THE WHITE HOUSE IN THE VALLEY.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17964, 8 March 1930, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE WHITE HOUSE IN THE VALLEY.

rpHE valley of the River Tweed, is '-*■ full of tl\e remains of old tumbledown cottages that were, Inhabited when the two outstanding personages In my story, Martin and Mattie McEvans, were two '‘wee bairns,” as old i!Daddy McCrcwe used to call them, of eight and seven years of age respectively. They are “grown-ups” now, hut never will they forget an exciting Incident which happened In the days of their ycuih. Their father was an artist, lie had lately made a sketch of a certain mvsterious house, known to the vil-" lagers as . the “White Hoose," and which had a reputation that was anything but good. The superstitious villagers circulated tales about ghosts of certain particularly bad people who had once lived there. Mr McEvans, however, resolved to go down to the valley during his holidays, look the house over, and finally live there for good, if he found the arrangements suitable. He did not, however, confide lids piece of news to his children, but left it to old Mr McCrewe, who lived across the road. The Iwo children did not know the bad reputation which the White House was supposed to hear: -Martin tried to get some information from the villagers about it. but was promptly lold that "little boys must he seen and not heard.” One old inhabi'anl, however, confided to him in low tones that Hie reason for their not talking about ihe house was I hat it was supposed to bring them ill luck. “I see >• replied Marlin, who afleiwards I old his sister about it. “But I don't believe it,” he ended. “Do you, Mattie?” ~ „, “No, of course 1 don 1. answered Mattie. “Shall we go to see old Daddy McCrewe? We’ve tried every one in

! the village except him." Daddy (McCrewe was a very feeblo old man, who seldom had the luck to have “young things aboot the hoose,” for the simple reason that there were none to invite. “Weel, noo,’ lie said, when they had explained their errand, “did ye lcnaw as I am the on’v one in this village as doesn’t believe In it all? Well, I am then, an’ a fine set o’ sillies the rest o’ they villagers be ! There once lvcd a fine nobleman up there, an’ I wor’.his varlet or serv:fhere’s a pack o’ thieves as live up ing man. • But 'tis my belief 'that" "there'" nowr'tryin’ to’ find that treasure; but they won’t —they won’t ! For if I were strong I’d have ’em all out, I treasure an’ all. Sir Mervyn MoTweed ; told me I’d find out, because it’s in a cupboard, but every one seems to me to be the same as any other in the old hoose except the one on the top landing, hut a footman guards that. ! He might he a crook too; an’ now I’ll tell ye a secret,” the old man added in a low voice. “You’re going to live in that hoose, for good; your father’s got good money oot o’ the sktehes, an’ lie’s blight it!” “Hi cockalorum! How exciting!" cried Martin. “When are we to go?” "Why, to-morrow week,” replied the old .man, enjoying the delight of the two’children. “Hurrah!” the pair cried exultingly. Life at the "White House for the first week or two was anything but exciting, until one night Martin was sound asleep in his bed when a dark figure stoic into his room and was about to. open Ihe door at the other end of the apartment when a violent fil of sneezing and coughing seized him. Something fell from his face on to Marlin’s bed —it was a mask ! L ’ In next column.}

and beard! Martin had, of course, been awakened, and, waking Mattie, they both sprang out of their beds. The man’s hack was towards them. The two children hurled themselves upon him. Martin nimbly caught both his arms and pinioned him whilst Mattie shrieked for help. In the struggle the man tripped and fell on his face, striking his head against the fender, and became unconscious. Help was at hand, for daddy and one of the footmen soon came to see what was the matter. With the help of .lames, the serv-ing-man, Marlin’s father was able to bring the man round. “1 think I know who it is,” whispered -Mattie to Martin. “It’s that footman on the top landing about, whom Daddy McCrewe spoke.” (Martin looked hard at the intruder, then said, half aloud — “Why, so it is!” Mattie cautioned him to be quiet, but their father had overheard Martin’s remark. “Eh? What’s that? What about him?" he asked sharply. The two children told him all. “Well, what have you to say for yourself?’’ he asked the man on the floor sternly. “Only that I found the treasure last night.” he gasped. “It was in the cupboard on the landing, and it was too late to take it away. Your other ‘footmen,’ as you call them, are really ‘crooks’ as well. They’re waiting in the grounds for me to lower it by a rope through the window. But catch ’em, catcli ’em, if you can! I

wouldn’t be a thief now, but for them (’’ He then swooned once more. Leaving James to bring him round, Mr McEvans. ran downstairs with a revolver, and out into the grounds. He came upon them, a whole band of men, looking up at the window of the room he had just left. “Hands up!” he cried, and the men, taken completely by surprise, turned round, and Mr McEvans, covering them with his revolver, took them to the nearest lock-up. Meanwhile Mattie and Marlin had not been idle. They visited the cuphoard, and found the key in the lock. This they turned, and then looked down a flight of sips into a room below, in which was a light. They descended the steps, and saw an open cupboard door. Inside were two chests, one of which contained two layers of gold and silver coins of the reign of Queen Anne. The other chest contained family jewels. “He must have been very rich,” purred Mattie. “Who?” questioned Martin. “Why, Sir Mervyn, of course 1" Mattie replied. “But we must not stay. Let’s go and tell daddy about it.’’ The treasure proved to be the property of the next person to own the White House, so of course it was given to the McEvans’. “But daddy’s promised to let you come and live with us,” Mattie told Mr McCrewe as next day she stood in his cottage, stroking his long white beard, “and our prisoner is not going to steal any more.