The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-03-01
THE SECRET OF THE WHITE CHEST.

II was Just the house l wanted. In
size and situation 1t suited me exactly,
as the phrase goes, literally down to the
ground. Facing Hyde Park, and
placed Uack from the high road, with
nothing In front of it but the broad
strip of garden belonging TO the terrace
In which 1t stood, and the open stretch
Of turf and trees, II was the very abode
for a London season. Its rent, too,
was extremely moderate; II was In
sound repair; drainage without flaw;
| fixtures, furniture and decorations in
the best taste; the owner only desiring
to let it occasionally, because lie went
away from town each spring. Why
then did hesitate to take 1t? Why
did everybody hesitate to take IL? For
the last seven years aud more it had
never been let. All the house agents
at West End had had it in hand one
after another. The terms had been re.
duced each season that it came into the
market, and still there was no finding
tenant for 1t. Everybody who went
over the house was charmed with 1t.
The entrance being in the rear, all the
best rooms had a delightful southern
on their first visit Of inspection, every
body grew more delighted the higher
they got. The apartments increasing
in chperfulncss, If not in size, the out
look from the windows became more
extensive and aiiy, while, when one
reached the top story. and assembled by
narrow stair onto a loaded Hat roof.
with a high baluStIade running round
it, the view was, as the house agent ex
pressed it, quite unique"
Nevertheless, everybody having
reached the roof, and having looked
round for minute or two, descended
with firm determination not to take
the hous... Now what was the reason?
1t was not haunted, no ghosts had ever
been seen, or mysterious noises heard
such things were never hinted at.
Theirs was nothing about it in appear.
ance like the gloomy forbidding man-
sion in Severn Square, concerning which
so many queer stories are told, and
which, like the house in question, no
one will take. No, it was the very re-
verse, in all respects, of that long (and
stiIl) untpnantpd abode. | had heard
the rumOrs about the Hyde Park house
often when had been in london, and
my curiosity had always been piqued, 80
that now, when wanted just such a
house for the season, l determined to
go and look at it for myself
Finding all satisfactory, and just as
/ expected from b0ttt M to top, was
stepping out on the roof with Mr.. Crum
bic, the agent, and was saying to him:
"Well. can't conceive why people
won't live here" when my eye fell
upon curious object erected upon the
leads at the rear aud surrounded by a
high railing. ltlooked like huge sky
light OI glass lantern, about ten feet
long, three high aud three broad. But
instead of forming light for a stair
case or room beneath, it seemed to have
been built for the purpose of covering
another curious object, which occupy
ing nearly the whole of the spaeeunder
the glass, was plainly visible through
it. This was a long white box, resenib-
ling a seamen's chest more than any
thing, only much larger. 1t rested up
on four legs or feet, which raised it
about foot from the fiat surface of the
roof. 1t was painted creamy white
and varnished. and, apparently not be
ing intended to open, any more than
its glass covering, had no hinges Ur
lock to its top or lid.
"What the deuce is that?" said / to
Mr. CTumble.
"Ab!" replied the functionary with
an odd expression in his face, chats it,
sir!"
whats it, pray?"
"Why, the secret, SIR"
"Its secret? how is 1t secret?
what do you mean?
"Well, sir, what It is, what it's
meant for, what's inside of it,"
Don't you know"
"No, sir"
Doesn't anyone know"
~ suppose somebody does, sir, but
we don't; We are forbidden to inquire,
or to attempt to find out; ii we knew
we should be able to let the house per
haps."
"How long has it been there?"
"a long while believe, sir-ten OF
twelve years. Before my time
"But who put it up?"
"Well, Mr.. Gayling, we suppose
!
first appeared there"
But the servants" l protested,
"they must know"
!Nhl have heard there were none
in the house at the time: they were al
dismissed Just before it was put up
Mr. Gayling never keeps many servant;
sometimes he has only one, sometime;
none. Nobody lives in the housC
wnen he's away; but he always leave,
the keys with us. lie is always chang
ing his servants, Mr.. Gayling is; have
Citen heard him say that he likes new
OrOOms"
"What is he or what was hep"
"a gentleman in the naval line,
believe; sir: they are rather rum 'uns
I'm t.
"IIumphl" said, "very odd. Blu
do you mean to tell me that nobody
will live here because they don't know
what's in that box?"
That is partly the reason, sir"
Absurd" l vas going on when the
man continued
"3ut here's clause In the agree
ment about 1t; that's what does it,
sir"
"Explain," said.
"Well. sir, here is the clause" ant
he produced the document; peThap;
you would like to read it yourseli?"
Thus il ran;
"And Ia taking the house, at the
rental, and for the term specified a,
above, hereby solemnly pledge my
oath never directly, or indirect ly
through my own agency. or that Of
others. To attempt 10 NEEDLE With, OF
disturb the white chest under the glass
case of the roof, or to seek In any way
to discover for What purpose II has beer
placed there, OF what it contains; ant
further guaranty that no person IL
/ my employ, nor anyone entering The
house during my tenancy thereof, shal
make any such attempt, and hereby
undertake that in the event OF their be
ing detected in doing 50, or OF my doinl
SO, to forfeit the sum OF one Thousand
pounds. and in accordance with th
agreement have, in proper legal form
lodged the said sum with the bankers o
Thomas Gayling ESQ, the lessor as ,