Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-12

selZirg Berrlck arm, gaspeu out
"For Gods sake tell me, what is
it? You know if there is anything
wrong. Tell me The truth, or by the
heaven above us III make you! :"
Z" can tell you nothing now; but to-
morrow, yes, tomorrow night you
shall know ALL"
laughed to scorn the idea OF wait
ing till tomorrow. | felt that long
before that time | should be raving
unatic; but iE vain pleaded, TstOrmed,
| threatened. Chalmers was immoya-
bic.
Jack got me away at last, and |
spent the few hours before daylight in
pacing up and down my room, mad
dened by conflicting doubts and fears,
tortured by vain conjectures as terrible
as | had found the reality.
VI.
The next night was dark and stormy.
How | had passed the day cannot
now remember. only know that
every moment seemed an eternity Of
suffering. Chalmers was away from
breakfast until dinner, and Manvers
accompanied him.
When they returned Derrick briefly
told us to prepare to brave the ele-
ments, as be wished US to go with him
to the priOry.
We put on thick pea coats and dark
cloth caps, and at II o'clock started of
in the doe-cart, Chalmers driving.
The rain came down in torrents, and
it was as dark as Erebus. We pulled
up at the police station just outside the
village of Leeford, and the Inspector.
who evidently expected us, came out
and said something in an undertone 70
Chalmers.
We alighted; taking bull's-eye
lantern, the latter signed TO US TO follow
him.
look here, Chalmers" I said hasti-
ly, 81 don't know what you are going
to DO, but I'm not . party to any un-
de1hand-"
"Silence " replied be sternly; if
you do not wish to accompany me, you
can stay here; nothing you can say or
do will avail now"
"Shut up, Cis," growled Jack,
taking my arm, "yOu can't do any
good by talking, so We may as well see
this thirg through, aud | must confess
en- deyoured with curiosity. | know
something, but not ALL
So Chalmers and the Inspector led
the way, not to the Inhabited part OF
the priory, but to the ruins; we en-
tered part Of the grounds | had never
visited. and there We halted, our Ian
tern making a spot Of faint light in the
bacbness Of the night.
The Inspector gave a low whistle,
which was returned at some little dis
lance.
We then went on through what
seemed a thicket of brushwood and
other underground till we arrived al a
heavy iron door almost concealed by
oyeIhaDging creepers. instantly con-
cluded it must be the entrance to the
subterranean vaults | had heard were
connected with the house. Chalmers
Inserted a key into the lock and we
entered. Inside we found four men
stationed, aud noiselessly and on tiptoe
We cIept along a mOldy dank stone
passage dripping with water, until we
came TO another iron door clamped
with heavy iron bars. Here Chalmers
again stopped and listened intently,
wten | vas startled into nearly drop
ping the formidable stick | carried by
hearing Ethel Dalton's silyery voice say
within short distance of me
"Hark :" did you hear anything"
"Iti is only those cursed rats" re-
piled a deeper voice, which | recog-
nized as that Of her father.
At this moment felt myself firmly
seized by the arm, and Chalmers drew
me into q recess where was another
door, but smaller and less heavily con-
structed, and overgrown with MOSES
and ljchen.
Nov" lie said, in a low under
tone, "you may see for yourself what
manner of people these Daltons are
As he spoke be withdrew with the
Utmost care and noiselessness a brick
from the masonry at the side, leaving
exposed a small iron grating. looked
through, but for IN instant my heart
throbbed so uadly that | could DIS
tibguish nothing; but presently Gu
rious scene met my eyes. | saw
small yaulted stone apartment lighted
by several candles. In one corner was
o gas-stoye, over which the elder Dal-
ton was bending, in the act Of stirring
something in metal po:.
At a rough desl-tsb!e were Ethel
and her brother, busily engaged with
some complicated machinery; the ring
of metal sounded in my ears, and, in
deed, prevented them from being aware
OF our close proximity while pile
of bright soyereigns and other coins
lay scattered about in all directions.
"What does it mean "a" whispered,
while a terrible fear seemed to para
lyze me.
at MEANS" whispered back Chal-
mers, "that they belocS to notorious
gang Of forgers and corners who have
eluded the police for more than two
years; but we've caught them red.
handed at last"
He looked around, whistled, then
threw himself with all his force against
the door, which, previously looseusd
from the masonry, fell inward with a
crash in another instant we we're in the
room.
Ny first thought was to rescue
Ethel. Upon seeing US, she uttered
piercing shriek--a shrek which even
now at times rings in my ears-and
flew to the door opening into the build
ing. | fastened 10 assist her, but 1t
was already guarded we were too
late.
AsI endeayorsd to thrust the con-
stable aside, jim Dalton, who was
struggling with Chslmers, rushed at
me. Drawing revolver, he exclaimed :
Devil it is you who have betrayed
u.s." There was report; Ethel, with
a cry for mercy, flung herself before
me the next moment she fell into my
L