The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-24
TIE NEWS DEMOCRATS DAILY STORY
To ha cbodi In doilv STALL spfa
The House of a
Thousand Candles
M MEREDITH NICHOLSON
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Copyright by
Ths Bobhs- Merrill Company

The old gentleman was enjoying him
self hugely. He chuckled row. and placed
his hand on my shoulder.
Bates. II was too bad / got those mis-
sives OF yours all in a bunch. was in a
dahabiyeh on the Nile and they don't
have rural free delivery in Egypt. Your
cablegrari called me home before got
the letters But thank God, Jack, you're
alivew
There was real feeling IN these last
words and I think we were all touched
oy them
Amen to that" cried Bates.
And now. Pickering. before you go ]
want 10 show you something. It's about
this mysterious treasure, that has given
you-and | hear. the whole countryside
so much concern. I'm disappointed In you,
Jack that you couldn't find the hiding
place. I designed that as part Of your
architectural education. Bates, give me
chair"
The man gravely drew chair out OF
the wreckage and placed II upon the
hearth. My grandfather stepped upon IL,
seized one OF the bronze sconces above
the mantel and gave IL a sharp turn. At
the same moment, Bates, upon another
chair, grasped the companion bronze and
wrenched II sharply. Instantly some
mechanism creaked In the great oak
chimney breast and the long oak panels
swung open, disclosing a steel door with
a combination knob.
Gentlemen. and my grandfather
turned with a quaint touch OF humor, and
q merry twinkle in his bright old eyes
gentlemen, behold the treasury II has
proved better hiding place than l ever
Imagined II would. There's not much
here, Jack. but enough to keep you going
for n while"
We were all staring, and the old gen
tleman was unfeignedly enjoying our
mystincation. It was an hour on which
he had evidently counted much. Il was
The triumph OF his resurrection and home
coming. and he chuckled as he twirled
the knob in the steel door. Then Bates
stepped forward and helped him pull the
door open disclosing narrow steel
chest. upright and held in place by heavy
bolts clamped in the stone OF the Chin
ney. 1t was filled with packets Of papers
placed on shelves. and tied neatly with
tape.
Jack" said my grandfather shaking
his head. you wouldn't be an architect,
and you're not much OF an engineer
either. or you'd have seen that that pan
cling was heavier than was necessary.
There's 1900 900 in first-rate securities
] vouch for them Bates and put them
there Just before 7 went TO Vermont to
die"
'I've sounded those panels dozen
times" I protested.
"Of course you have" said my grand
father. "but solid steel behind wood rs
cafe I tested II carefully before ! left
He laughed and clapped his KNEES, and
] laughed with him.
But you found the Door OF Bewilder-
nent and Pickerings notes, and that's
something"
NO: I didn't even find that Donovan
deserves the credit. But how did you
ever come 10 build that tunnel. IL you
don't mind telling me2
He laughed gleefully.
That was originally a trench for ma
tural gas pipes. There was ones large
pumping station on the site OF this house
with big trunk main running OF across
country TO supply the towns west of here.
The gas was exhausted. and the pipes
were taken up before I began 20 build.
should never have thought of that tunnel
IN the world " the trench hadn't suggest
ed II. I merely deepened and wldened T.
little and plastered II with cheap ce-
rnent as far as the chapel. and that little
room there where put PickerinRs notes
had once been the cellar OF house built
for the superintendent % the gas rlant
J bad never any idea that should use
tnat passage az n means of getting into
my own house. but Marian met me Al the
station. told me that there was trouble
here. and came with me through the