Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-03-26
the middle of a lofty roof formed of rough

tmDerS.
1t was some time before he could discover
any door, and when he did, he found it fasten-
ed on the outside. Then came the question
was he prisoner, or had he been brought here
by some good Samaritan who had found him
by the wayside
The men who assailed him were no doubt
robbers, who had probably been interrupted
before they completed the work of spoliation,
since they had not stripped him of his raj
ment," and this was the more fortunate, as he
had taken the precaution to secure some bank
notes by sewing them within the lining OF his
coat.
AT length he heard the sonnd of approach
ing footsteps then there was a creakng noise
as of heavy bolts being withdrawn; the door
was opened, and, to his infinite horror and dis
may, two men in black masks, each carving
a pistol i'll his belt, entered the ROOM one bear
ing a load of faggOts, which he threw down on
the hearth, the other can of some hot liquid
and covered basket
All the horrors Of the Inquisition rose up
before the excited Imagination of the prisoner
for so he now deemed himself to be. He was
acquainted, too, with the history of the secret
tribunals once so formidable in Germany, and
asked himself, "Was it possible that such ex-
listed still Was the Baron Steinbach q
member of some dread fraternity, and were
these men, who looked more like fiends than
anything human, sent to put him to the tor
ture 2"
All these terrible ideas rushed like lightning
through his still bewildered brain, and start
ing to his feet, he demanded tercely-
"What place is this-and why am l brought
here ?"
ut is very good place." answered one of
the fellows i'll a gruf voice, "and you are
brought here to be taken care of; so now you
know all about it, and may as well have your
breakfast"
AS he spoke he laid on the table the smok.
ing cauldron, the contents of which proved
nothing worse than hot coffee, while from the
basket, instead of instruments of torture he
produced loaf and dish of broiled bacon.
Eyerard was thus relieved from his fears of
immediate bodily harm, but he said
81 shall take nothing till l know by whose
authority l am detained here, and for what
purpose"
"Then you'll keep pretty long fast.
guess" replied the man, with loud laugh !;
'but shall leave the prog at any rate. Per-
haps you'll change your mind,
Glow long am to be kept here 2"
Cant say. But there's no harm intended
SO long as you keep quiet"
cat least tell mean | in England 2"
"Why, what can it matter to you whether
you are in England or not You won't see
LluOll VI lilG Country through LlcSH walls,
and that peep ,hole"-he pointed to the sky
lights out Of reach"
1t now, for the first time, struck Everard
that he was taken for somebody else, for who
on earth could have the least interest in his
imprisonment The instant this thought
crossed his mind he said in a calmer tone
"My good friend, you have certainly mis-.
taken your game. l cannot be the person you
meant to capture. For whom do you take meg
Gust for who you are, suppose the tutor
that was engaged by his Excellency the Baron
Steinbach."
"Then it is he who has caused me to be ar
rested !" exclaimed Everard, now feeling sure
he was in Germany, perhaps i'll one of the bar
on's castles.
perhaps it may, and perhaps it mayn't,"
said the man, doggedly then pointing to the
hearth, he observed, "There's plenty of wood
and MATCHBOX You can make a fire when
you want it. | shall come again in two
hours"
And so saying he was about to quit the
apartment, when Everard, with sudden i'm
pulse, made spring towards the door; but
the man, perceiving his design gave loud
whistle, on which his comrade, who had made
his exit after throwing down the wood, APP
peared at the entry with his pistol presented.
mo go, you see, said the other. "Our
business is to keep you safe, and we mean to
do it. You'll be treated like prince, and may
have anything in reason to pass away the time.
There's 4 lot of books in that old chest-they
are all foreigners, but as you are scholar /
suppose you can make 'em out"
He then withdrew, and the harsh grating Of
the rusty bolts told the captive there was no
hope of Liberation.
Sick at heart, and tormented by thousand
vain conjectures, he paced to and fro, examin.
ing closely every corner of his prson-house
but there was not the slightest sign of any
aperture that might promise chance of es-
cape.
After spending some time in this unprofita-
bic pursuit. he began to think he might as well
have some breakfast, for it is benefcently or
dained that men shall have a propensity to eat
and drink under all circumstances, and so he
made a toerable meal. Then he set about
kindling fire, which, in some measure, dissi-
pated the gloom, and gave a cheerful aspect
even to that dismal place of confinement.
AT the end of about two hours the two jail
ers returned masked and armed as before and
one kept guard at the door while the other
went in. He had brought heap of blankets
and coveret for the bed, and laughed hearth.
ly as he looked at the remnants of the repast.
"All right" he said 81 knew you'd think
better OF the fasting system That never an
swers for long together"
ANSldiu again tIlCu 10 ellClC some l0t0rt0a-
ton as to where he was, and the object of his
incarceration but on these points his strange
attendant was impenerable intimating that
everything requisite for the prisoners comfort
would be supplied, but no questions answered.
When he was gone Everard opened the
great wooden chest, which was half filled with
old volumes, chiefly French and German.
They were in very dilapdated state but to
him they proved an estimable treasure, which
served to beguile the weary hours of a captivity
that continued week after week, without any
apparent prospect of coming to an end
Threats and entreaties were alike unavailing
to obtain any clue to the motive of the outrage
or the instgator of it and as the agents OF
this secret enemy never came singly or with
out firearms, nothing could be effected by
force, and at length the unhappy captive re.
signed himself to his fate, busting that time
would solve the mystery.
To DC Continued.