The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-08-21
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hau vanished. There was but a smooth stone
surface. L pressed every spot in search OF q
| secret spring, but in vain, and after an hour
! Oh useless search cursed my own folly and
| ldle curiosity for having thus entrapped me. I
struck my other match, and noticed that the
| little gallery here at its beginning, was WIDEN
ed into sort of vestibule large enough to hold
| table and chair, and bent off in one direction
into sort of alcove. | could not suppress an
exclamation of delight as discovered short
candle on the table, Besides this candle.
the table held pens, ink paper and an odd
copper salver, with heavily wrought rim in
antique design, the centre smooth polished
surface. An odd ornamentfor this strange place
| thought. looked at the pens. One had been
recently used. AS | sat undecided whether to
! call Tor help, or await the return OF the habl-
tues OF the place for my release, light flashed
upon me from dark corner. | picked up the
| glittering thing--a locket with ieweled MON
ogram. pressed the spring, and disclosed .
dark, wicked magnitcenty handsome
| lace l knew it in an instant-that OF
| Alvarez Dacarro a man whose name d
few years ago had been on every lip who
was now remembered for his wickedness and
his perfidy, who was under sentence of death,
and who had despoiled Reynolds Hcrholf's
father-in-aw of half his fortune through the
strange, magnetic influence lie had acquired
over his daughter. She at one time had
wished to marry him, but had been made, il
! was said, to sec his perfdy before it was too
| late.
| The locket, / supposed, had been Mrs. Her
| non 5, ana inc maid VINO llSeu inns passage ZOE
hermidnight meeting probably had stolen it.
| Putting the Jewel in my pocket, began
! again with the all of CANDLE fresh search
| for hidden springs. l returned to the further
| end OF the gallery, assthat surface was smaller
one to look over. | had passed many times
! from end to end of the smooth stone pressing
each spot separately, before Noticed a mere
| pin-polnt, where the stone seemed slightly
roughened. pressed it. A door swung quickly
open on noiseless hinges, and draught blew
some sillSen fabric across my cheek | reed
! myself from the material and looked around
me. Tho bright moonlight, through large
window. showed me my own rooml
went to the door. IL was bolted as / had
| left it. My room, then, was in the secret
! passage route examined the paneled wall,
but could discover no sign of doorway, and
as there was nothing to be developed by con-
| lectures, L soon fell asleep.
| Twice during the following day sought an
! interview with Mrs Herholf but was unable
| to see her. had determined to tell her all I
knew of the use which was being made of tho
! secret passage, and to restore her locket, as
well as seek an explanation of my ''silvef
ghost" as l had called my nightly visitor.
! Herholf was confined to his room, and his wife
remained with him.
Worn out with my watch of the night be-
! fore, retired early, and soon fell into heavy
| sleep, from which the oppressive sultriness OF
the night reused me. went TO the window.
| The thick darkness was only the more mant-
] fest by the occasional brilliant flashes In the
1 south, which foretold IN approaching storm. I
was seated by an open window close co the
| tapestried wall.
| Suddenly seemed to hear or feel human
| breath. / caughtmy own and listened with
intensity of purpose. which defeated its own
| object. The blood whirred in a heavily pulsing
stream past my cars. in its round to and from
the brain. Like flash the white. floating IL
illuminate figure came and melted away, at the
other end of the wall rs L felt through the
tapestry curtain the contact of passingihuman
| figure close by me!
Now knew that what had seen had BEEN
reflection! No wonder it had melted to
nothingness when / seized it.
| waited a few seconds, and then slipping
| noiselessy the panel 1 had learned TO know
last night, entered the gallery. 1t was, as
expected to find 1t, 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 announced the arrival OF the
| storm.
| A strong glare overhead made me for the
first time aware that light from the outes
world entered here. i now saw above me
| glass plate, clear, but very heavy, semi circu-
| lar in form and sem-horiZontal in position;
| doubtless unnoticeable from without, but con-
centrating in daytime q fair light on the table.
The wind was bearing the storm on rapidly;
| each moment there were renewed peals OF thun,
| der, and an almost constant stream of iighs
! came through the circle of glass.
i was determined to await my visitors res
| turn, 'and looked about for hiding place. A
| jntting corner offered the shelter | sought. L
stepped into it, and as | did so dislodged soma
material which must have hung on peg above
me, and which fell, covering my head and
shoulders in soft, close, yet metallic folds.
| / threw IL quickly off, and it fell to the floor
| in heap, which glittered strangely
in the flashes OF light. / took it up
| quickly and bore it TO the nearer light. 1t was
binding dazzling-a curiously wrought suit OF
finest silver wire, soft and yielding as silk. I
folded it, as might silk handkerchief, and
put 10 into my pocket. was no longer at
fou oil
A half-hour more had passed There was .
sudden rush of air from the outer world, bear
| ing with it the increased sound OF water pour
ing heavily down. Steps upon the stone pave
ment and knew myself, at last shut in with
the Ghost of Penares.
! listened with beating heart. The tones
Of a mans voice fell on my ear, followed by
| those OF woman in reply. Both were sup
| pressed, but could occasionally distinguish n
| word, or detached parts of sentences. some
| times with tender infection, more usually
with eager accent and indicating an absorbing
| tonic.
Once the mans tones became quite clear.
"White powder, if the drops don't answer.
| Kemember by Thursday-beats forty-fye.-"
| A sudden peal Of deafenng thunder drowned
the tones, and when | could distinguish them
again he was saying:
"Be sure of your work We shall have noth-
| ing to fear-eyerything to hope"
| A few moments silence, then whispered
]
lac was leaving her. by a sudden flash | saw
him bend over the table, and lifting the waiter,
disclose an opening from which he took roll
OF papers. He placed them in his breast and
turned TO the door. Again lie turned, folded
4 his companion in passionate embrace, and
was gonel
A thrill passed like an electric shock through
my frame. That dark, handsome Spanish
face, with IT'S jagged scar across the left cheek,
had not its counterpart in my possession3
The storm was now at its height Waves Of
| wind and water seemed testing the house to
its foundation. Peal after peal OF
thunder reyerberate1 on my ears.
Suddenly binding flash OF lightning
came, like stream Of liquid fire, pouring
through the crescent permeating, as 1t were,
the entire gallery and outlining each stone la
the mody wall. The woman seemed envol-
oped In flame as tongues Of fire played around
her figure. The deafening peal Of thunder I
was dmy conscious of as / fell TO the floor
stunned and blinded.
When / recovered my consciousness, II was
with woman's shrek resoundng in my ears.
by the fitiul illumination from the lightning
saw that was alono. I went 70 the table and
lighted the candle 20 fixed purpose inducing
me. perhaps, still! rot quite recovered from the
electric shock. Mechanically picked up the