Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-01-05
CHAPTER XVII.

CuAflEh ANil'
On the afternoon of the day following the
events narrated in the previous chapter,
Sampson, while unloading his truck before
the warehouse, saw Nat Garvin approaching.
He looked up and smiled, expecting that gen
tlcmau would salute him in his usual pleasant
manner, but was rather surprised and cha
grined when lie passed him without word,
or even nod of recognition, and, entering
the warehouse, proceeded straightway toward
the Office in the rear.
Chats kind Of strange" unused Sampson.
"Now, II didn't know him to be All ut-and
out good fellow, I'll believe he was putting on
quite clear he didn't want me to let on
knowed him. He's driving at something
don't understand, and something that isn't
any business of mine, either
Having thus adjusted the matter in his
mind, he quietly proceeded with his work.
Norton was alone in the Office, his book
keeper having gone home ILL., and Richard,
the office boy being absent on an Grand. He
was reading a paper, but as Nat entered, he
laid it aside and looked toward him inQlir-
lngly.
"Mr. Norton, presume" said Nat
"Yes, sir" he replied.
"Permt me-" said Nat, presenting card,
'to introduce myself"
Norton took the card, and glaucing at it,
read
''Wm. J. Brlslow. Commercial Reporter. "
T. Produce Gazette"
II am pleased to make your acquaintance,
Mr.. Bristow," he said, extending his hand.
"Be seated, sir. In what way can I serve
youi"
II have called" replied Nat, seating him
self, ''to obtain some information from you
regarding the production of American Wines
i am preparing an article on the subject for
publication in the next issue of The Gazette
and shall be extremely Obliged 10 you for any
points you may feel inclined to give me, and
in return, wouli, if you desire it, run in n
few lines about yourself and your extensive
connection with the trade
Norton fully appreciated the value of II
gratuitous advertisement of this character
and he at once expressed his willingness to
give his visitor all the information in his
power; and, having offered Nat a cigar,
which he accepted and lit, he entered into a
detailed description Of the culture of the
grape In California, and the method OF it's
conversion into wine, to which Nat listened
with evident interest. AT length, having fin.
shed, Norton, turning toward his visitor, in
CURED;
"Would you like to go through my vaults
and sample some Of the wine,"
"Nothing would give me greater pleasure"
replied Nat
Norton arose, and, taking lantern from II
oil In, Of Ia, IN; 1aI 10
light it. Having done this, he turned to Nat,
and said:
Zone moment and | will be- at your service,
Mr.. Bristow." Then stepping into the ware
house, he called TO Sampson: keep an eye
to the office; ] am going below"
"All right, SIR replied Sampson.
Returning to the office, Norton opened q
door and led the way down a narrow fight Of
stairs into n dark, damp vault beneath.
Sampson, looking in from the street, saw
through the glass panels of the partition the
door close behind the two men. For some
moments he stood wondering; then he said,
half aloud:
'I'd give ten dollars TO know what all this
means. What business leads Mr.. Garvin
down into them musty vaults among the rats |.
Something out of the ordinary way, I'll bet
my head!'
Nat, having descended the stairs, followed
bis conductor along a gloomy passage, be
tween rows of casks piled from floor to cell
ing, until they reached a low brick archway,
through which they passed into larger
space, at the end Of which, set In the stone
wall, was n rusty iron door. This vault was
not so crowded with casks az that which they
had just left The floor was composed Of
cement, and from above hung heavy drapery
OF cobwcbs. The sickly light of the lantern
impaired to the place a weird and ghostly
aspect, reminding Nat, as he looked about of
descriptions he had read of the Catacombs of
Rome; and, as he peercd into the darkness,
which enveloped the distant corners he could
almost imagine he saw rows OF half-naked
skeletons, whose grlnning skulls aud slghtless
eyes were turned toward him.
''Ths," said Norton, lis where most of the
choicest wine Is kept"
Nat raised his eyes to the raftcrs overhead,
where he could distinguish the traces of q
large trap-door.
what is above usf' he inquired.
"Thc warehouse" replied Norton.
"And the iron door yonder," said Nat,
pointing toward the wall opposite them-''in-
10 what does that opcnf'