farm in North Central Indiana, learned at an early age the values of hard work, discipline, and conservation of natural resources. Haines graduated from Purdue University with BS and MS degrees. He earned his doctorate at George Peabody College for Teachers, now a college at Vanderbilt University. He taught students from the seventh grade through adults. At Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, he served as professor of education and director of teacher education during a seventeen-year tenure. He lives in Fort Myers, Florida. The artist, Betty Wedeles, has taught beginning and advanced art classes during her career. Her knowledge and application of color, harmony, value, measurement and composition are evident in her many professional works. She is involved in wood carving, clay sculpturing and china painting. Her artistic endeavors reflect her respect for wildlife and its habitat. She lives in Ft. Myers, Florida.