Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-05-10

father, calmly; Bates did make false
afhdsvits about my death; but possi-
bly,"
1T was ina Pickwickian sense. SIR
said Bates grayely.
"And In Q righteous cause" declared
my grandfather. Il assure you, Pick
ering. that have every intention Of
taking care Of Bates. His weekly let.
tiers giving an account Of the curious
Manifestations Of your devotion to
Jacks security and peace we're alone
worth q goodly sum. But, Bates"
The old gentleman was enjoying him
self hugely. He chuckled now, and
placed his hand on my shoulder.
Bates. II was too bad got those
nissives Of yours all in q 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
llive!"
There was real feeling In these last
words, and think we were all
touched by them.
Amen to that" cried Bates.
"And nov. Pickering, before you 90
[ want to 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. de-
signed that as a part Of your archltec-
tural education. Bates, give me a
chair"
The man gravely drew a chair out
Of the wreckage and placed II upon
The hearth. My grandfather stepped
upon 1t, 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 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 quaint touch Of humor,
and a merry twinkle in his bright old
eyes-"gentlemen, behold the treas.
ury! 1t has proved a better hiding
place than | ever imagined II would.
There's not much here, Jack, but
enough to keep you going for a while"
We were all staring, and the sid
gentleman was unfeignedly enjoying
our justification. 1t was an hour on
which he had evidently counted much;
It was the triumph Of his resurrection
and homecoming, and he chuckled as
he twirled the knob in the steel door.
Then Bates stepped forward and
helped him pull the door open, disclos.
Ing narrow steel chest, upright and
held In place by heavy bolts clamped
Into the chimney. II was filed 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
hrst-rate securities. Bates and put
them there Just before | went to Yer.
mont to die"
I've sounded those panels a dozen
times" ! protested.
of course you have said nv
grandfather, but solid steel behind
wood is safe. | tested It carefully be.
fore left"
He laughed and raped the floor
with his stan, and | laughed with him.
But you found the Door Of Bewilder.
ment and chickering's notes, and that's
something"
mo; | didn't even find that. Dono-
van deserves the credit. But how did
you ever come to build that tunnel, IL
you don't mind telling me-"
He laughed gleeiully.
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 OF across country to supply the
towns west Of here. The gas was ex.
hausted, and the pipes we're taken I'D
before | began to build. | should
never have thought Of that tunnel in
the world If the trench hadn't suggest.
ed 1t. merely deepened and widened
1t a little and plastered II with cheap
cement as far as the chapel; and that
little room there where | put Picker.
ing's notes had once been the cellar
Oh mouse built for the superintend-
ent OF the gas plant. / never had any
Idea that | should use that passage az
a means Of 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 chin.
ney from that room where we keep the
candle-sticks."
But who was the ghost?" demand.
ed, II you were really alive and in
Egypt"
Bates laughed now.
"oh, | was the ghost! I went
through there occasionally to stimu.