Year: 1879

| lphV VIM pun ~ up


We'll, Mr. Gayling, we suppose nobody
seems to know exactly when it first appeared
there.


But the servants, protested they must
know


'Oh | have heard there were none in
the house at the time they we're all dis
missed just before it was put up. Mr.. Gay.
ling never keeps many servants, sometimes
none. Nobody lives in the house when he's
away, but he always leaves the keys with
us. He is always changing his servants,
Mr.. Gayliny is have often heard him say
that he likes new brooms..


who is he, or what was he p


"A gentleman in the naval line, believe
sir they are rather rum 'uns, Tn told


Ilumph | said, very odd. But do you
mean to tell me that no one will live here
because they don't know what's in that
box?


That is partly the reason, SIR


Absurd = l was going on, when the man
continued


But there's clause in the agreement
about it; that's what does it, sir


Explain, said.


We'll, here is the clause and he pro.
duced the document perhaps you would
like to read it YOURSELF


Thus it ran


And in taking the house for the rental
and at the terms specified as above, here
by solemnly pledge my oath never, directly,
or indirectly through my own agency or
that of others, to attempt to NEEDLE with or
disturb the white chest under the glass case
on the roof, or to seek in any way to dis.
cover for what purpose it was placed there,
or what it contains and further guarantee
that no person in my employ, nor any one
entering the house during my tenancy there
of, shall make any such attempt, and here
by undertake that in the event of their be-
ing detected in doing so, to forfeit the sum
of el 900, and in accordance with this agree
ment have, in proper legal form, lodged the
said sum with the banker of Thomas Gay
ling, the lessor as a guarantee of my good
faith.


But for that clause went on the agent as
| finished reading it with some surprise, we
should have no difficulty in letting the
house.


Pray, is the owner out of his mind |
asked in a minute.


Not that am aware of, sir he is very
pleasant, afiable gentleman, Mr. Gayling is,
only as | say, little rum on some points I;
nothing will induce him to strike out that
clause, for instance Lor' bless you, sir,
parties never entertain it for moment when
they come to that part of the business, they
drop it like hot potato


'Humph said again, fts queer, certain
ly, but don't see why one shouldn't ac.
quiesce; it doesn't matter rap to me what's
inside the chest. l should never want to
NEEDLE with or disturb it, and I'd take
very good care no one else did | would
paddock the trap door on the roof, and that
would settle that. All = continued, af-
ter walking around the structure and look
ing about me bit, 'Ah see precautions
have been taken to prevent any access to
this roof from others on either side, by this
iron chevaux- de-frise yes, no one can get
over this. Well, it's an odd freak, but am
not sure that | am going to be baked by it;
I'll think about it, Mr.. Crumble.'


And the result of my thinking was that
| signed the agreement two days afterward,
having conformed to this peculiar stipula
ton regarding the deposit. had no fear of
losing the thousand pounds the interest on
it was a mere addition to the rent, and the
house was so exactly what | wanted that it
would even then be cheap to me, with my
large family of motheress children.


Nevertheless, do not deny that after all
was signed, sealed and settled, | was con-
scious of lurking curiosity and suspicion
regarding that mysterious erection. What
could it contain | was constantly saying
to myself What strange freak could possess
the man to take such strong measures to
guard against any penetration into the Sc.
cret-measures, by the by, which in them
selves were rather calculated to provoke in
vestigation, to draw attention to everything
he wished one to overlook? Was Mr. Gay
ling miser, boarding up some unknown
treasures in this strange fashion? Proba-
bly, that was it Well, if it was, no busi.
ness of mine after all. My parliamentary
duties would be too urgent, | hoped to let
me dwell upon much else, so | would dis
miss it, and beyond putting a paddock on
the trap-door OF the roof, as threatened,
took no measures to prevent any of my
household indulging in speculations. at
least would not direct attention to the mat
Ter, as Mr. Gayling did, and contented my
family and domestics by saying that didn' t
consider it safe for people to go on the
roof.


Now, in spite of my resolution, found
myself perpetually recurring to the strange
chest. For the sake of quiet and air, had
appropriated the two back aud front rooms
at the top of the house for my bedroom and
study, and thus slept every night just be-
meath the white chest.


Before had been in the house a month
it began to act as night mare on me, an
incubus could not shake off. | was OPP
pressed and depressed by it in way quite
unaccountable. was puzzled at myself
could not have believed four weeks before
that could ever have become so affected by
such contemplate restlessness, disquiet, and
distrust. These feelings at last reached such
pitch that finally changed my bedroom
| would not sleep any longer directly un-
derneath this accursed, mysterious fabric.


Another month passed, during which more
than once | was tempted to so secretly on
the roof and look at the thing again there
was no harm in that, that was not forbid
den in the bond, and | need hardly say,
saw nothing to provoke any new comment.


About week after my last visit to roof a
lengthy debate kept me late at the House