Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-07

smootn stone surface. pressed every
spot In search of secret spring, but in
vain, and after an hour of useless search
l cursed my own folly end idle curiosity
for having thus entrapped me. struck
my other match and noticed that the lit
tie gallery here, at its beginning, was
widened Into sort Of vestibule large
enough to hold table and chair. and
bent of in one direction into sort Of al
cove. l could not suppress an exclama~
ton Of delight as I discovered a
short candle on the table. Besides
this candle the table held pens,
ink, paper and an odd copper salver
with heavy wrought rim in antique
design. the center smooth, polished sur
face. An odd ornament for this strange
place, thought. looked OF the pens.
One had been recently used. AS sat un-
decided whether to call for help, or await
the return Of the hebitues of the place
for my release, light flashed upon me
from dark corner. picked up the gilt
tering thing-a locket with q jeweled
monogram pressed the spring. and dis
closed a dark, wicked. magnifcently
handsome face. knew it in an instant
that of Alvarez Dacarrol man whose
name O few years ago had been on every
lip, who was now remembered for his
wickedness and his perfdy, who was
under sentence Of death, and who had
despoiled Reynolds Herholfs fatherin-
law Of half his fortune through the
strange, magnetic influence he had ac-
quired over his daughter. She ct one
time had wished to marry him, but had
been made, it was said, to see his perfdy
before it was too late.
The locket. l supposed. had been Mrs.
Herholf's. and the maid who used this
passage for her midnight meeting proba-
bly, had stolen it.
Putting the jewel in my pocket, I began
again, with the aid Of the candle, a fresh
search for hidden springs. l returned to
the further end of the gallery. as that
surface was q smaller one to look over l
had passed many times from end to end
of the smooth stone, pressing each spot
separately, before I noticed nero pin
point, where the stone seemed slightly
roughened. pressed it. A door swung
quickly open on noiseless hinges, and a
draught blew some silken fabric across
my cheek. / freed myself from the ma
terial and looked around me. The bright
moonlight, through large window,
showed me my own room.
went to the door. 1t was bolted, as I
had left it. My room, then, was in tho
secret passage route. l examined tho
paneled wall, but could discover no sign
of doorway, and as there was nothing
to be developed by conjectures, l soon fell
asleep.
Twice during the following day sought
en- interview with Mrs. Herholf, but was
unable to see her. l had determined to
tell her all knew of the use which was
being made of the secret passage, and to
restore her locket, as well as seek an ex-
PLANTATION of my "silver ghost" as had
called my nightly visitor Herholf was
confined to his room, and his wife re-
manned with him.
Worn out with my watch of the night
before, retired early, and soon fell into
heavy sleep, from which the oppressive
sultriness of the night reused me. Invent
to the window. The thick darkness was
only the more manifest by the occasional
brilliant flashes in the south, which fore
told an approaching storm. Twas seated
by an open window close to the tapestried
wall.
Suddenly, 1 seemed to hear or feel hui
man breath. l caught my own, and lis
tened with an intensity of purpose which
defeated its own object. The blood
whirred in heavily pulsing stream past
my ears, in its round to and from the
brain. Like flash the white, floating,
illuminate figure came and melted away,
at the other end of the wall, as felt
through the tapestry curtain the contact
of passing human figure close by mel
Now l knew that what | had seen had
been retlectionl No wonder it had
melted to nothingness when seized it.
| waited few seconds, and then slip.
ping noiselessly the panel l had learned
TO know last night, / entered the gallery.
1t was, as expected to find it, dark and
empty. CROPPED my way slowly to the
lower end. A strong blast of wind and the
beating of rain on the wall outside an
nounced the arrival of the storm.
A strong glare overhead made me for
the first time aware that light from the
outer world entered here. l now saw
above me glass plate, clear, but very
heavy, semi-circular in form and semi
horizontal in position; doubtless unnotice-
able from without, but concentrating in
daytime fair light on the table.
The wind was bearing the storm on
rapidly; each moment there were renewed
peals of thunder, and on almost constant
stream of light came through the circle of
glass.
l was determined to await my visitors
return, and looked about for hiding
place. A jutting corner offered the shelter
| sought. Istepped into it. and as did
so, dislodged some material which must
have hung on peg above me, and which
fell, covering my head and shoulders in
soft, close, yet metallic folds. l threw it
quickly off, and it fell to the floor in heap
which glttered strangely in the flashes
Of light. took 1t up quickly and, bore it
dazzling-a curiously wrought suit Of
silk. l folded it, as might have done
silk handkerchief, and put it into my
pocket. YVES no longer at a loss for my
nightly visitors silvery whitenessl
A half hour moro had passed, There
was a sudden rush Of air from the outer
world. bearing with it the increased sound
Of water pouring heavily down. Steps
upon the stone pavement, and knew N.Y.
self, st last, shut in with the ghost Of
Penares.
listened with beating heart. TIE
tones of 4 mans voice fell on my ear, fol.
lowed by those of d woman in reply. Both
were suppressed, but ! could occasionally
distinguish word OF detached parts Of
sentences. Sometimes with tender in
Election. moro usually with eager accent
and indicating an absorbing topic.
Once the mans tones became quite
clear.
White powder. if Vie drops don't
answer. Remember, by Thursday-beats
60