Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-03-06

Stance. Lor Dless you: sir, parties
never entertain it for moment when
they come to that part of the business
they drop it like a hot potato
'Humph = said l again, 'it's queer
certainly, but don't see why one
shouldn't acquiesce; it doesn't mat.
ter q rap to me what's inside the
chest, / should never want to meddle
with or disturb it, and I'd take very
good care no one else did / would
paddock the trap-door on to the roof,
and that would settle that. Abr I
continued, after walking round the
structure and looking about me bit
-'ah! l see; precautions have been
taken to prevent any access to this
roof to others on either side, by this
iron chevaux-de-frise yes, no one can
get over this. Well, it's an odd freak,
but | am not sure that / am going to
be baked by it; I'll think about it,
Mr.. Crumble.'
And the result of my thinking was,
that | signed the agreement two days
-afterward, having conformed to the
peculiar stipulation regarding the de.
posit / had no fear Of losing the
thousand pounds; the interest on it
was mere addition of the rent, and
the house was so exactly what l
wanted that it would even then be
cheap to me, with my large family OF
motherless children.
Nevertheless / do not deny, that
after all was signed, sealed and set.
tied, | was conscious Of lurking Gu
rioslty and suspicion regarding that
mysterious erection. What could it
be? What could it contain? / was
constantly saying to myself. What
strange freak could possess the man
to take such strong measures to guard
against any penetration into the secret
measures, by-the-by, which in them
selves were rather calculated to pro-
woke investigation, to draw attention
to the very thing he wished one to
overlook? Was Mr.. Gayling niser,
boarding up some unknown treasures
IN this strange fashion =? Probably
that was it. Well, if it was, it was no
business of mine after all. NY par
liamentary duties would be too ur.
gent, | hoped, to let me dwell upon
much else, so / would dismiss it, and
beyond putting the paddock on the
trap-doOr of the roof as threatened, l
took no measures to prevent any of
my household INDUCING in specula-
tons. ! at least would not direct at
tention to the matter, as Mr.. Gayline
did, and contented my family and do
mestics by saying that didn't con-
slider it safe for people TO go on the
roof
Now, in spite Of my resolution, |
found myself rerpetually recurring to
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 bedroom and
study, and thus slept every night Just
beneath the white chest.
Before / had been in the house a
month, it began to act as a nightmare
on me, an incubus / could not shake
Oft. l was oppressed and depressed
by 1t, in way quite unaccountable.
was puzzled at myself; l could not
have believed four weeks before that
l should ever have become so affected
by such contemplate restlessness, dis
quiet and distrust. These feelings at
last reached such pitch that | finally
changed my bedroom. l would not
sleep any longer directly underneath
this accused mysterious fabric.
Another month passed, during which
more than once was tempted to 90
secretly on to the roof and look at the
thing again there was no harm IN
that, that was not forbidden in the
bond, and | need hardly say l saw
nothing to provoke any new comment.
About week after my last visit to
the roof, lengthy debate kept me
late at the House Of Commons and,
walking home for the sake of fresh
air, found the midsummer dawn
breaking as struck into Park Lane.
Reaching Oxford Street, l was star.
tied by observing in the western sky a
strong light, not due to reflected sun
rise. AT the moment saw it a fire
engine passed me at full speed, and
presently the first sign of the com.
motion which confagration causes
in the streets became evident. No
man undergoes this experience, when
he has been away from home many
hours, and sees the red glare rising in
the direction of his own house, with
out a pang of anxiety, if not of terror.
How well founded was this sensation
in the present case was made manifest
ere | had walked another two hundred
yards /; yes, merciful powers it was
my house that was on fire!
can scarcely record what followed:
/ only know that somehow | found
myself in the midst of the police and
firemen. That / explained to the
superintendent who l was, and that
under his escort | soon ascertained
that all the inmates of my house, my
children, their governess and the SER
wants, were in saietv, and had been
taken into neighbours at the rear ;
that as soon as found this to be the
case, |, accompanied still by the SUI.
perintendent, mounted to the top of
an adjacent residence, whence the
fremen were directing the hose upon
the flames.
Once on this vantage point my
mind reverted to the white chest.
Was it still there? Yes; the flames,
though bursting out from all the win.
dows OF the upper stories, back and
front, had not yet done more than
wrench and crack portions of the glass
case. For time it seemed as If this
would be the most that might happen.
The water seemed to be getting the
upper hand. and, as it fell in torrents
on the hot roof, such clouds of steam
were thrown up with the smoke as
would have completely hidden every
thing from view Init that onr nos;t;op