Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-03-25
"But Mrs. Burleigh, how did that rascal

"But Mrs. Burleigh, how did that rascal
know it?"
"That cannot tell. Mr.. Chesney left
the mansion In his care for several weeks as
be is at the seashore, and he must have
discovered it during his absence"
"Well, we will keep it secret until Mr..
Chesney comes, and he will explain m It.
ters."
On the next day Mr.. Chesney arrived st
the Bureigh hotel. 1t was batter tn an go
ing TO tie Hall, for if he had gone there
first he would have been surprised to know
that the supposed-to-be honest man in whose
care he had intrusted his mansion was now
in jail? And it was also better that he did
not know it just yet.
Mrs, ,,Burleigh gave him hearty well
come, nevertheless shs felt rather awkward
behind that mystery.
"Mr. Chesney, the most mysterious Incl
dent occurred during your absence, Miss
Lillian Arlington; Che looked rather confus.
ed at the mention of her name) one of nv
guests went out walking last evening" ("
went on Mrs. Burleigh. "And,sh wander
ed farther than she intended, and as she
came to your mansion she saw a man on
the piazza smoking cigar; she thought she
would ask him for conveyance back TO
London, probably be could take her. This
man invited her into the mansion till he
would see if arrangements could be made.
The man proved to be Mr.. Leighton in dis
guise, otherwise she would have known
him. She went in and everything seemed
so strange to her. She had not been there
long till he had her trapped in long tun
mel -"
Here she broke off, for such an expression
on Mr.. Chesney's face had never been seen
there before. Presently she began again -
"After threatening matrimony he left the
house, and after that she found her way
back to this house through long danger
Gus tunnel.
"Mr. Leighton was captured By detec.
tive whom Miss Lillian Arlington employed
and was taken up, and now remains in the
station house.
'1 will have to leave this house, Mr..
Chesney, it is not safe for me to stay. Tell
me what this means and why the tunnel
leads directly to this honse?"
After soon hesitation Mr.. Chesney said:
ITO give ycu a clear description of the
mysterious tunnel will have to commence
with my early life, go far as l can remem-
Der about it.
"When was quite young my mother
died, and it was not very long till my father
also passed away, leaving me an orphan.
''When my father died 1 was only six
years old. The great wealth that my faith
ar left me, his only son, was placed in the
hands of business men in London until
was old enough to take charge of it. At
sixteen | was made sole manager and pro.
prietor and have been ever since. The pa
pers and keys we're all handed over to me-
Amongst the keys was one with gold
ing attached to it that unlocks q little
irawer in my desk in my Office in which l
keep my money. Some way or other had
e500 stolen from this same drawer some
lime ago. When l went into my office found
,he key lying on the floor, and since Mr.. |
Leighton has turned out so, it strikes me
hat he was the rogue. Among the papers |
md books was one called 1.-THE Secret of |
he Subterranean Passage" and with much |
read it over and over again uu-
ii knew it all By memory. The book is |
7ery small, but it contained full descrip- |
iO1 of the secret passage which you have |
eferred to in regard to Miss Lillian Arling- |
on. AS you know, suppose, this hotel |
hen belonged to my father, and during bis |
I'D age he bad the passage secretly built. / |
hardly know why he went to so much ex-
,ense, for the tunuel ceud never bring back |
he cost. Bot he had plenty of money, and |
he cost of the tunnel was not felt. The |
look read Ikea letter written to me individ |
tally, for was too young to have been told, |
when he died. He warned me to keep it |
ecret, and so far l have done so.
'Now l want you upon your honor to
'romise me that you will keep it secret as
ong as you live."
81 will do So"
81 will also get the detective to do the
anne and also Miss Arlington. l will now
% and settle with Mr.. Leighton"
"What will you do about him?''
II will agree to settle up the whole mat
er myself and Let it still be kept. And as
ar as the hotel is concerned, you can safely
tag here as long as you please provided |
'ou will keep the room that opens in the
'assage locked"
II will do that"
81 will not leave the Hall in charge of
nyone else when 60 away. have not
een it that passage since you rented the
otel. And it will not be known by anyone
xcept US four, even Mr.. Leighton could not
ave known all about it or be would not |
ave done what he did,"
'Mr. Cnesney, l have never seen the |
ubterranean passage yet, aud now let us
% over to Chesney Hall through the pas
age. What curious thing it isl
After while they started, but Miss Lii
ian Arlington had to go with them. Mr.. |
)hesney was so well pleased because she |
vas along. Thev we're talking of the time
7hen she, Miss Lillian, would, indeed, be |
J ChesDey Hall, not to stay all night as
lr. Leighton had intended bat for all time.
Mr.. ChesDey explained to them that the
losets at both ends were made alike and
hat thay vera never noticed more than an
rdinary closet. He also told Mrs. Bur-
aigh that the passage entrances would
he kept closed.
In short time marriage was announc-
d between Mr.. Herbert Chesney and Miss
lillian Arlington. and the marriage was to
e at Cnesney Hall. Never was such time
cen there for many years. Mrs. Burleigh
cd Bonson Ferret, the detective, were the
invited.
Ths secret subterranean passage has new
r been known to the people.
Mr.. Cbesney and wife are very happy in
heir home, and thiok there is no better
lace ,han Chesuey Hall, and only when
he goes in Mr.. Chesney's Office does she
i've a thought to the once unhappy time of
er life as she remembers her lonely jour-
ey through the subterransan passage. But
be is perfectly safe in the hands of Mr..
'hesney now.
Mr. Leighton ia now suffering his punish
lent to the fullest extent of the law. We
ope il be ever gsts ont again he will bs
much improved.
A FORCIBLE REMINDER.-A wife recent
= gave her husband sealed letter, begging