The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-08-19

they dunt have rural free delivery IU
Egypt Your cablcgram called me
home before got the letters Eut
thank God. Jack. you're aliye,'
There was real feeling IN these last
vo-ds. and / think We were all touched
by them.
Amen To that" cried Bates.
And nov. Pickering. before you 90
7 want 10 show you something. IJs
about this mysterious treasure that
has given you-and, ] hear. the whole
country side-sO much concern. I'm
disappointed in you, Jack that you
couldn't find the hiding place. I de-
signed that as n part ,of your srch--
tertural education. Bates, give me
chair
The man gravely drew chair out
of the wrcckaEe and placed IL upon
the hearth. My grandfather stepped
upon it. seized one Of the bronze
scenes above the mantel and gave IL
a sharp turn. AT the same moment.
Bates. upon another chair. Erasped
the companion bronze and wreuched Il
SHARPLY Instantly some mechanism
ereaked in the great oak chimney
breast and the long oak panels swung
open. disclosing Il steel door with
combination knob.
Gentlemen and my grandfather
turned with a quaint touch Of humor.
and = merry twinkle in his bright old
eyes, gentlemen. behold the treasury.
Ia has proved a better hiding place
than 1 ever imagined il would. There's
not much here. Jack. but enough TO
keep you going for while
Nc were aIl staring. and the old
gentleman was uufeiguedIy enjoying
our mystifc8tiOn II was an hour on
which he had evidently counted much:
it was the trium1h of his resurrection
and Homecoming. and he chuckled as
DE tWirled the knob .u the steel door.
Then Bates stepped forward and help
cd him pun the door open. disclosing
"a narrow steel chest. upright and held
in place by heavy bolts clamped in the
stone OF Tie chimney. IL was filled
with packets Of papers placed on
shelves. and tied neatly with tape
Jack" said my grandfather. shak-
ing his head you wouldn't be an
architect, and you're not much Of an
engineer either. or you'd have seen
that that paHeling was heavier than
was necessary. There's TWO hundred
thousand dollars in frst-raIe securi-
ties-I vouch Tor them, Bates and I
put them there just before 1 went to
Vermont 10 die"
I've sounded those panels a dozen
times. 1 protested.
or course you have" said my
-randfsther, but solid steel behind
wood is safe. 1 tested il carefully be
fore ] left"
lie laughed and clapped his knees.
and J laughed with him.
Put you found the Door OF Be
wilderment and Pickerlng's notes. and
that's something
NO; 7 didn't even find that Dono-
van deserves the credit But how did
you ever come TO build that tunnel.
II you d5nt mind telling me2''
lie laughed gleefuuy.
THAT was originally a trench for
natural gas pipes. There was once
Iarg pumping station on the site or
this house. with a big trunk main
running on across country 70 supply
the towns west OF here The gas was
exhausted, and the pipes were taken
zap before ] began % build. ] should
never have thought Of that tunnel in
The would II che trench hadn't suggesJs
ed IT, 1 merely deepsned and widen
ed il a little and plastered Il with
cheap cement as far as the chapel.
and that Httle room there where ] put
PIckeTing's notes had once been the
cellar 0f a house built FOR the supeTin-
tendenJ OF the gas plant I had never
any idea that I should use that pas
sage as a means or getting into my
own house. but Marian met me AT the
station. told me that there was trouble
here. and came with me through the
chapel into the cellar and through
the hidden stairway that winds around
the chimney from that room where We
keep the candlesticks"
But who was the ghost2' I de-
mandcd IL you were really alive and
in Egypt2''
Bates laughed now.
"Oh. I was the ghost went
through there occasionally 10 stimulate
your curiosity about the house. And
YOU nearly caught me once
lone thing more. If were not wear
ing YOU out-Id like TO know whether
Sister Theresa owes YOU any money"
Nv grandfather turned upon Picker
ing with blazing eyes
You scOuudrel. you Internal scoun-
dreL Sister Theresa never borrowed a
cent Of me in her life! And YOU have
made war ON that woman
His rage choked him.
He told Bates 10 close the door or
the steel chest. and then turned TO me
Where are those notes of Picker
ingse" he demanded; and / brought
the packet
Gentlemen. MIR. Pickering has gone
10 ugly lengths IN this affair. How
many murders have you gentlemen
cOmmittedg"
we were about 20 begin actual kill
ing when ycu arrived. replied Larry.
girnning.
The sheriff got all his men OF the
premises more or less alive. sir said
Bates
THAT is good. 1t was all a great
mistake very great mistake. and
my grandfather turned ID Pickering.
PICKERING. what contemplate
scouudreI Won are, J lent YOU that
three hundred thousand dollars 10 buy
securities TO give YOU better standing
I'm vour railroad enterprise. aad the
last time ] saw ~pu. Won got me 90
release the collateral So YOU could
raise the monsy 10 buy more shares.