The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1907-05-24
CHAPTER XXI.
The Door Of sewilaermen..

ne DOOR OF bcWiidernent.
3 We had established the practice OF
barring all the gates and doors at
nightfall. There was no way Of guard
ing against an attack from the lake.
whose frozen surface increased the
danger from without: but We counted
on our night patrol to prevent a sur
prise from that quarter. was well
aware that must prepare TO resist the
militant arm OF the law. which Picker
ing would no doubt invoke to aid him.
but intended to exhaust the possibin-
ties in searching for the lost treasure
before ! yielded. Pickering might. If
he would. transfer the estate OF John
Marshall Glenarm to Marian Devereux
and make the most he could OF that
service. but he should not drive me
forth until had satisfied myself Of the
,sEact character OF my grandfather's
fortune II 1t had vanished. II Picker
ing had stolen it and outwitted me in
making on with it, that was another
matter
The phrase. The Door OF BewIlder-
ment." had never ceased to reiterate
itself in my mind: there was a certain
fascination and charm in It, We dis
cussed a thousand explanations OF II
rs we pondered over the scrap OF paper
] had found in the library. and every
book in the house was examined in
1he search for further clews.
The passage between the house and
the chapel seemed to fascinate Larry
he held that 1t must have some par
ticular use and he devoted his time to
Exploring It.
He came up at noon-it was the 18th
OF December-with grimy face and
hands and a grin on his. face. had
spent my morning in the towers to no
purpose and was in no mood for the
ready acceptance of new theories.
i've found something" he said. I'LL
ing his pipe.
Not soap. evidently"
NO. but I'm going to say the last
word on the tunnel. and within an
hour. Give me a glass OF beer and a
piece of bread. and we'll go back and
see whether we're sold again or not"
Go ahead and let US be done with
n Wait till | tell Stoddard where
we're going"
The chaplain was trying the second
Aoor walls. and | asked him to eat
come luncheon and stand guard while
Larry and went to the tunnel.
We took with US an iron bar. an al
and couple Of hammers. Larry went
ahead with a lantern.
You see." he explained. as we
dropped through the trap into the pas
age. I've tried a compass on this
tunnel and md that we've been work
mg on the wrong theory. The passage
itself runs a straight line from the
house under the gate to the crypt: the
Eayine Is a rough crescent-shape and
for short distance the tunnel touches
n How deep does that ravine aver
zge-about 80 feet,"
Yes; it's shaIlowest where the
house stands It drops sharply from
there on to the lake"
very good; but the ratine Ia all or
che Glenarm side OF the wall. isn't III
Now when we get under the wall II
show you something"
Here we are" said Larry. as the
cold air blew in through the hollow
posts Now we're pretty near thai
sharp curve OF the ravine that dips
away IRON the wall. Take the Lantern
Shne get out the compass %hst d.
you think that C on the pisSs Of pape
means? Why. chapel. OF course.
have measured the distance from tn,
house. the point Of departure. we ma!
assume. to the chapel. and three
fourths Of It brings us under thos'
Beautiful posts. The directions ar
As plain as daylight The passage it
self IL your " w. as the compass
proves. and the ravine cuts close ii
here: therefore. our business is to Ell
BIOre the wall on the ravine side.
Good, but this Is Just wall here
earth with layer OF bricks and thin
coat OF cement. nice job II mus
have been to do the wOrk.-and II cos
the price of tiger hunt" grumbled
Take heart. lad. and listen" ant
Larry began pounding the wall with 1
hammer. exactly under the nortl
Eatepost We had sounded everything
IN aud about the house until the pro
cess bored me-
Hurry up and get through with It,
] jerked impatiently. holding the Ian
tern at the level OF his head. Il wa
49, z g :