Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1885-07-25
THE SECRET CHAMBER.

II StVou III WICbCucu SLUG COuit,
leading out of the give Points" in
New York. For three years this old
frame house, with its rotten outside,
had been untenanted-or at least it
was thought so.
Gloomy and dark and grim and
scrowling it stood, separated on all
sides from the surrounding houses, and
always reminding people of its fixed
determination to fall and demolish
those who passed beneath its shadow,
for it was crooked, crazy and seemingly
falling apart,
There was a deep mystery about
this old house, and we proceed to I'M
ravel it.
The church clocks of the city had
tolled out eleven one dark, starless
night in November, as a man, dressed
in deep black assembled with noiseless
footsteps the rickety stoop of this old
house, and applyinga key to the door
entered and closed it behind him.
Not living soul had observed him.
The quiet court was deserted and
partly wrapped in deep slumber.
Gaining the dark and dusty hallway
the man proceeded onward, going up
a flight of stairs and then into musty
smelling passage, narrow and dark as
Hades.
Here he produced large lantern
from, some corner, and striking match
he lighted candle and unlocked a
strongly barred door of room situated
it appeared, iu the very heart of the
old house, and surrounded by rooms
on all sides. Into this apparently
secret room the stranger entered.
By the rays Of the candle in the
lantern we see round, wood-panneled
room, cold and chilly, stool, an old
fireless hearth, and a straw tick laid
on the dirty dust.covered floor, and on
this tick reclines pale emaciated man
ofperhaps 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 a heavy ring in
the side of the wall.
This man is prisoner. The stran-
ger is his jailor.
80 Robert Grantly" says the
stranger laying his lantern down, and
then resting himself on three-legged
stool, "pve come back again, you see I!
Come, you amt sleeping!'
"Go away from my sight you demon
in mans form! y cried out the prisoner.
"Your presence is a poison to me !!
Curse you what has brought you here
again? Let me starve to death, but
do not torment me with your fiendish
presence p
"Come now. Grantly, you know why
/ came here again. want you to
answer, yes or-no.
mo, you plotting, incarnate scoun-
del No, to your teeth, and for the
last timc!'
"You are quite brave, amt your"
sneered the stranger. you'll never
leave this place, it shall be your tomb. "
Perhaps" replied the prisoner,
shut III not give up my life without a
struggle, | can tell you. You false,
trcacherous Judas"
Judas, and the stranger laughed
or at least grinned, as the "traditional"
demon does in satanic plays.
Eyes, that is rightly your name.
Who else but an assassin and Judas
would have played the vile and double
part you have enacted? Why am |
here, "a weak and starving man? Why
have | been imprisoned here for twelve
months? You are a penniless man. |
was paying my addresses to Marion
Mandrake, 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 the
part of IL friend to me, and late one
night, after drugging me, you entlced
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.
"You can purchase your freedom
by"
"By signing a paper drawn up by
you, Ralph I4angly, renouncing all
claim to Marion Mandrake'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 llv-
ing soul my imprisonment here"
Exactly, my dear Robert, these
are the conditions wherein you& gail
your life and liberty; my fine fellow"
II scorn your offer | utterly ant
firmly refuse them, and defy your
threats, Ralph Langly."
"This room shall be your tomb then
do you hear me. Your tomb, | say
your tomb Y
"You said that before; there is NJ
use in your repeating it, Now go AM
leave me"
II shall return again --to-morroS
night---for Bour last answer, and the
| you shall b left, here to die. And