Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-06-03


where all the store is hidden %
.In our Office" said the little man.
"What Office would contain such
quantities ?" asked Hiram.
"Hush !" whispered the little man
'.there is an underground passage and
cellar or vault capable of containing
ten times what it now holds. As for the
time, you may come with me tonight,
if you like; all hours are the same to
my partner and me-"
The words were scarcely out of his
mouth ere Hiram Gormley had hurried
on his overcoat, dashed his broad-brim-
med hat over his eyes and seized his
gold headed cane with nervous grasp
of his right hand. "Lead the way" he
said; "lead the way; I'd follow you if
you were going to the MOON"
The stranger only grinned and passed
out of the door before him.
At the gate stood small vehicle,
black as ink, and capable of containing
only two persons. A small, elf-like po-
ny was fastened to its shafts, and a lit.
tie black boy held the reins. Hiram
glanced doubtfully to the shabby turn
out, but, in compliance to nod from
his fellow traveller, stepped in and took
his seat beside him. If the shaggy po-
ny was small and unpromising to look
at, he was nevertheless as feet of foot
as any race horse, and the dingy vehicle
spun along at rate which made old
Hiram cling to the sides with both hands
and shut his eyes that he might not
grow giddy, until. passing from the vii
lage, 1t turned down the broad country
road. and paused at the margin of lit
tie piece of woodland.
"Your office seems to be in strange
locality" muttered old Hiram, suspi.
ciously.
"Not at all, " replied the little man
in green; "only we are going by the un-
derground way, so as not to attract at
tention."
"Ah % said old Hiram "well, this
does seem to be an underground passage,
sure enough !' for they were turning
now into sort of cave, and only one
faint ray of light in the far distance
saved them from being wrapped in utter
darkness. 81 shall be glad when l am
safe home again." he added, to himself.
"How do | know where this fellow is
taking me %
But even as he spoke the distant light
grew larger, and the carriage paused at
an iron-bound door with grating in the
top, through which fell a red glare, like
that of flame from the chimney of a
pottery on dark night.
This is our Office" said the little
man in green and old Hiram followed
him as he leaped from the crazy vehicle.
which suddenly disappeared in a most
mysterious manner.
A rap at the door summoned a dark
visaged man, who admitted them with
out parley, and old Hiram Gormley
stood in veritable counting-h house, the
most spacious which had ever met his
eyes. He glanced down the rows Of
diligent clerks, all dressed in black, and
all engaged in making entries in i'm
mense iron-bound volumes at the huge
fire, which he could see reflected on the
roof through a wide grating in the dis
tance, and which rendered anything il
the way of lamps and candles unneces
sary and then turned towards tall
dark man, who strobe toward him from
the very center of the glowing light. HI
was clad in black, and his hair wa
bound together in an old-fashloned cue
There was sort of supple, snake-lik,
ease in his movements, and his feet wer
singularly shaped, and covered will
shoes that suggested either the gout o
bunions.
'Mr. Gormley," said the little mai
in green, .'Mr. Gormley. partner. IL
has come to inspect our stock of -four
he'd like to buy it in."
HE would like to buy 1t in, woul,
he p said the new conner "You ar
very welcome, Mr.. Gormley. | have n
doubt we shall come to terms. Gentle
men, this is Mr.. Hiram Gormley, wit
whose name you are so we'll acquainted
and whom you have expected SO long"
AS he spoke the long rows of black
clad clerks arose with one accord, and
bowling, turned upon him their hollow
blood-shot eyes. filled with a light whic
must have been reflected from the fir
beyond, it was so red and horrible.
Old Hiram Gormley shuddered invol
unfairly, as, addressing himself to hi
two companions, he said "Can l Sc
this -four of which you have been speak
ing ?"
Certainly, sir, replied the taller {
the two, as he flung open narrow doc
to his right and beckoned Hiram to az
proach. Light up, boys, light up !"
And at the words myriad of torche
fared down seemingly-interminabl
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