The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10

She cried herself to sleep that night.
Deborah, who undressed her, asked
many questions about the gallery and
the door.
cit was very dark, and perhaps ahe
mistook" was all He1ie could be
made to say. Ralph was disturbed and
wakeful, and slept later than usual next
morning. He jumped up in hurry and
made what haste he could with dressing
and breakfast, but it seemed as though
they never took so much time before;
and all the while he ate hewas conscious
of stir and hustle in the house, which
excited his curiosity very much. Knock
ing-the sound of feet-something un-
usual was going on.
As soon as possible he 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
floor boards with slaves. The gallery
seemed full of them, though when Rafe
counted there we're but five.
"This man OF iron was, in all ikeli-
hood, Malignant ALSO" he heard one
of them say, striking the armor with his
fist.
"He is somewhat old for that. Me-
thinks that is armor Of the time Of that
man of blood, Harry the Eighth. Move
it aside, lothian, that we may search
the further panel"
So the heavy figure was thrust into a
corner, and the men went on tapping
with their wands. Rafe groaned within
himself when he heard them declare
that the wall sounded hollow, and saw
them searching for a spring. Twenty
times it seemed az though they must
have lighted on the right place. Twenty
times they jast missed it.
"We were i'll advised to come with
out TOOLS" declared the man who seemed
leader Of the party. "Come thou to
my shop, Peter Kettle, and thou,
Bartimeus and Zerrubabel, and we will
fetch such things as are needful.
lothian, stay thou here, to see that no
men escapeth from the concealment be-
hind the wall.
SO four of tho men went away, leaving
lothian striding up and down as on
guard. Presently came a shout from
beneath the window:
"Jotham our leader hath dropped
his pouch in which are the keys of the
smithy. Hasten and bring it to the
outer door,"
"Aye, aye!" answered lothian, and,
pouch in hand, he ran down tho stairs.
Now was Rates. opportunity. Like a
flash he was across the gallery, his
hand on tho boss. The door flew open,
and he fell into the arms Of Humphrey,
who, sword in hand and teeth set. stood
on the lower stop Of the staircase, pre-
pared to sill his liberty as dearly as
possible.
"Rafe little Rlfe !" ho exclaimed.
"Hush The man will come back"
painted Rsfe. "Oomo away-hide-oh,
where9" Then with a sudden inspira-
ton he dragged his brother toward the
iron man. "Gst inside" he cried.
"Thoy will never think OF searching
therel Oh, Humphrey-make haste d!
Get inside !"
There was no time to be lost. With
the speed OF desperation, Humphrey
unscrewed, lifted, stepped inside the
armor. Rafe slipped the fastenings to-
gether, whispered "shut your eyes"
and few back to his hiding place. just
in time, for Jotham's step was on the
stair, aud next moment ho enterod the
gallery, and resumed his march up and
down, little dreaming that the man
sought for WAS peeping through tho he'll
met holes at him, net threo feet away.
Presently the other soldiers came
back with hammers and wrenches, and
in short time the beautiful wainscot,
split into pieces, lay on the floor. Sud-
.lenly there was a shout. The secret
door had flown open, and tho staircase
stood revealed. Four of the men, with
picks and pistols, prepared to ascend,
while the fifth guarded the opening be-
low.
At that moment Winifred entered the
gallery from the further end. She
turned deadly pale when she saw the
open door and tho men.
Goa! Heaven have mercy" she
cried, and dropped half fainting into a
chair.
Rife darted across the floor and seized
her hand.
"Hush," he whispered. "Don't say
word, sister. He is safe"
"He! Who? 7" cried the amazed
Winifrcd.
But now voices sounded from above.
The men were coming down. Winifred
rallied her courage, .ozc and went for
ward. She was very white still, but she
spoke in a steady voice. Her two
brothers, Humphrey in his hiding place
and little Rafo by her side, both ad'
mired her greatly.
"What is tho meaning OF this, Jo-
than Green ?" she demanded. "By
what warrant 40 YOU enter and spell our
housei"
"By the warrant which NIL true men
have to search for traitors" said Jo-
than.
"You will find mono such here" re.
sponied Winiired, firmly.
eve find the lurking place in which
ons such has doubtless lain," said Ter
ruoabel. Where holes exist, look out
for vermin."
"You are less than civil, neighbor.
An old house like this has many strange
books and corners of wh ch the inhabi
tants may have neither uso nor know
ledge. II your search is done, [ will
beg you to make good the damage you
have caused as best you may, and with
as little noise ns possible, that my
mother be not alarmed. Jotham Green,
you are q good workman, know. re-
collect how deftly You once repaired
that cabinet for u.s."
All the men knew Winifred, and her
calm and decided manner made its i'm
preston. Jotham slowly picked up the
fragments of the paneling and began to
fit them together. The rest consulted,
and at last rather sheepishly, and with a
muttered half apology about "wrong
information" went away, taking with
them tie injured woodwork, which 10.
than undertook to repair. Rates. first
words after they disappeared were:
Winifred, you must dismiss DE.
borah. 1t is she that has betrayed us.
"How do you know that, Rafe2
Then it all came out. Winifred lis
tened to the tale with streaming tears.
"Oh, Rafe, my darling, how brave
Won we're You played the man for US