Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-09-18
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IN the event of their being detected in do
ing so, or my doing so. Ia forfeit the sum
Of fl,0oO. and in accordance with this
agreement have, in proper legal form,
lodged the said sum with the bankers OF
Thomas Gayling, the lessor. as a guaran-
tee of my good faith
''But for thit clause went on the
agent, a. finished reading it with some
letting the house.
Pray, is the owner out of his mind ?"
! asked in "A minute.
mot that am aware of. sir he is very
pleasant. atlable gentleman. Mr.. Gayling
q, only as say, little rum on some
points nothing viii induce him to strike out
that clause, for instance. Lor' bless you.
SIR, parties never entertain il for mo
ment when they come to that part Of the
business, they drop it like hot potato.
"Hnmp.' said | again. ''it's queer,
certainly. but don't see why one should
not acquiesce. il doesn't matter IA rap to
ine what's inside the chest. should never
want 10 NEEDLE with or disturb it, and I'd
take very good care that no one else did !;
would paddock the trap-door on the
roof. and that would settle that. Al," |
continued. alter walking round the struc-
ture and looking 'about a bit-"Ah. | see /:
precautions have been taken to prevent
any access to this roof from others on
either side, by this iron ciu rour de tJisc /:
yes. no one can get over this. Well, it's
an odd freak, but am not going to be
baked by il. I'll think about it, Mr..
Crumble.''
And the result of my thinking was that
l signed the agreement two days after
wards, having conformed to this peculiar
stipulation regarding the deposit. ! bad
no fear Of losing the thousand pounds !;
the interest on it was mere addition to
the rent, and the house was so exactly
what wanted that it would even then be
cheap to me, with my large family of
motherless children.
Nevertheless, do not DENY TIA. after
all was signed, sealed and settled. | was
conscious of lurking curiosity and sus.
picion regarding that mysterious erection.
What could it be' What could it con-
tam was constantly saying to my elf.
what strange freak could possess the man
TO take such strong measures 10 guard
against any penetration into the secret
measures. by the by which in themselves
were rather calculated to provoke invest-
CATION. to draw attention to the very thing
he wished one TO overlook? Was Mr.,
Gayling miser. boarding up some I'M
known treasures in this strange fashion
Probably that was it. Well. il il was, it
was no business of mine after all My
parliament duties would be too ur-
gent, hoped, TO let me dwell upon much
else, SO would dismiss it, and beyond
putting a paddock on the trap-door of the
roof as threatened, took no measure to
prevent any of my household indulging in
speculations. at least would not direct
attention to the matter rs Mr.. Gaylingdid
and contented my family and domestics
by saying that didn't consider il safe for
people to go on the roof.
Now, in spite of my resolution, found
myselfperpetually recurring tu the strange
chest. For the sake of quiet and air, had
appropriated the two large back and front
rooms at the top of the house for my bed
room and study, and thus slept every night
just beneath the white chest.
Continued Tomorrow