The Wilmingtonian., 1885-07-04
THE STORY TELLER.
The Secret Chamber.

ne SGCf6L GndmDGr-
1t stood in wretched side court, leading
iout of the "Five Points," in New York.
For three years this old frame house, with
its rotten outside, had been untenanted-or
at least it was thoughtso.
Gloomy and dark and grim and scowling
it stood, separated on all sides from the sur.
rounding houses, and always reminding peo.
ple,of its fixed determination to fall and de-
molish those who passed beneath its shadow
for it was crooked crazy and seemingly fall.
ing apart.
There was deep mystery about this old
house, and we proceed to unravel it.
The church clocks of the city had tolled
out eleven one dark, starless night in No
vember, as a man, dressed in deep black,
assembled with noiseless footsteps the rick
ETY. stoop of this old house, and applying a
key to the door, entered and closed it be-
hind him.
Not living sonl had observed him. The
: quiet court was deserted and partly wrap
ped in deep slumber.
Gaining the dark and dusty hallway the
man proceeded onward, going up flight OF
stairs and then into a musty smelling pas
sage, narrow and dark as Hades.
Here he produced a large lantern from
some corner, and striking match he light
ed candle and unlocked strongly barred
door of room situated, 1t appeared,
in the very heart Of the old house, aud
surrounded by rooms on all sides. Into
this apparently secret room the stranger en-
tered
By the rays of the candle in the lantern
we see round, wood-panneled room, cold
and chilly, a stool, an old fireless hearth,
and straw tiok laid on the dirty dust
covered floor, and on this tick reclines a
pale emaciated man of perhaps five and
twenty, tied with an iron band around his
ankles.
To this was attached chain four feet in
length. The other end of the chain
was fastened to e heavy ring in the side of
the wall.
This man is pi isoner, The stranger is
his jailor. ,..
$50 Robert Crantlyr says the stranger
laying his lantern down; and then resting
himself on the three-legged stool, "pve
come back again, you see! Come, you amt
sleepingr'
"Go away from my sight you demon in
mans formn cried out the prisoner.
"Your presence is a poison to ne! Curse
you what has brought you here again? Let
me starve to death, but do not tortue me
with your fiiendish presencep'
"Come now, Grantly, you know why
cams here again. / want you to answer,
yes or--no."
"No, you plotting, incarnate scoundrel!
No, to your teeth, and for the last time.''
''You are quite brave, amt you?" sneered
the stranger. "You'll never leave this place
it shall be your tomb"
"Perhaps," replied the prisoner, ''but I'll
not give up life without struggle, can
tell you. You false, treacherous Ju-
das.''
Judas. and the stranger laughed, OF
at least grinned, as the traditional" demon
does in satanic plays.
eyes; that is rightly your name. Who
else but an assassin and a Judas would have
played tue vile and double part that you
: have enacted2
Why am here, weak and starving MANI
Why have been imprisoned here for
twelve months? You are penniless man.
/, | was paying my addresses to Marian Man
drake, loving girl, whom you discovered
had boundless wealth.
You wished to gain her for your bride
God help her should that be her fate. ]
stood in your way. You played tho part OF
a friend to me, and late one night, after
drugging me you enticed me into this grim
and lonely place, consigned me to this
dreary and dark room, and for one year |
have not seen the light of day."
''Y9u can purchase your freedom
by"
"By signing paper drawn up by you,
Ralph Langiy, renouncing all claim to Ma
rian MandIake's hand and leaving for you
to win, by consenting-by swearing to leave
New York until after you had married her,
and never to mention-never to breathe to a
living soul my Imprisonment here"
Exactly, my dear Robert, these are the
conditions whereon you gain your life and
liberty, my fine fellow"
Il c)rn your offer, utterly and firmly
refuse them, and defy your threats, Ralph
Langly."
"This room shall be your tomb then; do
you hear me. Your tomb, l say-youl
tombr'
''You said that b:fore; there is no use
in you repeating it. Now go and leave
me-"
81 shall return again-to- morrow night
for your last answer, and then you shall be
left here to die. And l shall win Marian
Mandrake for my wife-her gold, her for
tune skall be mine-mine!'
With a meek bow and sueering laugh,
Ralph Langly passed out of the old frame
house.
1t was the night after the above scene in
the old house, and past ten o'clock. The
November night was cold and windy, will
starless sky and streets partly desert.
ed.
In the secret room of the old frame house,
sitting in the gloom and darkness on his olJ
straw tick was the prisoner whom we saw
the night before-the victim of treacher
lous man.
II must make an effort to escape" he
groaned to himsslf. ''0h, were | but free