Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-06-13
CHAPTER XII.
] Explore q PASSAGE.

III seemed 10 me tnat ne was always
poltins about with an armful of can
dles,-"there are a good many queer
things In this world, but guess you're
one OF the queerest. I don't mind tell
| Ing you that there are times when |
think you thoroughly bad lot, and
then again question my judgment
and don't give you credit for being
much more than a doddering fool"
He was standing under ladder be-
meath the great crystal chandelier and
looked down upon me with that pa.
tient inquiry that is SO appealing in a
dog--in, say, the eyes of an Irish set
ter when you accidentally step on his
tail
Yes, Mr. Glenarm," he replied hum
bly,.
Now. | want you to grasp this idea
that I'm going to dig into this old shell
top and bottom; I'm going to blow It
up with dynamite If please: and If
l catch you spying on me or reporting
my doings to my enemies. or engaging
in any questionable performances
Whatever, I'll hang you between tho
posts out there in the school Waldo
you understand?-so that the sweet
Sisters Of st. Agatha and the dear lit
tie school girls and the chaplain and
all the rest will shudder through all
their lives at the very thought Of you"
Certainly, Mr.. Glenarm. and his
tone was the same he would have used
If I had asked him to pass me the
matches, and under my breath l con-
signed him to the hardest tortures Of
the fiery pit.
Now, as to Morgan"
Yes sir"
What possible business do you sup.
pose he has with Mr.. Pickering9" de-
manded.
Why, sir that's clear enough. Mr..
Pickering owns house up the lake.
he got 1t through your grandfather.
Morgan has the care of it. sir"
Very plausible, indeed!"-and
sent him off to his work.
After luncheon I went to the end of
the corridor, and began to sound the
walls. They were as solid as rock,
and responded DULY to the strokes OF
the hammer. I sounded them on both
sides, retracing my steps to the stair.
way, becoming more and more impa-
tient at my ill-luck or stupidity. There
was every reason why I should know
ay own house, and yet stranger and
an outlaw ran through it with amazing
daring.
After an hours idle search I re.
turned to the end of the corridor, re-
peated all my previous soundings. and
l fear, INDUCED in language uubecom.
ing a gentleman. Then, in my blind
anger, found what patient search had
not disclosed,
l threw the hammer from me in a
fit of temper and it struck one of the
square blocks in the cement floor
which gave forth a hollow sound. !
was on my knees in an instant, my
fingers searching the cracks. and draw
ing down close | could feel a current
of air, slight but unmlstakable, against
my face.
The cement square, though exactly
like the others in the cellar floor, was
evidently only an imitation, with an
opening beneath
The block was fitted into it's place
with nicely that certified to the skill
OF the hand that had adjusted it.
broke a blade Of my pocket-knife try
ing to pry 1t up, but, in moment.
succeeded, and found 1t to be in reality
a trap door hinged to the substantial
part of the floor.
A current of cool, fresh air. the
same that had surprised me in the
night. struck my face as lay fiat and
peered into tho opening. The lower
passage was as black as pitch, and
lighted lantern I had brought with
me. found that wooden steps gave safe
conduct below and went down.
] stood erect in the passage and had
} several inches to spare, 1t extended
both ways, running back under the
foundations Of the house. and Gu,
squarely under the park before the
house and toward the school wall. The
air grew steadily fresher, until. aftel
] had gone about two hundred yards,
reached point where the wind seemed
to beat down on me from above. l put
-, up my hands and found two Openings
about three yards apart. through which
the air sucked steadily. ! moved out
; of the current with chuckle In my
throat and grin on my face. / hat
passed under the gate In the schoo
, wall, and | knew now why the pieri
, that held II had been built 80 high
, they were hollow and were the mean.
| OF sending fresh air into the tunnel.
, When I had travelled about twenty
, yards more felt a slight vibration &C
| companied by a munaed roar. and al
; most Immediately came to q rough
wooden stair that marked the end o
the passage. ! had no means Of judg
Ing directions. but I assumed that
, was well within the school park.
climbed the steps and In a momen
stood blinking, my lantern in hand. II
a small, noored room. Overhead thu
tumult and thunder of an organ OK
/ planned the tremor and roar I hat
heard below. was IN the crypt Of st
Agatha's chapel. The inside of thu
door by which HAD entered was {
part Of the wainscOting Of the room
and the opening was wholly covered
: with Q map of the Holy Land.
| 1t was all very strange and interest