Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-01-28

laugh and waiEe1 away. ~bon. ne SAID
..her life against Testers cabinet-her life
against a key We did not even looi
round to see where he went stumbling
through the hall, where he fell upon the floor
Fearing to injure ID at imprisoned figure
living or dead, who could tell-we left ths
door, and proceeded to break into the mid
die compartment from the wings The
grand old workmanship resisted; there
seemed no weak point. 20 crevice, no posi-
bility Of breaking into The huge thing with
out fear of harm 10 that which il held locked
and fest, within a few inches of our Light
and air and living life. done to death by BIT
of clever machinery, the work of dead
hand. I would not think of beautiful MARY
Lester as she might be- must be- If another
hour went by. All this time no question,
were asked | never knew until afterward
how it had all happenei-how her father
ONLY an hour or so earlier, exhibiting hi:
wonderful cabinet II a connoisseur in such
matters, had gone up stairs with his friend e
show the key he rrized 50 much, leaving the
cabinet door open, intending to return-hov
Mary AMI the children. Younger
brother and sister, had came in
and how the unusual sight Of the
open door had attached them - how
she looked in and told the little ones she had
not stool inside il so since she was as little
as they were; and, laughing, tried 10 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 agains. her. the spring
caught, and shut her in with death and suf-
location; while they went shouting To the
others that sister Mary was Tin there shut
up and they couldn't Ie, her out
No. they could not let he T out. Mr.. Lester
and his frind had CONS of with the KEY To
show it TO some one who had doubted its
date 50 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 ebout it;
h. has never seen it, said the boy sobbing.
Il heasd him. know he said Jarvis
That will be CJl Jarvis in Charles street.,
ma'am- sail Divi ~Mavb, if We sent
there"
There were voices outside, and Barker
looked in with white face of horror.
Its master coming in, she said i'll sort
of whisper.
We all stood back Who WAS TO tell him.
Who was to say your girl is behind that i'm.
movable door.
But the boy, frightened enough at his
fnther at other times went mp to him, trying
70 speak quietly: The kev. SIR QGick. for
Gods sakeiT
key, What-what's all this. Good God!
sir"-seizing n servant by the collar and
fiinging him to one side like cat-~io you
know what you're doing meidlins with that
cabinet! Why. its worth thousands. God
bless me, what does all this mean: He was
purple with anger Don't stand staring
Sarah Heriot," he Numbered, lyon aye not 4
TOOL; be good enough to explain tbis-this"-
went up to him sick with horror. This
key is wantei," managed TO say. There is
some one inside-dyins7
Some one-dying in there! Who! What
Who is it, girl" He shook me by the shoul-
der till WINGED vi h pain.
oh, the key, TIE key! Never mind any
thing 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 theii
terrified. miserable faces. He took in she rest
OF us with glance
~Wherc's Mary he cIi-!, suddenly. No
one spoke WHY the devil don't YOU answer
me! Who i, shut in there: How codli any
one be there: Tra-l.. :" Blu: his face was grow
ing ashy gray, au n.s li, whitened as he
spoke. "Ah, my God never shut the door.
1t is not Mary, not my girl that's He
pointed with a shaking h2ni 10 the heavy
door; "And-I haven't tie-lSey,'
He made one rush into ,..c street; the
servants standing about were SWEPT right
and left, a. he tore past them. down Orchard
street into Oxford street They could sea
the hatles5, fleeing figure disapea.ing N the
distance.
Mrs. Lester came into the hail. The doc
tor and Others were busy about poor JACK
March, who lay on the dining IN sofa with
closed eyes, happily unconscious. The t,mid
mistress Of tho house stood by the staircase,
her face, her voice, her whole appearance
changed and aged III the last hour.
He has gone for the key; he can't lie
back" she said speaking ike 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 b. broken
open-broken to pieces. Never mind. Fancy
it down, tell you. | 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 panel without injury to
the imprisoned girl.
We might loosen the woodwork, and
strike it out, mum; and go on taking 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 voice, hard and
wiry, usually so low and hesitsting Cut
them through; it can be done-it shall.
They struck with will; the hatchet-edSe
was pressed TO the weakest part, and heavy
blows from mallet upon that. The hatcnet
edge was turned, and a dint made; some o;
the work injured and broken-but no more.
"Cut through the pannel,' suggested Kate
Surely wood can be broken"
Its ali lined with iron, mum, said Davis:
lit is rs good as a safe But we might try.
Three telling blows. The moon suddenly
darker a chill sough of wind from the win
dow aud the door swung TO with n bang.
Everybody looked around. \ growl Of dis
tant thunder, and u 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-all strange aud
IA
was nearly dark. One of the men spoke: is
there "A step-lalder Iii the h0u-eH II was
brought. al try the top, with your leave,
ma am. All. if had a light now lie wa
given a taper from the library table. Bill
to his conn anIon-look h-re; hold the
light and keep II hand on the side" Tie
lifted the hatchet and gave swinging blow
-another-an awful clapp Of thunder, and
the next fash showed every white face u the
o,,rt IsaH and ma Il
flung wide; a wild, We. figure threw the
kew among u.s. and fell in heap upon the
floor With wrench the man On tn lad
der tore off the upper mOllin.- and half the
roof OF the arIuoire Mr.. Lester took VI
the KEY. fumbled with the lock, let il fall
with shrek. Barker caught II from her,
put il in and turned il -Open it, SHE
Whispered TO one of the men; i can't" She
turned away. sick with dread. II WAS
opened. showing nothing but the terrible
inner door, whose spring was only known q
the master, lying senseleSs on the floor.
Take off more here one of the men
shouted; 1t viii give air TIL the doors got
open
Good thought. They worked ,avaSely.
Mrs. Lester was ON her knees by her hu>-
band ~0h, get brandy Get him t. speak
He could tell Us how" They did what they
could. Militant Oh, speak TO me. How
can open il. the sprns-;he inner door,
The white lips moved. and the head with
its dripping hair, rolled u one s.de. but nC
sound came. The men worked willy now
All thought o: siariuS the beautiful front
and hraSs-w1rk was forgotten They tore
ami hammered ~ tie ianer door, who's
mooth polished sarf3ce presented no crevic.
OF JOINT where t. strike tlrS--where 70 insert
n chi~el or dire; blow A. they worked
returned % Mr. Lester: be half
sat up. supporting himself against the door.
but no words camN though hI- lips moved
and his eyes looked with intense caSevness at
the destruction * bis precious arnoire. He
hftei his hands AMI booked nIutely at his
wife She Tut her head down 10 his liFs
-Wha, j. i. What shall tell them II do