The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1884-12-03
MoRRIsToWN, TENN. WEDNESDAY DECEMBER g. 1884,


sits all lined with iron, mum, said Davis;
~ft is as good as safe. But we might try"
Three telling blows The moon suddenly
darker chill sough of wind from the win
dow and the door swung to with bang.
Everybody looked around. A growl OF dis
tant thunder, and faint dash of lightning
accounted for it next moment. More blows
and long, ominous roll, and the lightning
played across the great armoire; then an
avalanche of rain and hail-an strange and
incongruous on this fine evening. The room
was nearly dark. One of the men spoke; us
there a step-ladder in the housep IL was
brought. Hrn try the top. with your leave,
ma'am Ah If had light nowp He was
given a taper from the library table. "Bin
to his companion-look here; hold the
light and keep a hand on the side" He
lifted the hatchet and gave swinging blow
--another--an awful clapp OF thunder, end
the next fash showed every white face to the
other. Quick steps In the hall, and the door
flung wide; a wild, wet figure threw the
key among US, and fell in q heap upon the
floor. With wrench the man on the lad
der tore OFF the upper melding and half the
roof Of the armoire Mrs. Lester took up
the key, fumbled with the lock, let it fall
with shrek Barker caught IL from her,
put it in and turned it "0pen 1t, she
whispered to one of the men; II can't" She
turned away, sick with dread. 1t was
opened, showing nothing but the terrible
inner door, whose spring was only known to
the master lying senseless on the floor.
'Take off more here" one Of the men
shouted; "ft will give air till the doors got
open" tt-r.....t -. .t7 = -r ..s.
Good thought They worked savagely.
Mrs Lester was ON her knees by her hus-
band "Oh, get brandy. Get him to speak
He could tell US how" They did what they
could. "Williami Oh, speak to me. How
can open it, the spring-the inner doorF
The white lips moved, and the head with
its dripping hair, rolled to one side, but nc
sound came. The men worked wildly now.
All thought of sparing the beautiful front
and brass-work was forgotten They tore
mooth polished surface presented no crevice
or Joint where to strike hrst-where to insert
q chisel or direct a blow As they worked,
consciousness returned to MIR, Lester; he half
sat up, supporting himself against the door.
but no words came, though his lips moved
and his eyes looked with intense eagerneSs at
the destruction OF his precious arnoire. He
lifted his hands and looked mutely at his
wife She put hsr head down to his lips
@What is iti What shall i tell them to dop
He beat his hand upon the floor.
Kate sprang forward: u knowl 1 knowi
Strike on the floor, at the foot of the inner
dOori Oh, remember, it was therer
Davis felt with his hand all along the
polished surface of the lowest shelf. "Here,
press here; give me hammer" He felt
Slight rise and struck gradually all about
the spot Kate showed him. A d deafening
clap of thunder, and fash, binding US for
the moment, and we all crowded close, and
then came q creak, drowned in the awful
thunder.
ats open" said one of the men
Kate slid to the door, twisting my dress
about her head
Davis turned from the door, "I daren't
look" he said "Do you" to the carpenters
man @Open it gently"
Barker stretched forward, turned round,
tried to say something, and burst out crying.
II can't see,n said the man, with q strange,
thick voice, AIRING the light, some one"
For ten awful seconds there was a silence in
the dim room, then a cry, and a heavy fall.
"Saleen,D said a voice close to me, "do you
know it's q quarter past z, and you are due
at the Testers at half-past; and not even
dressed Here's your book fallen down."
had been asleep over an hour.
If felt like q conspirator at the Testers
pleasant dinner it is not surprising, but did
not mention my dream.