The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-02-10


wing of the great mansion. He ascend
ed stairway, and at the top was COM
PEELED to stop, breathing with fatigue.
"This is not so much of farce to
you, Mr.. Lionel Cashel," he muttered,
"as was the performance of few hours
ago."
He continued on again. But pres.
emily he stopped, and placed Lionel
Cashel on the floor.
For moment he groped about, then
his hand came in contact with large
key in door. He turned 1t, and the
door swung open, creaking on its him
ges.
A lamp placed on the floor lighted
bare, unfurnished apartment. Valasquez
lifted it, and looked around. The room
must certainly have been constructed
for prison. There was no other OPEN
ing to 1t than the door by which Valas-
quez had entered, not even grating in
the walls. They seemed as solid and
firm as adamant.
Valasquez chuckled wickedly. He
placed the lamp upon the floor again,
and, seizing Lionel, dragged him into
the apartment. Again he lifted the
lamp, and stood looking down upon the
pale, handsome face of his victim.
f" ] believe he is dead already" Valas-
quez muttered, with a laugh of devilish
malignity and triumph.
He went out of the prison, shutting
the heavy door behind him. 1t closed
with dull clang Valasquez locked it,
and put the rusty key in his pocket.
The rays of the lamp fell on the wall.
The door seemed almost as solid as iron.
1t was set far in the stone walls which
jutted out beyond 1t, a foot on each side.
Had the builder of that prison intend
ed it for any such purpose as this ?
"Lionel Cashel, l swear that door
shall never be opened on you more"
muttered Valasquez, as he walked slow
ly away. You will never trouble me
again."
Suddenly he turned and went back to
the door of the prison. He stood by it,
and for moment the intense, baleful
glare of his eye was as bright as the light
of the lamp.
"Yes, will have it done ~ he said
aloud in a tone low and hoarse. "Solid
walls of stone shall shut him in. Hal
ha fools should beware how they trife
with Henri Valasquez. Henri Valas-
quez No! BY heaven! 1 think 1
am entitled to that other name by this
time !"
A few minutes later he was in the
crimson room again.
"There is nothing to excite suspicion
here" he muttered, after he had closed
the secret entrance, and taken.a survey
of the apartment.
He returned to the library. Extin-
gushing the lights there, he retired to
his sleeping-room.
He slept till the sun was far up in the
heavens. Valasquez had no conscience,
so that no pangs for crime committed
could disturb his slumbers.
Arising, and going to the library, he
was summoned to breakfast Immediately.
"Sant," he said carelessly to his SER
want, you can go to the crimson room,
and see If that strange gentleman is
ready for breakfast"
"He am gone, Massa Cashel," said
SAINT. {" was up to his room an hour
ago, and he was MT dar."
" Humpl'' said Valasquez, he tabes
an unceremonious leave, not even re-
turning thanks for his lodging"
" 1 suppose, Massa Cashel, he am just
some straggler," SAINT said. "'Pears
kind OBJ strange, though, dat he would
MT wait fer his breakfast"
Yes," muttered Valasquez.
To SAINT, as Valasquez had supposed it
would be, there was nothing mysterious
in the disappearance of the stranger
That the man should rise early and de-
part was nothing very peculiar,--and
OF course that was the most natural way
OF accounting for his absence.
"Sant, is there brick mason about
the placer" the false master of The
Cedars asked, as SAINT waited on him at
breakfast.
"Spect ole yaller Varcor is de man."
SAINT answered. "He knows how to
work in brick, and stone and mortar"
"Send him to the library after break
fast" ordered Valasquez.
Yes, sah."
Half an hour later, " ole yaller Varcor''
shuffied into the library. He was not as