Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-08-19
The Sturw Teller.
THE SECRET OF THE WHITE CHEST.

1t was just the house wanted. In size
and situation it suited me exactly, as the
phrase goes, literally down to the ground.
Facing Hyde Park, and placed back from the
high road, with nothing in front of it but the
broad strip of garden belonging to the terrace,
in which it stood, and the open stretch of turf
and trees, it was the very best abode for a
London season. Its rent, too, was extremely
moderate it was in sound repair; drainage
without flaw; fixtures, furniture and deco
rations in the best taste; the owner only de-
string to let it occasionally, because he went
away from town each Spring. Why, then,
did hesitate to take it? Why did everybody
hesitate to take it? For the last seven years
and 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 mar
ket, and still there was no finding tenant
for it. Everybody who went over the house
was charmed with it, The entrance being in
the rear, all the best rooms had delightful
southern aspect and going up from floor to
floor on their first visit Of inspection, every
body grew more delighted the higher they got
The apartments increased in cheertulness, If
not in size, the outlook from the windows be-
came more extensive and airy, while, when
one reached the top story, and assembled by a
narrow stair on to loaded fiat roof, with
high balustrade running round it, the view
was, as the house agent expressed it, "qulte
unique"
Nevertheless, everybody having reached
the roof, and having looked round for a min
ute or two, descended with firm determine
ton 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 binted at.
There was nothing about it in appearance like
the gloomy forbidding mansion in Severn
Square, concerning which so many queer sto-
ries are told, and which, like the house in
question, no one will take. No, it was the
very reverse, in all respects, of the long (and
stilD untenanted abode. | had heard the ru-
mors about the Hyde Park house often, when
l had been in London, and my curiosity had
always been piqued, 80 that now, when want
ed Just such house for the season, deter
mined to go and look at it for myself.
Finding all satisfactory and just as | eX-
pected, from bottom to top, was stepping out
on the roof with Mr.. Crumble, the agent, and
was saying to him:
"Well, can't conceive why people won't
live here" when my eyes fell upon curious
object upon the leads at the rear, and sur
rounded by high railing. 1t looked like a
huge sky light or glass lantern, about ten feet
long, three high and three broad. But in.
stead of forming light for stair case or
room beneath, it seemed to have been built
for the purpose of covering another curious
object, which, occupying nearly the whole of
the space under the glass, was plainly visible
through it. This was long white box, re,
sembing seaman's chest more than anything,
only much larger. 1t rested upon four legs,
or feet, which raised it about foot from the
flat surface of the roof 1t was painted a
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 1 to Mr.
Crumble.
"Ah" replied that functionary, with an
odd expression in his face, "thats it, sir?'
"What's it, pray ?"
"Why, the secret, sir"
"The secret? How is it 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 any one know?'
81 suppose somebody does, sir, but we do
not we are forbidden to inquire, or to at
tempt to find out if we knew we should be
able to let the house, perhaps
"How long has it been there?'
"a long while l believe sir-ten or twelve
years. Before my time"
"But who put it up?'
"Well, Mr.. Gayling, we suppose; nobody
seems to know exactly when it first appeared
there"
But the servants" protested, "they must
know"
"Oh! l have heard there were none in the
house at the time; they we're all dismissed
just before it was put up. Mr.. Gayling new
er keeps many servants sometimes he ha:
only one. sometimes none. Nobody lives in
the house when he's away but he Away:
leaves the keys with U.s. He is alway;
changing his servants, Mr.. Gayling is;
have often heard him say that he likes new