Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-01-16
John Jones'
Find
1t Was a Vacant House
That Paid a Good Rental
By NATHAN b. TOWNSEND


Johnny Jones, a Maine farmer boy,
went to the city to make fortune, bur,
getting stranded, started to walk home,
a hundred miles, usually sleeping out
Of doors.
One afternoon while vending his
way eastward along the coast he came
to handsome country residence
standing alone. Looking about him, he
could not see another house, though
the coast was open In either direction
for several miles, But Johnny doubted
IL he could get any comfort In the
place, for he could see no evidence of
Its being occupied. The shutters were
closed, not one being left open. Then,
too, there was an old look about the
house. The shingles on the roof were
black and crumpled, the woodwork in
places was rotten, and only the brick
Of which the house was mainly built
was solid.
''If could get inside" said John to
himself, II could at least keep warm,
and the night promises to be cold"
He had on only the thinnest clothing
and shivered as a chill November wind
struck him. Climbing the fence-the
gate was fastened with a rusty chain
and padlock-he went up on to the
porch and began to look about him for
means Of entrance. He was not long
N finding shutter with loose fasten-
Ing and pane of broken glass behind
1t. Putting his hand inside, he unlock
ed the sash and raised 1t.
To his surprise, the room into which
he looked was furnished. True, there
was a moldy look about the furniture,
but 1t was of fine quality, though old
fashioned. John climbed over the win
dow sill and inspected the furnishings
1t closer range. He was In the draw
Ing room among damask covered chairs
and sofas and velvet curtains to the
windows. A piano stood at one end,
md John struck the keys. He was
startled at the breaking of the still
Of those who had once inhabited
his house, who had years ago locked
md left 1t, had cried out at his In
.ruslon.
John fell to wondering why SO much
valuable property was left to rot
Though young, he considered the fnan-
,ial feature connected with IL. Had
he property been sold years before 1t
would have brought what to him would
have been a fortune. There must be
some reason why 1t had been suffered
10 sink to ruin.
John hesitated about spending the
night in SO grewsome n place, and had
would have preferred to sleep under
the stars. As It was, he looked about
for bed and, though he was hungry,
finally got on to one Of tho couches up
stairs. But 1t seemed to him that no
was lying among worms. He took hold
Of coverlet to draw It over him, and
It parted through decay. This was too
much for him; he arose and felt his
way downstairs and, finding a lounge
covered with leather, though It was
stiff through age, stretched himself on
1t and fell asleep.
He was awakened during the night
by voices. For few moments he
could not recall where he was. Then
he listened for the direction Of the
sound and concluded that 1t came from
under him. Presently light flashed
through n crack In the floor. Sliding
off the lounge, he crawled to the crack
and put his ear to 1t.
"We've got TO run in some o. these
goods" said one In mans voice.
This cellar is full"
why not store the next lot aboveT
what rot! Don't you know we've
taken every pains to keep any one
from looking In here? Put goods on
the floor above and some boy or some
tramp will look in. see them and re-
port the fact"
Its a wonder no one has got on to
us as It is," remarked third man.
They've gone around this depot often.
Fact is, it's well known that Crawford
owns It, and Crawford Is above sus-
picion"
"Rent be hanged! He's one OF u.s."
"He tells mo the place can't remain
much longer as It is. A number OF real
estate men have been to him to buy Il.
They want TO Ak It up and make It
pay"
Crawford is making 1t pay well
enough"
10 WFyn1 NhT naN a.1 81 a 10
logue between different men, none OF
whom John could see. He heard some
thing fall and thought bolt was shot,
though he could not be sure of this
then all was silent again. He lay
awake, thinking about what he had
heard, but couldn't make out anything
except that the basement was used for
the storage Of goods. Were they stolen
articles2 Were they barrels of liquor
manufactured illegally1 The reason
for the house remaining in It's present
condition was apparent. This man
Crawford was keeping It for n pur.
pose. It had doubtless long been shut
up and was not an object of curiosity.
Turning these things over In his mind,
Jobn fell asleep again.
When he awoke in the morning the
sun was shining in through n broken
blind. John arose from his couch and
looked about him. He was In n library.
Books were on the shelves, but they
were dusty and dingy. lie went
through n door into n pantry and