Connecticut western news., 1871-10-27


 Duck for Gods sake ]"
 "Kev! 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, med ding with that cabmet 2 Why, it's worth thousands God bless me! what docs all this mean ?" He was purple with anger. "Don't stand staring. Sarah Heriot," he thundercd, "you are not a fool; be good enough to explain this-this --" Iwent up to him sick with horror. " The key IS wanted" managed to say. "Therc IS some one inside-dying"
 "Some -dying-in there? Who , What2 Who IS it, girl ?" He shook me by the shoulder till winced with pain.
 '"Oh, the key. the key! Never mind anything else, sir, Only open it quick, and lose no more time."
 He looked sharply round-Mrs. Lester e"A Kate were standing at the door, with their terrified, miserable races. uc tooA in the rest of us with glance. "where's Mary?" he said, suddenly. No one spoke. "Why the devil don't you answer mel Who is shut ln there ? How could any one be there? Trash ]" But his face was growing ashy gray, and his lips whitened as he spoke. "Ah, my God I never shut the door! It IS not Ma1y, not my girl that's" He pointed with shaking hand to the heavy door. And-T haven't the-keyw ID He made one rush into the street; the servants standing about were swept right and left, as he tore past them, down Or chard street into Oxford street. They could see the hatless, fleeing figure disap- bearing in the distance.
 Mrs. Lester came into the hall. The doctor and others were busy about poor Jack March, who lay on the dining-room sofa with closed eyes, happily unconscious. The tlmid mistress of the house stood by the staircase, her faeA, her voice, her whole appearance chang ed and aged in the last hour.
 "ne has gone for the key he can't be back" she said, speaking like a woman in dream, "not for half an hour" She looked round stupidly, and smiled. "He will kill me. you know; but the cabinet shall be broken open-broken to pieces Never mind. Fancy aooi ing for the key p she laughed. Break it down, I tell you give the order. Do you hear mo 2" Two wurkmeu came from the side door, where a fresh and useless attempt had been made to remove the panel without injury to the front or to the imprisoned girl.
 We might loosen the woodwork, and strike it out, mum; and go on taking out screws, same time."
 "Do it."
 | Sharp blows upon chisels now, and scv- eral screws removed from lock and hinges.
 "Strike at the hinges with the hatchet," |" came Mrs. Lester's altered voice, hard and wiry, usually so low and hesitating. "Cut them through it can be done-it ShaU."
 They struck with a will ; the hatchet edge was pressed to the w,akest part, and heavy blows from mallet upon that. The hatchet edge was turned, and dint made some of the work injured and broken-but no more.
 "Cut through the panel" suggested Kate "Surcly wood can be broken"
 "It's all lined with iron, num-" sad Davis; Git is as good as safe. But we might try"
 Three telling blows. The room sudden ly darker, chill sough of wind from the window, and the door swung to with a bang. Every one looked round. A growl of distant thunder, and faint flash of lightning accounted for it the next moment More blows, and long omaoas roll, and the lightning pla, ing across the great armoire; then an avalanch of rain and hail all strange and incongruous on this fine evening. The room was nearly dark. One of the men spoke: "ls there step ladder in the house p 1t was brought "Ill try the top, with your leave, maam. Ah if had light now p He was given a taper from the library table. Blll''- to his companion-" look here; hold the light, and keep hand on the side" He lifted the hatchet and gave swinging blow-another-an awful clip of thunder and the next flash showed every white face to the other. Quick steps in the hall, and the door flung wide open; wild, wet figure threw the key amongst us, and fell in heap upon the floor. With wrench the man on the ladder tore off the upper moulding, and half the roof of the armoire, Mrs. Lester took up the key, fumbled with tie lock, and let it fall with shriek. Barker caught it from her, put it in, and turned it. "Open it," she whispered to one of the men; "I can't" She turned away, sick with dread. It was opened, showing nothing but the terrible inner door, whose spring was only known to the master, lying senseless on tho floor.
 |" "Take of more here," one of the men shouted; it will give air till tie door's got open."
 Good thought. They worked savagely.
 Mrs. Lester was on her knees by her husband. "Oh, get brandy Get him to speak! He could tell us howw They did what they could. civilian Oh, speak to me! How can l open it, the spring-the inner door ?"
 The white lips moved, and the head, with it's dripping hair, rolled to one side, but no sound came. The men worked wildly now. All thought of sparing the beautiful front and brass-work was forgot ten. They tore and hammered at the inner door, whose smooth polished surface presented no crevice or joint where tc strike first-wherc to insert chisel oI direct blow. As they worked, conscious ness returned to Mir. Lester; he half sal up, supporting himself against the door but no words came, though his lips moved and his eyes looked with intense cagerncss at the destruction of his precious armoire He lifted his hand and looked mutely al hls wife. She put her head down to his lips. "What is it2 What shall I tel them to do p He beat his hand upon the floor.
 Kate sprung forward. "I know ! know Strike on the floor, at the foot o the inner door! Oh, remember, it wa there n
 Davis felt with his hand all along thu polished surface of the lowest shelf. He: e } press here. Give mo hammer" H, : felt a slight rise, and struck gradually al ? about the spot Kate showed him. A deaf cning clap of thurd.r, and fash bIindin, us for moment, and we all crowded close ana then came creak, drowned in tn t awful thunder.
 ' It's open," said one of the men. d Kate slid to the floor, twisting my dres
 about her head.