The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-02-27


their terrified. miserable faces. de took in
/ the re~l OF US with glance.
Where's Mary - be cried suddenly No
one spoke. why the deuce don't you an
swer me who is shut in there? How could
any one BE there9 TrsshI But his face was
growing ashy gray, aud his lips white"ed as
he spoke. 'Ah, my God I never shut the
door 1t is not Mary. not my girl that's
He pointed wiki a shaking hand to the hes-
Wy door. 'And-I haven't the-keyV
He made one rush TO the street; the ser
wants standing about were swept right aud
left, as he tore past them. down Orchard
street into Oxford street They could see
the hatless, fleeing figure disappearing 10
the distance
MIS-. Lester came into the hall TIE doc
tor and others were busy about pour Jack
March, who lay on the dining room sofa
with clUsed eyes, happily unconscious. The
timid mistress of the house stood by the
staircase, her face, her voice, her whole an
pearance changed and aged iE the last hour.
He has gone for the key he cant be
back she said, speaking Ike a woman In a
dream, not for half an hour She looked
round stupidity AMI smiled. He will kill me
YOU know; but the cabinet shall be broken
opeD-brOken to pieces. Never mind. -
Fancy waiting for the key = She laughed
Break it down, tell you. 1 give the order.
Do you hear me7'
Two woIkmen came from a side door,
where fresh and useless attempt had been
made to remove the pane without injury TO
the front OF TO the imprisoned girl.
we might loosen the wood work and
strike il out mum and 90 on taking out
screws same time
DO it,
Sharp blows upon chisels now, and sever
al screws removed from lock aud hinges.
Strike at the hinges with the Ratchet,
came Mrs. Testers altered voice, hard and
wiIy, usually so low and hesitating Cut
them through ; it can be done-it shall
They struck with a will the hatchetedge
was pressed to the weakest part, and heavy
blows from a mallet upon that. The hatch
ct edge was turned. aud a dint made some
OF the work injured and DrOkeD-5ut 10
more.
Cut through the panel. suggested Kate.
Surely wood can be broken
It's all lined with iron, num- said Davis;
1T is as good as safe. But we might try
Three telling blows. The moon suddenly
dow, and the door swung to with a bang
Every one looked round. A growl Of dis
tant thunder. aud a faint flash Of lightning
accounted for it next moment More blows
aud long Ominous roll, and the lightning
playing across the great armoire then an
avalanche Of rain and hail-al strange and
incOngruOus on this fGe evening. The room
was nearly dark. Ore Of the men spoke
G1s L. -.
brought. I'm try the top, with your leave,
ma'am. Alb, il l had light now = He was
given a taper from the library table Bill
to hIs cOmpaniOn-loOk tere hold the
light and keep hand on the side He lift
ed the hatchst and gave a swinging blow
anOther-an awful clap OF thunder aid the
next flash 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 a heap upon the floor
With a wrench the man on the ladder tore
of the upper molding and half the roof OF
the aImoire. Mrs. Lester took up the KEY.
fumblei with the lock, let it fall with a
shrek. barker caught it from her, put it IN
aud turned it. open it, she whispered to
one of the men; L can't She turned away
sick with dread. Il was opened, showing
nothing but the terrible inner door, whose
spring was only known to the master. lying
senseless on the floor.
Take of more here one OF the men
shouted It will give air till the doors get
OPEN
Good thought. They worked savagelv.
Mrs. Lester was OF her knees by her hus-
band. % get brandy. Get him to speak
He could tell US how They did what they
could. William o, speak 70 me. How
cat open it. the spriDg-the inner door,
The white lips moved, and the head with
/ It's dripping hair rolled to one side, but no
sound came. The men worked wildly nov.
/ All thought OF sparing the beautiful front
and brass-work was forgotten. They tore
and hammered at the inner door, whose
/ smooth, polished surface presented no crew
ice OF joint where to strike frst-wbere TO
insert chisel or direct blow. AS they
worked, consciousness returned 10 Mr.. Les
ter, he half sat up. supporting himself
against the door, but no words came, though
his lips moved and his eyes looked with In
tense eagerness at the destruction Of the
precious srmoire. He lifted his hands and
looked mutely at his wife. She put her
head down to bis lips. What Is its What
shall tell them to dO?' he beat his hand
upon the floor
Kate sprang forward I know know
Strike on the floor, at the foot OF the inner
door o, 1 remember, Il was there .
Davis felt with his hand all along the pol
ished surface OF the lowest shelf Here,
press here give me a hammer be felt a
slight rise, and struck gradually all about
the spot Kate showed him. A deafeninT
clap of thunder, and a flash, binding US for
the moment, and we all crowded close, and
then came q cresk, drowned In the swfu
thunder.
It's open,' said one Of the men.
, Kate slid to the door, twisting my dres
about her head.
: Davis turned from the door. 1 daren'
look he said, DO you,' to the carpenter'
I man. Open it gently
Barker stretched forward, turned round
, tried to say something, and burst out crying
1 can't see,' said the man, with a strange
thick voice. Bring the light, some one =
= For ten awful seconds there was silence Fl
z the dim room, then a cry, and heavy fal
7 'SaleeD,' said a voice close to me, do yo
know IT'S a quarter past seven, and you at
, due at the Testers at han past and nC
g even dressed. Here's your book fane
Y down.
! had been asleep over an hour.
s II felt like a cOnsplrstOr at the LESTER
Z pleasant dinner it is not surprising but di
not mention my dream.