Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-08-19
here because they don't know what's in that

That IS partly tne reason, Sir.
>"Absurd" I was going on, when the ma
continued:
"But there's clause in the agreemer
about it; that's what does it, sir"
explain" 1 said"
"Well, sir, here is the clause" and he pre-
duced the document; "perhaps you woul
like to read it yourself?'
Thus it ran:
"And in taking the house, at the renta
and for the term specified as above, hereb
solemnly pledge my oath never directly, o
indirectly, through my own agency, or tina
of Others, to attempt to meddle with, to dis
turb the white chest under the glass case Q
the roof, or to seek in any way to discover TO
what purpose it has been placed there, o
what it contains; and further guarante
that no person in my employ, nor any one en-
tering the house during my tenancy thereof
shall make any such attempt, and hereb.
undertake that in the event of their beinI
detected in doing so, or of my doing so, to tor
felt the sum of one thousand pounds, and IL
accordance with this agreement have, in prop
er legal form, lodged the said sum with tn
bankers of Thomas Gayling, Esq, the lessor
as guaranty of my good faith"
"But for that clause" went on the agent, a
I finished reading it with some surprise, CIV
should have no difficulty in letting the house.
"Pray is the owner out Of his mind?'
asked in minute.
"Not that am aware of, sir; he is yer.
pleasant, affable gentlemen, Mr.. Gayling is
only, as say little rum Oh some points
nothing will induce him to strike out tina
clause, for instance Lord bless you, sir, par
ties never entertain it for moment; wher
they come to that part of the business, they
drop it like 8 hot potato"
"Humph!" said I again. "It's queer, Ger
tainly, but don't see why one shouldn't &C
quiesce it doesn't matter rap to me what
inside the chest, Ishould never want to NEEDLE
with or disturb it, and I'D take very gooc
care no one else did. 1 would paddock thu
trap-door on to the roof, and that would
settle it. Ahw I continued, after walking
round the structure and looking about me s
bit-"ah | see precautions have been taker
to prevent any access to this roof from Others
on either side, by this iron cheval-de-frise
yes, no one can get over this. Well, it's ar
odd freak, but am not sure that | am going
to be baked by it; I'll think about it, MIR
Crumble"
And the result of my thinking was, that
signed the agreement two days afterward
having couformed to the peculiar stipulation
regarding the deposit. I had no fear Of losing
the thousand pounds; the interest on it was
a mere addition of 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.o
Nevertheless, do not deny, that after all
was signed, sealed and settled, I was con
scious of lurking curiosity and suspicion
regarding that mysterious erection. What
strange freak could possess the man to take
such strong measures to guard against. any
penetration into the secret-measures, by.
the-bye, which in themselves were rather cal
culated to provoke investigation, to draw
attention to the very thing he wished one to
overlook? Was Mr.. Gayling miser, hoard
ing up some unknown treasures in this strange
fashion? Probably that was it. Well, if it
was, it was no business Of mine after all
My parliamentary duties would be too ur'
gent, | hoped, to let me dwell upon much
else, 50 I would dismiss it, and beyond put
ting the paddock on the trap.door of the roof
as threatened, took no measures to prevent
any of my household indulging in specula'
tions. | at least would not direct attention
to the matter, as Mr.. Gayling did, and con
tented my family and domes!ics by saying
that didn't consider it safe for people to &C
on the roof.
Now, in spite of my resolution, found
myself perpetually recurring to the strange
chest. For the sake of quiet and air, bad
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.
Before had been in the house month
it began to act as nightmare on me, an in
cubus could not shake off. I was oppressed
and depressed by it, in way. quite unac
countable. was puzzled at myself; | could
not have believed four weeks before that
should ever have become so affected by such
contemplate restlessness, disquiet and dis
trust These feelings at last reached such 9
pitch that finally changed my bedroom.
would not sleep any longer directly under
meath this accursed fabric.
Another month passed, during which, more
than once, was tempted to 60 secretly on tc
the roof and look at the thing again. There
was no harm in that that was not forbidden
in the bond, and l need hardly say, I saw
nothing to provoke any new comment
About week after my last visit to the
roof q lenpthy debate kent me late at the
House of Commons, and walking home fol
the sake of fresh air, l found the midsum
mer dawn breaking, as | struck into Park
Lane Reaching Oxford street l was start
led by observing in the western sky strong
light, not due to reflected sunrise. At the
moment l saw it fire engine passed me al
full speed, and presently the first sign o.
the commotion, which conAagration cause:
in the streets became evident. No man un
dergoes this experience, when he has beer
away from home many hours, and sees the
red glare rising in the direction Of his OWL
house, without pang of anxiety, if not ter
ror. How well-founded this sensation il
the present case was made evident ere
had walked another two hundred yards yes
merciful powers it was my house that wa
on fire!
l can scarcely record what followed.
only know that somehow found myself il
the midst of the police and fremen. Tha
I explained to the superintendent who
was, and that under his escort soon ascer
tanned that all the inmates of my house, my
children, their governess, and the servants
were in safety, and had been taken into {
neighbor's at the rear; that as soon as
found this to be the case, l, accompanied still
by the superintendent. mounted to the top o
an adjacent residence, whence the iremel
were directing the hose upon the flames.