Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-31

low the window when lit the lamp. Is he
likely to prove friend6"
"Ah! was wondering" said Mr.. Carter.
"He has the character of being an excellent
and shrewd young fellow. But i fear, he
went on, ''that even if he had his uncle's
/ financial genius, he would find it no easy
matter to" He stopped abruptly, foI
at this moment Westcott came in. The
change in his appearance, now that the
rough costume was gone, was remarkable.
Mr.. Carter scarcely recognized him; there
was little of the sailor even in his face, and
nothing in his manner. He had all the
style Of refined gentleman. The merchant
rose from his chair and formally presented
him.
Had she seen him, thought Westcott,
when standing in the square below the win.
| dows? There was something in her look,
something in her very attitude toward him,
| which made him doubt if he was an entire
| stranger He had recognized her; and he
! had conjectured, while in conversation with
| the merchant, that the beautiful H'vision" at
| the Golden Lamp could be no other than
| Marian Carter. But he had no time for
more than this passing reflection. The din
ner was announced; the folding doors were
thrown open, and they passed through and
| took their seats at the table.
glance was the old lamp. Marian's look
followed his. She smilingly asked him:
"Do you remember it?"
''No; had forgotten the house." said he
81 was seldom here"
"Ah! 1t is strange you should have for
| gotten that lamp" said Marian.
$50 1 am thinking" Westcott replied.
''The workmanship is exquisite. But" he
added, SIS it not lantern?"
at can be used as such. 1t is called the
Golden Lamp. 1t was called so long be-
fore was born. 1t belonged, as you may
have guessed, to Mr.. Girdlestone. He
used to call it mine. 1t has stood where it
now stands, believe, for nearly hundred
years. But the lantern" said the girl,
lean easily be detached; it hangs from a
hook, as you see, under the dome L have
forbidden any one to touch it. I trim and
'No wonder" replied Westcott gal
lantly, "That it burns so lightly"
'Not for the world" Marian went on,
sacred duty"
Westcott could not suppress smile
"What reason can you have, Miss Carter" )"
said he, ''for being such conscientious
lamplighter?''
Marian looked serious. 'It was Mr..
Girdlestone's wish," said Marian, with
glance toward her father; and receiving no
look of disapproval, she added: Gas long
as the lamp is lighted-it was sort of su-
perstition with him-luck will not leave
the house"
As soon as the two men were alone over
their wine-though they could see and
hear Marian at the piano, forthe folding
doors stood open-JOhn Westcott turned
to Mr.. Carter and said: 'There is some
thing about that lamp-and 1 hope you
will not think me too inquisitive-
which interests me. May look at it more
closely?"
The merchant readily acquiesced; and the
young man, stepping across the room, bent
over the lamp; and had not his back been
turned to Mr.. Carter, the expression of
keen excitement which came over his face
might have puzzled him. Seating himself
once more opposite to his host, after a
somewhat lengthy examination of the lamp,
Westcott said: '"There is a large key, OBJ
serve, hanging behind the lantern. Is there
any tradition attached to that?'
81 cannot tell you," said Mr.. Garter.
"No one knows"
"Do you mean, sir, that it fits no lock?"
A slight smile crossed the merchant face
said he. 81 need scarcely tell you, John,
that Marian has tried every keyhole in the
house. She has not solved the mystery"
"Have you no theory, Mr.. Carter, con-
cerning that key?"
"None."
''Has it never occurred to you that it
might have been the key" said Westcott,
''to my uncle's financial genius?"
"Ah! that is shrewd remark" said Mr..
Carter, thoughtfully- 'But let me tell
you," he added, something about that
strange man. 1t will interest you. No one,
unless it was his Indian servant, knew Mr..
Girdlestone more intimately than did,
That eager expression again passed over
Westcott's face, but it escaped Mr. Carter's
notice. After short pause he began; and
the low sound of music in the adjoining
room added to the earnest tone of his voice.
Through long life, John, your uncle
had lived alone in his old house-alone |
with his Indian. During office hours he |
often occupied his room down stairs-the |
room in which that fine portrait hangs; but
he received no visitors there. All matters |
of business were arranged in my room-in |
the room, at least, which became mine when |
was taken into partnership There, in his |
magic way, he settled questions of finance.
No one was ever allowed to pass beyond the |
staircase. Even Marian. to whom he was |
greatly attached, never visited the upper |
stories except when Mr.. Girdlestone took |
her to look at this lamp. A 6 o'clock every |
evening the great hall door was bolted be- |
hind us-that is, myself and the clerks-by |
the native servant; and never, under any cir |
cumstance, was it opened until the next |
morning"
"An odd character" said Westcott in an
undertone.
''This eccentricity led to all sorts of |
rumors. 1t was generally believed that Mr.. |
Girdlestone was man of great wealth; and |
his excessive caution and secret WAYS sug-
gested a boarding disposition. 1t was |
thought that his gold was stored in heaps in |
the garrets. i often heard these tales. But |
have since convinced myself that these
rumors were unfounded.
''You discovered nothing?"
'I will tell you," said Mr. Carter, ''ex-
actly what happened. During the wears
that served Mr. Girdlestone-more than
90 in ALL never knew him to be
absent for one day from his desk.
There were times when he remained in
the counting-house only an hour or two:
those were what 1 called his restless days;
for could hear him pacing his room, which
is just above the Office with a peculiar
tread which L have never forgotten. 1t
was the only exercise he took, and it always
foreboded some new and frequently gigantic
financial scheme. I sometimes fancy, when
1 am very busy, that L can still hear him
walking up and down"
Westcott looked about him. 'In this
room?" he inteiposed. ''You believe it was
here?"
$50 it sounded to me" was Mr.. Carter's
reply. 'But it is strange old house; and
I have somefimes Thought - he oddad !