Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-09-14
CHAPTER XXI.
The Door OF Bewilderr,e1t.


The Door OF BevyiIderrent.
We had established the practice OF
. barring all the gates and doors at
niEhtfall 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 20 prevent a sur
prise from that quarter. I was we'll
aware that must prepare 20 resist the
militant arm OF the law. which Picker
1 ing would no doubt invoke TO aid him
but Intended 90 exhaust the POSSIBLE
ties in searching FOR the lost treasure
before I yielded Pickering might. n
he would transfer the estate OF John
Marshall Glenarm 20 Marian Devereux
and make the most he could OF that
service. but he should not drive me
forth until ] had satisfied myself OF the
exact character OF my grandfather's
fortune. II 10 had vanished. n Picker
ing had stolen it aud outwitted me- in
making on with Il, that was another
matter.
The phrase. The Door OF Bev1lder-
ment' had never ceased 20 reiterate
itself in my mind; there was n certain
! fascination and charm in H. We dis
cusscd a thousand explanations OF n
as we poudered over the scrap OF paper
4 had found In the library. and every
book in the house was examined in
the search for further clews.
The passage between the house and
the chapel seemed 20 fascinate Larry.
He held that 70 must have some par
ticular use and ne devoted has time 20
exploring g.
He came up at noon-lt was the 29th
OF December-with grimy face and
hands and grin on his face. I had
spent my morning In the towers 20 no
purpose and was 40 no mood for tho
ready acceptance OF new theories.
I've found something" he said. MI
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 glass OF beer and a
piece OF bread, and wen 20 back and
see whether we're sold again or not"
GO ahead and let us be done with
It. Wait TIL / tell Stoddard where
we're going"
The chaplain was trying the second
floor walls, and ! asked him 10 eat
some luncheon and stand guard while
Larry and went 70 the tunnel.
We took with US an iron bar. an ak
and a couple OF hammers. Larry went
ahead with a lantern.
You see" he explained. as we
dropped through the trap into the pas
sage. I've tried n compass on this
tunnel and find that we've been work
ing on the wrong theory. The passage
itself runs a straight line from the
house under the gate TO the crypt; the
ravine is a rough crescent-shape and
for short distance the tunnel touches
It. How deep does that ravine aver
age-about 80 feet?"
Yes; It's shallowest where the
house stands. Il drops sharply from
there on to the lake"
Very good; but the ravine is all on
the Glenarm side OF the wall. isn't Il?
Now when we get under the wall III
show you something"
Here we are" said Larry. as the
cold air blew IN through the hollow
posts. Now we're pretty near that
sharp curve Of the ravine that dips
away from the wall. Take the lantern
While get out the compass. What do
you think that Q on the piece OF paper
meansg Why, chapel. OF course
have measured the distance from the
house, the point OF departure, we may
assume, TO the chapel. and three
fourths OF It brings US under those
beautiful posts. The directions are
as plain as daylight The passage It
self is your n. W., as the compass
proves. and the ravine cuts close in
here; therefore, our business is to ex-
plore the wall on the ravine side"
Good! but this is Just wall here
earth with layer OF bricks and a thin
coat OF cement A nice Job It must
have been to do the work,--and 1t cost
the price OF tiger hunt" I grumbled
Take heart. lad. and listen" and
Larry began pounding the wall with a
hammer. exactly under the north
gatepost We had sounded everything
In and about the house until the pro
cess bored me-
Hurry up and get through with II "
/ jerked impatlently. holding the Ian
tern at the level OF has head II was
sharply cold under the posts and l
-2rx.c.,s tc .--.Ss--e - -,:=.;.s.lass-