The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-12-06

''DOn t! he shouted to workman
who was lifting the Ratchet to break in
the door, mot up there. Her head.''
And then he stopped his ear to the KEY
hole, listened intently a minute, raised
his hand as if to demand silence, and.
the intelligence fading out of his face,
he rose with discordant laugh and
walked away. ''Bahr' he said; cher
life against Testers cabinet-her life
against a key" We did not even look
round to see where he went stumbling
through the hall, where he fell in fit
upon the floor.
Fearing to iniure that imprisoned fig
ure-living or dead, who could tell
we left the door and proceeded to break.
into the middle compartment from the
wings. The grand old workmanship
resisted there seemed no weak point,
no crevice, no possibility of breaking
into the huge thing without fear of harm
to that which it held locked and fast.
within few inches of our light and air
and living life, done to death by bit
of clever machinery, the work of dead
hand l would not think of beautiful
Mary Lester as she might be, must be,
if another hour went by. All this time
no questions were asked. l never knew
until afterward howit had all happened
now her father, only an hour or so
earlier, exhibiting his wonderful cab
met to a connoisseur in such matters,
had gone up stairs with his friend
to show the key he priced so much,
leaving the cabinet door open,
intending to return-how Mary
and the children, younger brother AID
sister, had come inland how the unu-
sual sight of the open door had attracted
them-how she looked in, and told the
little ones she had not stood inside it
$50 since she was as little ashley were;
and, laughing, tried to stand in the old
place. Il am not too big even now, am
l?' she said, and the children ran to
see, and pushing the doors against her
the spring caught, and shut her in with
death and suflocation; while they went
shouting to the others that sister Mary
was lin there shut up" and ''they
couldn't let her out"
No, they could not let her out. Mr..
Lester and his friend had gone off with
the key to show it to some one who had
doubted its date-So it appeared from
one Of the boys who now came in; he
heard them talking on the stairs as they
went out.
He said: Jarvis knows nothing about
it; he has never seen it, said the boy,
sobbing.
u heard him. know he said Jarvis"
THAT will be Colonel Jarvis, in
Charles Street, ma am" said Davis.
''Maybe if we sent there
There We're voices outside, and Barker
looked in with a white face of horror.
"It's master coming in, she said, in
a sort of whisper.
We all stood back. Who was to tell
him? Who was to say your girl is be-
hind that immoyable door?
But the boy, frightened enough at his
father ut other times, went up to him,
trying to speak quietly: The key, sir.
Quick, for Gods sake!'
key! What-what's all BIIis? Good
God! sir''-seizing a servant by the col
lar and flinging him to one side like a
cat-''do you know what you're doing
meddling with that cabinet? Why, it's
worth thousands! God bless me, what
does all this mean? He was purple with
anger Don't stand staring Sarah
Heriot," he Numbered, ''you are not a
fool; be good enough to explain this
this
l went up to him, sick with horror
''The key is wanted, Il managed to say.
"There is some one inside-dying."
"Some One-dying-in there! Who?
What? Who is it, grip" He shook me
by the shoulder till WINGED with pain
so, the key, the key! Never mind
anything else, sir. Only open it quick,
and lose no more time"
He looked sharply round. Mrs. Lester
and Kate were standing at the door,
with their terrified, miserable faces He
took in the rest of us with a glance.
where's Mary?n he cried suddenly
No one spoke, "Why the deuce don't
you answer me? Who is shut in there?
How could any one be there? Trash!'
But his face was growing ashy gray,
and his lips whitened as he spoke. ''Ah,
my God! never Shut the door! 1t is
not 0iary, not my girl that 81 He
pointed with shaking hand to the
heavy door. ''And-I haven the-key!"
He made one rush into the street; the
servants standing about were swept right
and left, as he tore past them, down
Orchard Street into Oxford Street. They
could see the hatless, fleeing figure
disappearing in the distance.
Mrs. Lester came int6'the hall. The
doctor and Others were busy about poor
Jack March, who lay on the dining
room sofa with closed eyes, happily
unconscious. The timid mistress of
the house stood by the staircase, her
face, her voice, her whole appearance
changed and aged in the last hour.
HE has gone for the key; he can't
be back" she said, speaking like a
woman in a dream, mot for half an
hour" She looked round stupidity and
smiled. He will kill me, you know;
but the cabinet shall be broken open
broken to pieces. Never mind Fancy
waiting for the key" She laughed.
Break it down, tell you. 1 give the
order. Do you hear me?"
Two workmen came from q side
door, where fresh and useless attempt
had been made to remove the pane with
out injury to the front or to the im-
prisoned girl.
I'VE might loosen the woodwork and