The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-11-23
RIDGWAY, PA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER %, 1871.

was that chance and they worked at
them, removing several heavy curious
nails and screws, but seeming no nearer
to the object the door was fast and firm.
40, break it down. screamed at
last break it with the hatchet. What
does any thing matter, but her life-her
life !"
"Her life p' said some strange voice
close to me, and there stood Jack March
swaying like drunken man, with
scared eyes and wild hair. Was his rea-
son gone or goingr
"Don'tp he shouted to a workman
who was lifting the hatchet to break in
the deor. mot up there. Her head"
And then he stopped his ear to the key
hole, listened intentlya minute, raised his
hand, as if to demand silence, and the
intelligence fading out of his face, he
rose with discordant laugh, and walked
away. "Bahl" he said; "her life
against Testers cabinet-her life against
key" We did not even look round to
see where he went stumbling through
the tall, where he fell in a fit upon the
floor.
Fearing to injure the imprisoned
fgure-living or dead, who could tell
we left the door, and proceeded to break
into the middle compartment from the
wings. The grand old workmanship re-
sisted there seemed no weak point, no
crevice, no possibility of breaking into
the huge thing without fear of harm to
that which it held locked and fast, with
in few inches of our light and air and
living life, done to death by bit of
clever machinery, the work of a dead
hand. 1 would not think of beautiful
Mary Lester as she might be, if another
hour went by. All this time no ques-
tions were asked. I never knew till
afterwards how it all happened how her
father, only an hour or so earlier exhib-
iting his wonderful cabinet to connois-
seur in such matters, had gone up stairs
with his friend to show the key he
priced so much, leaving the cabinet door
open, intending to return-how Mary
and the children, a younger brother and
sister, had come in-and how the un-
usual sight of the open door had at
tracted them-how she looked in, and
told the little oues she had not stood in
side it $50" since she was as little as they
were; and laughing, tried to stand in
the old place. al am not too big even
now, am II" she said and the children
ran to see, and pushing the doors against
her, the spring caught, and shut her in
with death and suffocation; while they
went shouting to the others that sister
Mary was Gin there shut up" and " they
couldn't let her out"
No, they could not let her out. Mr..
Lester and his friend had gone off with
the key, to show it to some one who had
doubted its date-so it appeared from
one of the boys who now came in; he
had heard them talking on the stairs as
they went out.
"He said: Jarvis knows nothing
about it he has never seen it," said the
boy, sobbing. 81 heard him. I know
he said Jarvis"
"That will be Colonel Jarvis, in
Charles Street, ma'am," said Davis.
" Maybe, if we sent there"
There were voices outside, and Bar
ker looked in with white face of hor-
ror.
"It's master coming in" she said, in a
sort of whisper.
We all stood back. Who would tell
him? Who was to say, your girl is be-
hind that immovable door?
But the boy, frightened enough at his
father at other times, went up to him,
trying to speak quietly: "The key, sir.
Quick, for Gods sake !"
Key What - what's all this
Good God! sir'-seizing a servant by
the collar, and Hinging him to one side,
like cat" do you know what you're
doing meddling with that cabinet! !
Why, it's worth thousands God bless
me what does all this meanT" He was
purple with anger. Don't stand star
ing. Sarah Heriot," he thundered, "you
are not fool; be good enough to ex-
plain this-this-"
1 went up to him sick with horror.
' The key is wanted" managed to say.
' There is some one inside-dying."
"Some one-dying-in there! Who?
What? Who isit, girl 2" He shook me
by the shoulder till 1 WINGED with pain.
80, the key, the keyl Never mind
any thing else, sir. Only open it quick,
and lose no more time"
He looked sharply round-Mrs Lester
and Kate were standing at the door,
with their terrified, miserable faces. He
took in the rest of us with glance.
"Where's MaryY" he said, suddenly.
No one spoke. why the devil don't
Pou answer meY Who is shut in there
How could any one be there? Trash p
But his face was growing ashy gray,
ind his lips whitened as he spoke. "Ah,
ny God l never shut the door. 1t is
lot Mary, not my girl that's" He
with a shaking hand, to the
leavy door. "And-I haven't the
Key" ....
He made one rush into the street; the
servants standing about were swept
light and left, as he tore past them,
lown Orchard Street into Oxford Street.
They could see the hatless, heeting figure
disappearing in the distance.
Mrs. Lester came into the hall. The
loctor and others were busy about poor
lack March, who lay on the dining-room
'ofa with closed eyes, happily uncon-
cious. The timid mistress of the house
Itood by the staircase, her face, her voice,
1er whole appearance changed and aged
n the last hour.
HE has gone for the key he can't
De back" she said, speaking like a wo-
nan in dream, "not for half an hour"
She looked around stupidity and smiled.
He will kill me, you know, but the
cabinet shall be broken open-broken to
pieces. Never mind. Fancy soaiting for
.he key" che laughed. "Break it down,
tell you! ! give the order. Do you
hear me?"
Two workmen came from the side
ioor, where fresh and useless attempt