The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-01-23
THE WHITE CHEST.

IHE WHITE CHESf.
1t was Just the house 1 wanted. In
size and situation it suited me exactly,
as the phrase goes, literally down to the
ground. Its rent, too, was extremely
moderate. Why then did hesitate to
take it? Why did everybody hesitate
to take it7 For the last seven years or
more it had never been let. All the
house agents at the West End had had
it in hand one after another. The terms
had been reduced each season that it
came into the market, and still. there
was no finding q tenant for it. Every
body who went over the house was
charmed with it. Nevertheless, every
body having reached the roof, and hav-
ing looked round for minute or two,
descended with firm determination not
to take the house. Now, what was the
reason? 1t was not haunted, no ghosts
had ever been seen, or mysterious noises
heard-such things were never even
limited at. / had heard the rumors
about the house often, and my curiosity
had always been piqued, SO that now,
when 1 wanted just such house for the
season, / determined to go and look at
it for myself.
Finding all satisfactory, aad just as ]
expected from top to bottom, ] was
stepping out on to the roof with Mr..
Crumble, agent, and was saying to him:
"Well, I can't conceive why people
won't live here" when my eye fell upon
a curious object erected upon the leads
at the rear, and surrounded by high
railing. 1t looked like a huge sky
light or glass lantern, about ten feet
long, three high, and 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 space under
the glass, was plainly visible through it.
This was long white box, resembling
seaman's chest more than anything,
only much larger. 1t rested upon four
legs or feet, which raised it about foot
from the fiat surface of the roof. 1t
was creamy white and vanished, and,
apparently not being intended to open,
any more than its glass covering, had
no hinges or lock to its top or lid.
What the deuce is that?' said l to
Mr.. Crumble.
"AhP' replied that functionary, with
an odd expression in his face, that's it,
STRIP
whats it, prayf'
"Why, the secret, sir."
The secret? how is it secret what
do you meanf'
"Well, sir, what is it, what it's meant
for, what's inside of it."
"Don't you know3"
"No, SIR"
"Doesn't anyone know?"
az suppose somebody does, but we
don't; we are forbidden to inquire, or
to attempt to find out; if we knew, we
should be able to let the house, per-
haps."
"How long has it been theref'
"a long while, I believe, sir-ten or
twelve years. Before my time"
"But who put it up~
Well, Mr.. Gayling, we suppose; no.
body seems to know exactly when it
first appeared there"
"But the servants" 1 protested,
they must know"
"Ohl l have heard there were none
in the house at the time; they were all
dismissed Just before it was put up.
Mr.. Gayling never keeps many servants,
sometimes he has only one, sometimes
none. Nobody lives in the house when
he's away, but he always leaves the
keys with us. He is always changing
his servants, Mr.. Gayling is; / have
often heard him say that he likes new
brooms.'
What is he, or what was he?"
A gentleman in the naval line.
believe, sir; they are rather rum 'uns,
Pm told"
"Humphr I said, Every odd. But
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" | was going on, when the
man continued:
"But there's clause in the agree
ment about it; that's what does it, SIR"
Explain 1 said.
"Well, sir, here is the clause" and
he produced the document, "perhaps
you would like to read it yourself~
Thus it ran:
"And in taking the house, at the
rental, and for the term specified as
above, 1 hereby solemnly pledge my
oath never directly, or indirectly,
through my own agency, or that OF
others, to attempt to meddle with, to
disturb tho white chest under the glass
case on the roof, or to seek in any way
to discover for what purpose it has been
placed there, or what it contains; and
/ further guarantee that no person in
my employ, nor anyone entering the
house during my tenancy thereof, shall
make any such attempt, and hereby
undertake that in the event of their
being detected in doing so, or of my
doing so, to forfeit the sum of five thou.
sand dollars, and in accordance with
this agreement have, in proper legal
form, lodged the said sum with the
bankers of Thomas Gayling, ESQ.,, the
lessor, as guarantee of my good faith
But for that clause" went on the
agent, as | finished reading it, witt
some surprise, "we should have NJ
difficulty in letting the house"
This strange prohibition excited my
curiosity and set me to thinking; ant
the result of my thinking was, that
signed the agreement two days after
wards, having conformed to the pecu
liar stipulation regarding the deposit