Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-11-26

ease with his eyes; but as had known him
from boy to be always a dreamy, siiperstf-
tious sort of chap, / made allowance, and as
had a strong regard for his father I said no
more, but suggested that II could manage to
drive through the snow would 90 to Chile
stone at once, ask for John Dargle, and see
what would happen. so we settled It., and
further we agreed that should take him with
me to within half a mile of the house, and
that when had got about an hours start he
should follow and put in an appearance there
also. Meanwhile was TO act according to
circumstances and what they might have re-
vealed TO me- And a pretty drive through
that heavy snow we had But it's as well
went perhaps; and popping John out as
agreed. | drove on the last half mile alone.
/ had never seen this architect; but as the
door was opened to me, when drove up, by
sallow-faced, dark-haired young man, I
concluded 1t was he, and from the first did
not like the look Of him. He had a nasty,
pinched-up face, and furtive eyes which never
rested straight on mine for a second from the
beginning to the end Of our acquaintance,
though truly that was not long one. II his
appearance did not please me, certainly his
answer TO my inquiry for John Darglc pleased
me less, and began TO modify the view / had
taken Of that young ,gentleman's story.
smelled rat when Mr.. Makerace told me
that his cousin had been obliged to leave very
early in the morning, owing to some letters he
found on his arrival the day before, and which
required his presence in London.
I" He started by five this morning to ride
to Worcester TO catch the first up-train," !"
said Makerace. mike here,n pointing to
the stable-boy, who had come round on the
appearance Of the dog-cart, "got his horse
ready last night by my orders; didn't you,
Mike?n
"Ees, sir" grinned Mike, "and [ kind a
seed un go off; leastways, was awake about
five and seed a light a-moving in Z stable
yard"
/ controlled my countenance and said:
That's very awkward. l had an appoint
ment with him here at one o'clock and am
expecting my clerk in half an hour or so to
meet me. We were going into some business
matters with Mr.. Dargle. What can do?'
don't know, really" was the answer.
:" He won't be here to-day"
" Humph! Well, will You allow me to
wait little, that maynot miss my clerk, as
l shall have to take him back?"
"Oh, yes, if you wish; but the place is very
unfinished"
could see he wanted to get rid of me and
of course nom I was determined he should
not.
"Never mind. There's fire in the hall, I
see. III just sit down there, if you please,
until my man comes"
And was not | glad my man mas coming
to give the lie point-blank to this rascal ?
| There would be scene, l thought, and il
would be amusing. But what a scene Who
could have anticipated it? Not the widest
romancer; certainly not such a prosaic old
! fellow as I.
| Very reluctantly I was allowed to enter
| aud the dog cart was taken to the stables. ]
| warmed myself at the fire, looked curiously
| toward the staircase at the back Of the hall
made one or two commonplace remarks and
sat down. Makerace was evidently very un
comfortable and after fidgeting about for
few minutes suddenly remembered he had O
letter to write, asked to be excused and re-
| treated up the staircase. A strong curiosity
| to examine the newels of the balustrade
| which John had made such q rigmarole
about, was on me directly | caught sight o
! them, and the moment was alone gratifed
| it.
The first touched on the right was quite
solid and immovable; but the other sure
/ enough, yielded to my attempt TO turn it, anC
went smoothly, as if on a pivot, two sides
round; yet each face being equal, it did moi
! show that it had been meddled with, and
! turned 1t back again to its former position
l tried it once more, thus bringing it agair
two sides round, wondering what the deuce
it meant, and before l could return it heard
Makeraces footstep above.
Not wishing to be caught prying, | dropped
my hands behind me, and stood pretending
! TO admire the staircase At that moment th(
porch bell rang, l guessed who it was
straightway opened the door and admitted
John Dargle. Motioning him to be silent, W.
both advanced to the foot Of the stairs.
My clerk has arrived, Mr.. Makerace,"
called up then; " but should like to leave
message if you will step down."
We heard him coming, and saw his hanC
| gliding along the upper balustrade. Ht
| reached the last stair which turned on TO The
landing at the head of the flight, at the bot
tom of which we stood He saw us-sav
John, unmistakably John Dargle-with tn,
light from the window above falling full oil
him.
There was a pause-nether of us stirred
Evidently Makerace's first impulse was TO re
treat; but appearing to recover his presenc
of mind, he broke into u short, forced laugh
stepped forward on to the landing, and-dis
ppeared-dropped straight through the hOo
almost without sound!
Wonder and CONSERVATION seized us-a
least me; but Jack seemed to have a glimmeT
ing of the truth. Catching my arm, lie eX
claimed:
"There! knew there was some deviltr
on these stairs. Have you touched tn
newel~
eyes"
"Then, by Heaven, we've got at tn
secretw
+ We rushed up to the edge of the landin.
) Very cautiously Jack put one foot Ii ghtl
upon it. The floor yielded. Two broa
planks yielded with a spring, and opene
more than wide enough to admit a man
, body. Released from the pressure of tn
foot they returned to their places, looking fla
and solid, giving no hint of their treacher
and forming what is called on the stage
vampire trap
Shouts and calls bring round the old houst
keeper and the boy. Slowly they are mad
: to understand what has happened. Nothin
can be seen down the hole, and nothing ca
be heard The man has disappeared 2
5 thoroughly as II he had never been. Jack
r for going down by ladder, but the oil
7 woman, with unexpected intelligence, SUE
gests the cellar under the stairs. IN
! Makerace has the key"
5 ga hatchet, then, duick!n cries Jack; an
in another minute or two he is battering
the polished panels OF a hitherto unnotiee
door by the side of and beneath the first aigt
Of stairs.
"A light bring light" he again crie
= and in few more minutes we have all e
tered and are standing round the exterior
u a kind of shaft OF planking connectin
the landing, now but foot or two above OF
n heads, with the ground on which we stan'
: More hacking and hattering and the base
: the woodwork is partially removed-r
i moved sufficiently 10 reveal the top OF u
e old well, across which is fitted second ira
c precisely similar in action to the one above
e an adaptation, indeed with a spriRg), Of u
o usual covering Of draw-wells. Once mo
y the hatchet has 70 be vigorously used, for u
b spring which has been attached to the tr'
. REFUSES 10 Yltlu except 70 II uONllWalu pico
s ure. II will allow anything to descend, b
: nothing to come up-a horizontal rat-trap,
y fact.
l Smashing and wrenching away at the WOO
Il work the water becomes visible as we ber
J, over with the lantern.
"There weren't above eight feet Of IT," sa
. Mike, "when it was kivered up. Let tetC
ladder and rake"
, After a little delay they are brought, al
:, the ladder reaches TO the bottom, some twel
a or fifteen feet below
u Jack ia the first to descend, bat present
: the two are down, with the lantern, and stru
: Cling with a heavy weight. Slowly and wi
difficulty they bring 1t up TO the edge OF D
well, and the pale, yellow light falls upon I
r. lifeless body OF William Makerace, drown
o like a rat in a hole by his own devilsh co
!, trivance, and without being able to utter
d cryl
Il Here was the secret OF the stair, indeed; al
u II was not very difficult TO divine who was
. have been let into II.
= Night had come before the constanulary
i. Kypra on the snOt and VQrV II