Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-11-15

smaller than any he had encountered in
the house, and its heavy locks told that
it led 10 the room where valuable treas
ures lay.
The mask listened a long time at the
door before he tried to open it. He knew
that he was underground, for the stone
floor on which he stood was quite damp,
and the walls about him were covered
with icy sweat. The euTiOusly-shaped
keys that he drew from his pocket
opened the little door, and the night
prowler found himself in q small room.
Closing the door gently, he soon pro-
dueed stronger light, and the glare
that suddenly daZzled his eyes almost
sent him to the floor.
A table stood in the center of the
treasure-room, and on that table were
the treasures for which he had seeming
ly entered the Cantlevar mansion.
There were necklaces of diamonds
and tiaras Of rubies; bracelets Of pearls
and pins Of emeralds; head-dresses Of
beaten gold, studded With precious
stones, and rings whose value seemed
inealcnlable.
| Hestood before lisa Cantlevar's we'd
ding gifts.
About him on the floor was the old
Cuban's wealth-coffeTs full Of dOub-
looms, safes well stored with precious
stones. The five small trunks which
Captain Calevar had noticed on the pier
were there, but they were empty. The
jewels they had carried across the ocean
glittered on the table.
For many minutes the mask stared at
the array of wealth, and then, as il to
test the reality OF things, he approached
and took up costly necklace.
4 ahal 81 l. cold
after moments inspection. and then
the costly bauble disappeared beneath
his doublet.
| A tiara Of beautiful rubies followed the
necklace, and then rings, bracelets and
other rich personal ornaments dissp-
peared. He discarded many rich things
with the discrimination Of q lapidary,
and when he was about to turn away, he
laughed.
'I can't take away any Of your
doubloons, Senior Cantlevarv' he said
''They are very pretty, very good, but
your daughters wealth is more portable.
L guess carry about four hundred thou
sand doublOons worth Of pebbles on my
person. Ha! hal lisa wouldn't marry
Calevarp'
He put his hand on the door, when
the slightest OF noises startled him.
"Calevarr'
At the sound of his name lie turned
quickly, and faced six men with drawn
pistols.
Had they sprung from the door of the
! treasure room?
There stood old Senior Cantlevar, and
his lips were still quivering with the
name just spoken.
Beside the Cuban stood the youth who
had latC-y landed from the Vulture.
The mask did not drop his taper and
| turn for flight. On the contrary, he
said, "Wellp and looked into the muz-
zles of the pistols without tremor.
ave know YOUR said Senior Can't
levar.
"And 1 know your was the rejoin-
der.
"You came thither for the wedding
gifts"
"And 1 have got themr'
'Do you expect to keep them?'
''NO-not nOww
advance and put them on the ta-
ble.n
Calevar advanced without hesitation, |
and his hand crept to his bosom. But it !
did not draw single diamond thence. |
1t came forth empty, but the next in
slant 1t was filled by the but, of pistol. |
LIZ AoAScN II 4ulChiyY anu DSuUI N-aukic- |
var went to the floor.
The next moment there were sounds |
of struggling in the treasure room, and |
when they grew still Calevar, with the
mask stripped from his handsome Span |
ish face, sat in great iron armchair.
Strong ropes bound him to the seat, |
and iron bands fastened his feet to the |
floor.
The table groaned beneath the most
palasable Of Cuban viands, and rich |
candelabrum, suspended from the cell |
ing, revealed the sumptuOus board |
There were numerous bottles of Spanish !
and island wines on the table; bat he |
could not touch one with his outstretehed |
arm. Piled up on either side of him |
were chests of Spanish dOublcO2s, and |
the door of iron safes were open. reveal !
ing the glittering wealth of more than |
one mine. He gToaned when he eompre- |
hended his situation, and then he cursed |
till his tongue refused to blaspheme |
longer.
''rhis is your fate, Captain Caleyar,"
said Senior Cantelvsr's well-known voice. |
You sought wealth and you have it. |
What you see is yours. You are well |
come to take 1t away. You'll find the |
wine the best. There are two bottles of
gOAA AANOAAbC Nald4uAlAf aHN U-lG NA /
thirty-five years Madeirs. Pleasant |
dreams to you, Senior Captain!D
The silence that followed was awful.
'fDOmargo knew thisW cried Gale
var. "Holy Virgin! where is the
dwarf Pr
A hellish laugh answered him.
"DOmargO is bereW said the dWarf's |
voice. He is Vinities's brother. Ha!
ha! ha! Goodbye, captain. The Sea
Cross will sail this time without you"
Betrayedw groaned the doomed
man, and for the first time his bravery
deserted him.
He tainted in the iron chair.
The next day there was the sound of
merry voices far above him. Angels
seemed to be singing to him in hell.
By-and-by the sounds ceased. Isa
Cantlevat was bride.
No sounds now but the wash of the
Gulf waves against the wall of the
treasure-room.
Days came and went.
The bottles on the table grew mouldy;
the oranges rOtted; the delicacies
spoiled; the eandelabrum's lights went
out; but there was a grinning man in
the iron chair. The Sea Cross sailed
away without him.
A year ago that terrible room was
opened. a skeleton seated in an iron
chair told the story OF Cuban vengeance.