The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-12-04

!, no questions were asked. never knew
until afterward how it had all happened
how her father, only an hour or Sc
, 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. a younger brother and
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 Tot stood inside il
$50 since she was as little as they were:
and. laughing, tried to stand in the old
place. Il am not too big even now, am
-" she said. and the children ran to
see, and pushing the doors against her
the spring caught, and shut her in with
death and suffOcation; while they went
shouting to the others that sister Mary
was in 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.
Il heard him. know he said Jarvis"
That will be Colonel Jarvis. in
| Charles Street, ma am" said Davis.
! Maybe if we sent there"
There were voices outside, and Barker
locked in with'a white face of horror.
Its 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 immoEable door?
But the boy, frightened enough at his
father at other times, went up to him,
trying to speak quietly: The key, sir.
Quick. for Gods sake!'
key! What-what's all this? 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
Invent up to him. sick with horror.
The key is, wanted,''I managed to say
''There is some one inside-dying."
''Some one-dying therel Who?
What? Who is it, grip He shook me
by the shoulder till l WINGED with pain.
80, 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 q glance.
where's Mary?" 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? Trashl"
But his face was growing ashy gray,
and his lips whitened as he spoke s'Ah, |
my God! | never shut the door! 1t is |
not Mary, not my girl that Size |
pointed with a shaking hand to the
heavy door. '.And-I haven't the-keyr' |
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 into the hail. The |
doctor and others were busy about poor
Jack March, who lay on the dining
room sofa with closed eyes. happily
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 keyr' She laughed.
Break it down. l tell you. l give the
order. Do you hear me?"
Two workmen came from a side
door, where fresh and useless attempt
had been made to remove the pane with
out injury to the front or to the i'm
priSoned girl.
I'VE might loosen the woodwork and
|
out screws same time"
'.Do it.
Sharp blows upon chiselS now. and
several screws removed from lock and
hinges.
Strike at the hinges with the
ratchet" came Mrs. Testers altered
-oice. hard and wiry, usually so low and
''Cut them through; it can
De done-it shall. i
They struck with a will; the hatchet-
.dge was pressed to the weakest part,
md heavy blows from mallet upon I
hat. The hatchet-edge was turned.
md dint made; some of the work in
ured and broken-but no more. 4:
''Cut through the panel" suggested
Kate. Surely wood can be broken" ;
Its all lined with iron, num-" said '
Davis lit is as good as a safe. But we i
night try" {
Three telling blows. The moon sud- t
lenly darker, chill sough of wind from t
he window and the door swung to with {
bang. Every one looked round A ,
,rowl of distant thunder, and faint t
ash of lightning accounted for it next c
More blows and a long
minous roll, and the lightning playing i
cross the great armoire; then an ava S
anche of rain and hail-all strange and
ncongruous on this fine evening. The e
DOM was nearly dark. One of the men 5
poke: lis there a step-ladder in the /
ouse?" 1t was brought. I'll try the t
Dp. with your leave. ma am. All, if l +
ad light nowrn He was given taper 5
rom the library table. "Bill-to his f
here; hold the light e
nd keep hand on the side" He lifted v
no hatchet and raye q swim Oin O. blow 9