The Van Buren press., 1877-01-09
s. Now, dear Humphrey, have you al

in Il would be cheerful voice .'Beef and
ale what better fare could BET You are
u gallant provider, my Winnie, and there
is need since | have lain in that hole with
nothing else to do, my appetite has ragged
like woolt. That sleeps head was
wondrous savory. say though, Winnie
what do the servants think OF the famine
create in the larder =
"Oh, the stuped creatures fancy that Q
Bogie has takeu up his residence here
A very hungry Bogie, Joyce calls the
creature
The brother and sister laughed; ther
they kissed each other,
Good night, deserted Wirifrcd.'
.Ga9a-nghc blttiitf" .ad Hamph
rey vanished up the stairs. Winilret
fingered moment, then, as II remem
bering something, opened the door agaif
and ran after him. Ralph marked thai
she laid her hand on u particular boss in
the carved wainscot and pressed it in
hard whereen the door sprung open
He stole out, laid his hand on the same
boss, and felt the spring give way under
his touch Some underlined idea OF steal.
ing in later, to make Humphrey a visit
was in his head but he heard Winifrcd
returning. and hurried out of the gallery
Putting back the sword in its place, he
entered the nursery. No Hexie was Wis
lille. but a sobhing sound drew his at
tention to a tumbled heap on the bed.
.'ls that you, Hexie Why, what are
you crying about pulling away the pill
low which she held tight
"Oh. Rato then the Bogie didn't
eat you, after al!o And Hexie buried
her tear-stained face on his shoulder
'.Bogie! Nonsense there are no sucl
thugs us Bogies y
"What was 1t, then, that lived up thai
dreadful stairs 7"
Il can't tell you, only it was nothing
at all dreadful And, Hexie, don't say
a word about that door to any one, will
you? 1t might make great trouble il yot
did.
II did tell Deborah, when she fetchet
the candle and asked why | cried, that
saw strange door in the gallery" falter
ed.Hexie. truthful, though pentent.
sOh! Hexie, how could you? don
like Deborah, and her father is knave
Humphrey said so one day, How eoult
you talk to her about the door Hexie 2
"I--don't know. | was frightened
and she asked me- sobbed Hexie
"Will it do any harm, Refe y
alt may said Rate, gloomily. "Bu
don't cry, Hexe. You meant no harm
at all events
"Oh, don't speak so gravely and 81
like Joyce said Hexie, lnuch troubled
She cried herself to sleep that night
De'iofai, who andresssd let, aske,
many questioned about the gallery ant
the door.
at was very dark, and perhaps sh,
mistook that was all Hexie could b,
made say Ralph was disturbed ant
wakefu, and slept later than usual mex
morning. He jumped up in hurry anc
made what haste he could with dressing
and breakfast, but it seemed as thougl
they never took SO much time before
and all the while he ate he was conscious
of "A stir and hustle in the house, which
excited his curiosity very much Knock
ing-the sound of feet-something TN
usual was going on
AS soon as possible be slipped away
from nurse and ran to the gallery. The
door was half open. He looked in, and
stood still with terror Men, in brown
uniforms and steel caps, were there
sounding the walls and tapping the aool
boards with slaves The gallery seemed
full Of them, though when Rafe counted
there were bat five.
"This man of iron wss in all likeli
hood, Malignant also," he heard one
of them say, striking the armor with his
fist
"IIe Is somewhat old for that. Me
thinks that is armor Of the time Of that
man Of blood, Harry the Eighth Move
it aside, Jotham, that We may search the
further panel
So the heavy figure was thrust into ;
corner, and the men went on tapping
with their wauds. Rafe groaned withr
himself when he heard them declare tha
the wall sounded hollow, and saw then
searching Tor spring. Twenty times
it seemed as though they must have
lighted on the right place. Twenty time:
they just missed it.
ave were i'll advised to come withou
TOOLS" declared the man who seemed
leader of the party. Come thou to my
shop. Peter Kettle, and thou, Bartimens
and Zerrubbabel, and we will bring sucl
things as are ncedful. Jotham, stay
thou here, to see that no men escapetl
from the concealment behind the wall"
SO four of the men went away, leaving
Jotham stiiding up and down as OF
guard Presently came a shout from be
meath the window:
"Jothan! our leader hath dropped
his pouch in which are the keys of the
smithy. Hasten and bring it to the out
er door"
"Aye, aye!" answered Jotham, and
pouch in hand, he ran down the stairs
Now was Rates opportunity. Like ,
flash he was across the gallery, his hant
on the boss. The door flew open, ant
he fell into the arms of Humphrey, who
sword in hand and teeth set, stood on
the lower step of the staircase, prepared
to sell his liberty as dearly as possible.
"Rafe little Rafc he exclaimed.
"Husd! The man will come back,
painted Rafe Come away--hde-oh
where p Then with a sudden Inspiration
he dragged his brother toward the iron
man. Get inside,' he cried They
will never think OF searching there! Oh