Someone is nearly $1,000 richer today.

But who is that person?That's what an Aquashicola couple is wondering after they discovered a 49-year-old U.S. savings bond stuck inside an old bedroom dresser they purchased at a Tamaqua second-hand thrift store."We'd like the bond to go to its rightful owner," says Ted Naratil, "but we're not sure who that would be."Naratil is an employee of Pencor Services, Inc., Palmerton, where he's worked as a Computer Patrol technician with PenTeleData for the past seven years.The unusual turn of events for Naratil began several weeks ago when he and his wife, the former Vanessa Pierce of Slatington, bought an oversized 1960s-style low dresser while shopping at Life's Second Hand Treasures Thrift Store.The high-turnover business is located at the rear of 217 S. Center St. inside the Mohn Building, a site which, for many years, served as the Tamaqua Community Center.Ted says the trip to the Schuylkill County store was done with one thing in mind looking for items to complete some renovations at the cozy Aquashicola home, which he and Vanessa have been working on for the past four years."We're redoing our bathroom and were looking for a piece that we could put a sink on top and turn into a custom vanity," he explains.Inside the shop, they spotted an extra-large dresser with spacious drawers. Vanessa figured it would fit inside their sizable bath and be perfect for adaptive re-use. The couple intends to install an antique-style, porcelain basin atop the dresser and make use of the unit's drawers."We wanted it for storage," says Vanessa, recently retired from a career in health care.She says the dresser remained on the back porch of their turn-of-the-century Mill Street residence until two days ago.That's when Vanessa decided to remove the drawers and begin refinishing them in order to mask the original Mid-Century Modern blond wood finish.When she turned one drawer upside down, a paper liner fell out along with a vintage envelope containing a $100 U.S. savings bond from Sept. 3, 1964.The Series E bond apparently was purchased by or for a Mr. Roy L. Lorah, R.D. 2, Tamaqua, or a Mrs. Sara Fay. Both names are listed on the instrument.According to research, the bond was bought for $75. However, it has since accrued interest of $855.44, reflecting a current total redeemable value of $930.44. But where is the owner?Ted did some fast research and discovered an obituary for a Roy Lorah in the Tamaqua area who'd passed away in 1990 at age 60. He had been a crane operator at Parish Steel, Reading."According to what I found, he was a Korean War veteran," says Ted. "But I don't really know if that's the one we're looking for."And that's just one of many questions regarding the found bond.Naratil grew up in Palmerton, his wife, Slatington. Neither is familiar with families in the Tamaqua area.However, they'd like to turn the bond over to the appropriate party and they're asking for help.Both said they'd find a sense of comfort in knowing they'd done the right thing and perhaps, play a role in giving someone the valuable bond after it had been lost for decades."My first thought was to find the rightful owner," says Vanessa.Ted agrees, noting that his philosophy is to always try and do what is right."I wouldn't want to keep it and I don't want anything I didn't earn," he says.Seeing an "antique" bond from 1964 was a novelty for the Naratils as both were born in the 1980s.Workers at Life's Second Hand Treasures said Tuesday that, occasionally, things are found inside donated clothing or furniture."Things like that do happen every once in a while," said a store employee.Workers at the thrift store said the place moves items quickly. There is neither time nor staffing to fully scrutinize every piece that comes through the door. For that reason, it's not unusual for someone to make a surprise find.Life's Second Hand Treasures is operated by Access Services, a nonprofit organization that serves each month over 500 clients with special needs in the local community. The store's proceeds help fund programs throughout Schuylkill, Carbon and Berks counties.Access Services operates the store by accepting donations for the thrift shop daily and selling items at deeply discounted prices.As for savings bonds, the U. S. Treasury indicates that bonds are a registered security and ownership is nontransferable.In addition, lost, misplaced and unclaimed savings bonds are not as uncommon as one might think.The Bureau of Public Debt points out that there are an estimated $14 billion worth of unclaimed savings bonds languishing in government coffers.Anyone with helpful information regarding the disposition of the U.S. savings bond found by the Aquashicola couple can contact the Naratils through this newspaper by emailing

dserfass@tnonline.com.