Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-12-23
CHAPTER VI.

chair, and forsaking the game of ten
MS then proceeding to go forward and
greet her host, where have you been?
We have missed you so much. Flor
ence"-turnlng to her cousin - will
you take my bat, dearest? I am quite
tired of trying to defeat Lord Lisle"
Lord LiSle, middle-aged gentleman
of sunburned appearance, looks unmis-
takably delighted at the prospect of a
change In the game. He is married;
has large family of promising young
Llsles, and a feryent passion for ten
MS. Mrs. Talbot having proved q very
contemplate adversary, he is charmed
at his chance of getting rid of her.
So Florence, Uice Dora retired, joins
the game, and the play continues with
unabated Yigor. When however Lord
Llsle has scored grand victory, and
all the players declare themselves
thoroughly exhausted and in need of
refreshments, Sir Adrian comes for
ward, and walks straight up to Miss
Delmaine, to Dora's intense chagrin
and the secret rage Of Arthur Dyne-
court.
"You have often asked to see the
haunted chamber" he says; "Why not
come and visit it now? 1t isn't much to
see, you know; but still, in ghostly
sense, it is, | suppose, interesting"
Let us make a party and go to-
gether," suggests Dora, enthusiastical-
ly clasping her hands-her favorite
method of showing false emotion of
any kind. She is determined to have
her part in the programme, and is
equally determined that Florence shall
go nowhere alone with Sir Adrian.
What capital ideal" puts in Ar
thur Dynecourt, coming up to Miss
o1Ix 4, L
with all the air of a rightful owner.
Charming" mutters young lady
standing by; and so the question is
settled.
1T will be rather a fatiguing journey,
you know" says Captain Ringwood,
confidentially, to Ethel Villiers. Its
an awful lot Of stairs; I've been there,
so know all about tits worse than
the treadmill."
Have you been there too?" demands
Miss Ethel saucily, CHANGING at him
from under her long lashes.
Not yet" answers the captain, with
little grin. But, / say, don't 60
will your"
II must; I am dying to see it," replies
Ethel. "You needn't come, you know;
[ dare say I shall be able to get on
without you for half an hour or So"
monty well without me forever" re-
torts the captain rather gloomily. To
himself he cOnfesses modify that this
girl with the auburn hair and the blue
eyes has the power of taking the "curi
out of him" whatsoever she wishes.
Il believe you are afraid of the bogies
hidden in this secret chamber, and so
don't care to come," says Miss Villiers
tauntingly.
Il know something else I'm a great
deal more afraid Of" responds the gall
liant captain meaningly.
tainly coquettishly. "Oh, Captain Ring
Wood"-in a tone of mock injury
what an unkind speechl Now / know
you look upon me in the light of an
ogresS, or witch, or something equal
ly dreadful. Well, as [ have the name
Of it, may as well have the gain of it,
and So command you to attend me
to the haunted chamber"
"You order-I obey" says the cap
tain. "sCan and ] follow follow,
though die!'" After which quotation
he accompanies her toward the house
III the wake of Dora and Sir Adrian,
who has been pressed by the clever
widow into her service.
Florence and Arthur Dynecourt fol-
low them, Arthur talking gayIy, as
though determined to ignore the fact
that he is thoroughly unwelcome to his
companion; Florence, with head erect
and naughty footsteps and eyes care
fully ayerted.
Past the hall, through the corridor,
up the staircase, through the galleries,
along more corridors they go, laughing
and talking eagerly until they come at
last to an old and ap ,arently much dis
used part of the house.
TraVersing more corridors, upon
which dust lies thickly, they come at
last to a small iron-bound door that
blocks the end of one passage.
'NOW we really begin to get near it."
says Sir Adrian encouragingly, turning
as he always does, when opportunity
offers, to address himself solely to Flor
ence.
Don't you feel creepy-creepy?" asks
Ethel Villiers, with a smothered laugh,
looking up at Captain RinpWood.
Then Sir Adrian pushes open the
door, revealing a steep flight of stone
steps that leads upward to another
door above. This door, like the lower
one, is bound with iron.
''This is the tower" explains Sir Adj
rian, still acting as cicerone to the
small party, who look with interest
around them. Mrs. Talbot, affecting
nervousness, clings closely to Sir Adj
RAMS arm. Indeed she is debating in
her own mind whether it would be eff
fectiye or otherwise to subside into a
graceful swoon within his arms. "Yon-
der is the door of the chamber" con-
tinues Sir Adrian. Come let us go up
to it,"
They all ascend the last flight of
stone stairs; and presently their host
opens the door, and reveals to them
whatever mystery may lie beyond. He
enters first, and they all follow him,
but as if suddenly reeollecting some
important point, he turns, and calls
loudly to Captain Ringwood not to let
the door shut behind him.
There is peculiar spring in the
lock-" he explains moment later;
and, if the door slammed to, we should
find it impossible to open it from the
inside, and might remain here prison
ers forever unless the household came
to the rescue"
ooh, Captain Ringwood. pray be
careful.' cries Dora falteringly. "Our
very lives depend uPon your atten-
toni"
sMiss Villiers, do come here and help
me to remember my duty" says Capt.
RingWood, planting his back against