Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-11-13

beauty, he muttrrcd with a chuckl le ns he
left his victim aud ALstcned in the direc-
tion of the saloon.
About nine o'clock Ames awokc and STAG
gcrcd to his feet. lie was nervous and
dizzy from the effects of the drug and the
liquor, and stepped into the first saloon he
came to and ordered Il drink of brandy.
After draining the glass he called for
more and felt in his pocket for the money
to pay for it. and, of course, found it
empty.
He was sober in a minute and began q
thorough examination If his pockets for
any change She r.bbcr hal overlooked.
At last he found a sm.ll tangle of currency
in a pocket which Mart had passed by
without searching and paid for the brandy.
He did not mention tha fact of his being
robbed, for he was cautious enough to avoid
any publicity in the matter When he
reached the street again, however. he ours
cd himself heartily or his lack of prudence
in get ing into such muss.
'l'll hay: ter STRIKE my old pard for more
cash ter-u.orrer,' he muttered, "an' dare
not see him until I'vo made ever, thing
snug with the old lady; so III have to pay
her visit this very night"
Thinking that it was already late enou h
for the proI oied visit Amcs hastened along
the river road until within short distance
of Wal.;ngford house. when he turned
sharply - the left and entered an open
field which iutervcncd between the road
and the river.
Reaching the bank OF the stream, he fol-
lowed it along the reur of the = ,rden until
he came to tho deep gulch behind the
house and then began making his way as
best he coul! among the tangled vines
which ran in great luxuriancc along its
sides and bottom.
Presently he came to Il spot where the
vines, reaching from side to side, complete
ly covered the narrow gulch, and h,, found
1t necessary to creep Underneath the over
ham ing mass upon his hands and knees.
1t WAS disa 5rccable work at best, creep
ing there IN the damp dark ness which filled
the raylHe. The vines, clinging with their
cold "lrey arms to his neck, hands and
te t, seemed to forbid his entrance like 80
many human beings When he stopped
no" ana then to taAe breath. for the task
was hy no means An easy one. he could
h'dr the rats AM rermin which frequented
the pace ncc!hs from his approach in
front.
Excited MS the mans imagination WAS,
he started back in terror half :.dozen times
AZ he imagined unearthly figures blocking
up his way At length he gained the solid
foundation wall OF the Wing and searched
around eagerly for the hidden spring which
h. knew controlled the door to the secret
passage. He found II after Il short search
and had no difficulty in opening it.
This admitted HIM to . harrow p .ssa re
, running parallel with the wall. 1t was
about two feet wide, and sufficiently
higa to ainlt Of his ssnnding upris4t
i'll 1t. Tne passage hti evidently been cut
i'll the solid wall years before for its walls
were mouldy and slippery with ace.
a short distance s.!oIs. Ames came upon
IL narrow flight OF steps. These he ascend
ed, feeling the way w4ih his hands ;ts nc
went along, until he arrived ut II little
landing on the first floor of the house.
Stopping here on ly to tIke breath he began
c.!lAhIn. a 5 cul.,l ai9ht, wh!cn led to the
second atury, V nero til" hDNsckccpcr y rooms
we're located.
Ha'f way u, he heard rose above
which Indicated III! presence OF some one
Oh tbs upon sn,tlng, from which the Sc
crct door ui,enc't.
His heart almost cetscl boating as he
listened and heard the sounds repeated
There could Lc no doubt rs to tEc correct
hess OF his suspicious.
Some one or Som"thiny was hiding in the
rloon above his hrtt.
HIS steps had evidently been heard. for
all WAS s;lli when he listened II second
tie.
Dire ding to -, On, A,ncs stood trembling
on one of the lower steps and waited for
something which would reveal to him the
nature of the person if it was Il human be
ing.
But all was still.
"Its only an Internal rat" ho finally
muttered, beginning The ascent again.
As he did SO II low grean-a groan full of
anguish to his ears.
"My God!' he gasped, ''is this place
haunted with the sp'rlt of the dead? y
Again all was stlll.
"Who's there" he asked softly, and
then shuddered at the sound of his own
voice.
Only for the urgency of his mission he
would have turned back at once, but he
dare not face the attorney and demand
more money without having something of
importance to communicate to HIM. lie
must, therefore, try again.
His first step on the sthirs; however, was
followed by a cry more tcrrlD!e, ii possible,
than the first. But Amcs was getting des-
perate now, and he did not stop. see
ond more and he realized that Il blue light
was creeping into the p,.'slgc.
1t appeared to come from above, and rs
he glanced up with sartnkinG eyes he saw
a ST.; ht which struck terror INTO his very
soul The indistincS light burst into Il
gletm, and III its very center, with one
hand pointing to IL b.ec'llng g.tsh i'll its
head and the other drawn back behind the
head as if to strike. WAS the hppArition OF
Hugh Gordon, the .man whose supposed
murderer he was helping TO shield from
justice.
1t was too much ftr Ames already over
strung nerves, and, wltn IN exclamation of
friobt he sank In 4 swCou III the harrow
passage.
CHAPTER XVI.