Most of us assume we are honest and live our lives with integrity. Although, we show our virtues not by words but actions. Living with truthfulness goes beyond following the law and expectations of society; it’s about doing the right thing even if no one is watching. The majority of folks may never know of their own honour and ethics because circumstances may not present themselves to prove it. Emil Knodell, however, demonstrated his worthiness when he discovered a treasure. The retired marketing director has a hobby of purchasing and collecting antiques. Knoll admits to living his life trying to always do the right thing. He knew he found the perfect gem when he spotted a dresser in a state sale. The estate executor who also happened to be the son of the man who died remembers the dresser from his own grandparents home.The dresser was initially being sold for $300. When there were no buyers, the price was slashed by 25% and when it was still not picked up by anyone, it was reduced by 50% on the third day of the sale.
He fell in love with the dresser “because it has a nice marble top, I hope to use it in my dining room.”
As soon as the two men began picking up the antique dresser they heard things moving inside. “Obviously, we were very intrigued with what was happening with the dresser,” recalls Allen. “There were rings, diamonds, gold, and all kinds of stuff. It was a real adrenaline rush. Both of us were in shock for a second.”
From the exterior, the dresser has three drawers with molding. At the bottom, however, a secret drawer is hidden. When Knodell opened it, he found currency, a lock of hair, military dog tags, and jewelry with emerald, and diamonds. The drawer also had Civil War memorabilia.
For the ex-Marine, it was an easy decision. “I bought the chest drawers. I didn’t buy those things. If I kept them, I would never feel right about it,” explains Knodell. “There would be a cloud over the whole thing. It’s a feeling more than anything else.”
