Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-09-21

Law win deal with your case
ITO be sure" resumed my grand
father. calmly: Bates did aaks false
afidsvits about my death: but posi-
bly,"
ct was In Pickvickian sszss. SIR
said Bates grxvely.
And In q righteous cause" declared
my grandfather. Il assure you. Pick
erinE. that I have every intention OF
taking care OF Bates. His weekly let
ters giving An account OF the curious
manifestations OK your devotion to,
Jacks security and peace were alone
worth q goodly sum. But. Bates"
The old gentleman was enjoying him
self hugely. He chuckied now. and
placed his hand on my shoulder
Bates. 1t waA too bad 1 got those
missives OF yours all In a Dsncn.
was In dahabiyeh on the Nile and
they don't have rural free delivery in
Egypt Your cablegram called me
home before I had finished reading the
letters. But thank God. Jack. you're
alivei"
There was real feeling In these last
words. and think we were all
touched BY them
Amen to that" cried Bates.
And now, Pickering. before you 20.
1 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 ind the hiding place. I de-
signed that as a part OF your archrtec-
turSl education. Bates, give me a
chair"
The man graVely drew a chair out
OF the vreckage and placed Il upon
the hearth My grandfather stepped
upon IT, seized one OF the bronze
sconces above the mantel and gave II
sharp turn. At the same moment.
Bates, upon another chair. gr.sped the
companion bronze and wrenched IL
sharply. Instantly some mechanism
creakeo 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
uTy! II has proved a better hiding
place than I ever imagined It would.
There's not much here. Jack. but
enough 70 keep you going for a WHILE
We were all staring. and the old
gentleman was unteignedly eujoyfng
our modification 10 was an hour ON
which he had evidently counted much:
Il was the triumph OF his resurrection
and homecoming. and he chuckled as
be tWirled the knob in the steel door.
Then Bates stepped forward and
helped him pail the door open. CfiscIos-
Ing narrow steel chest. upright and
held In place By heavy bolts clamped
into tho chimney. II was allied with
packets ot papers tied neatly with
tape.
Jack said my grandfather. SHAH
ms hrs 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 500. GOO An
nrst-rats securities. Bates aud I put
them there JUST before went TO Yer
mont 20 die"
I've sounded those panels dozen
times" protested
OF course you have" said nv
grandfather. but solid steel behind
wood Is sato. I tested It carefully BE-
fore lort-
He laughed and raped the floor
with his stan. AID laughed with HIM.
But you found the Door OF BewiIder-
nent and Pickering's notes, and that's
something"
No; I didn't even find that. Dono-
van deserves the credit. But how did
you ever come 70 build that tunnel, IL
you don't mind telling me?"
He laughed Sleefully.
That was originally a trench for
natural sas pipes. There was once a
large pumping station on the site Of
this house. with a big trunk main run
Ming on across country TO supply the
towns west OF here The gas was az
Aausted, and the pipes were takea I'D
before began 10 build. I should
never have thought OF that tunnel IN
the world II the trench hadn't suggest
ed H. l merely deepened and wideued
II little and plastered It with cheap
cement as far as the chapel; aRd that
-N@0 WAcA0 put EkCkcr~
inss notes had once been the cellar
OK house built for the superintenA-
ent OF the gas plant never had any
idea that / should use that passage as
a means OF getting into my own house.
but Marian met mo at the station. told
me that there was trouble here. and
came with me through the chapel into.
tho cellar. and through tho hidden
stairway that winds around the chin
ney from that room where we keep the
eandle-sticks."
But who was the ghost?" I demand
Cd If you were really alive and N
Egypt?-
Bates laughed now.
oh, was the ghost! vemt
through there occasionally to sttnu>
late your curiosity about the house.
And you nearly caught me oncel"
One thing more. II we're nos wear
Ing you out-Td like to know whether
sister Theresa owes you any money
MY grandfather turned upon Picker
ms with blazing eyes.
fou sooundrel, you Internal seorn-
drei, Sister Theresa never borrowed a