Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-07-04

Hev nave all gone, SIT, reported
Bates. returning to the room.
Now, gentlemen" began my grand
father, seating himself, this little Sc
cret of mine was shared by only two
persons. One Of these was Bates
he paused as an exclamation broke
from ali Of us; and he went on.
enjoying cur amazement,-- and the
other was Marian Devereux. had OBJ.
served for years that at a mans death
his property often gets into the wrong
hands, or becomes a bono Of conten.
ton among lawyers. Sometimes,"-
and the old gentleman laughed IAN
executor proves incompetent or dis
honest. was thoroughly fooled in
you, Pickering. The money you owe
me is large sum; and you were so
delighted TO hear of my death that you
didn't even make sure was really out
of the way. You were perfectly will
ing to accept Bates word for It; and
must say that Bates carried it off
splendidly."
Pickering rose, the blood surging
again in his face, and screamed at
Bates, pointing a shaking finger at the
man.
You impostor,-you perjurer. The
law will deal with your case"
ITO be sure resumed my grand.
father, calmly; Bates did make false
atiidavits about my death; but posi-.
bly,
ut was in a Pickwckian sense, sir"
said Bates gravcly.
And in righteous cause" declared
my grandfather. Il assure you. Pick
ering, that | have every intention Of
taking care of Bates. His weekly let.
ters giving an account OF the curious
manifestations of your devotion to
Jacks security and peace were alone
worth goodly sum. But, Bates"
The old gentleman was enjoying him
self hugely He chuckled now, and
placed his hand on my shoulder.
Bates, 1t was too bad l got those
missives of yours all In a bunch. l
was In a dahabiyeh on the Nile and
they don't have rural free delivery in
Egypt. Your cablegram called me
home before had finished reading the
letters. But thank God, Jack, you're
alive"
There was real feeling in these last
words, and I think we were all
touched by them
Amen to that" cried Bates.
And now, Pickering, before you go
want to show you something It's
about this mysterious treasure, that
has given you-and I hear the whole
countrYside-sO much concern. I'm
disappointed in you, Jack. that you
couldn't find the hiding place. de-
signed that as part OF your archltec-
tural education. Bates, give me a
chair"
. The man gravely drew a chair out
of the wreckage and placed it upon
the hearth. My grandfather stepped
upon it, seized one Of the bronze
sconces above the mantel and gave it
sharp turn. At the same moment,
Bates, upon another chair. grasped the
companion bronze and wrenched It
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 merry twinkle in his bright old
eyes-"gentlemen, behold the treas.
ury. 1t has proved better hiding
place than I ever imagined it would.
There's not much here, Jack, but
enough to keep you going for while"
We were all staring, and the old
gentleman was unfeignedly enjoying
our mystification. It was an hour on
which he had evidently counted much:
1t was the triumph OF his resurrection
and homecoming, and he chucl1led as
he twirled the knob in the steel door.
Then Bates stepped forward and
helped him pull the door open, disclos-
Ing a narrow steel chest, upright and
held In place by heavy bolts clamped
into the chimney. It was filled with
packets OF papers 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 paneling was heavier than
was necessary. There's 100000 in
frst-rate securities. Bates and | put
them there Just before l went to Yer.
mont to die"
I've sounded those panels a dozen
times" l protested.
"Of course you have said my
grandfather, but solid steel behind
wood Is safe. tested it carefully be-
fore left"
He laughed and raped the floor
with his staff, and laughed with him.
But you found the Door of Bewider-
ment and Pickering's notes. and that's
something"
No; l didn't even find that. Dono-
van deserves the credit. But how did
you ever come to build that tunnel, if
you don't mind telling me?"
He laughed gleefully.
THAT was originally a trench for
natural gas pipes, There was once a
large pumping station on the site of
this house, with big trunk main run.
ming off across country to supply the
towns west of here. The gas was ex-
hausted, and the pipes were taken up
before ! began to build. ! should
never have thought of that tunnel in
the world II the trench hadn't suggest
ed il. merely deepened and widened
!