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

replied.
Then, stepping forward, he took from
nail large rusty key, inserted IL into the
lock, and with difficulty turned it, aud pushed
open the door He passed through the door
way, closely followed by Nat The floor OF
the place they entered was Of tagging, and
damp aud sliniv; and the casks it contained
were covered with peculiar light mold while
the humid atmosphere was heavy with the
odor of liquor Rats scampercd across the
floor aud disappeared in the chnks of the
walls and the spaces between the barrels.
Norton set the lantern down, and, producing
glass which he had brought with him from the
Office, crossed to a small cask with spigot in
it, and drew therefrom some liquor, which he
presented to Nat saying:
''rhis Is some of our best Catawba. Try il.
I'll wager you never tasted better"
Nat thanked him as he took the glass, aud
touched it To his lips,
Excellent" he said: then turning his eyes
toward his companion, he continued: "A
dismal place this, Mr. Norton. Reminds one
OF o tomb. A cold danpness pervades the
atmosphere, suggesting the presence OF
death"
Norton started and turned deadly pale. It
seemed TO him that Mats gaze penetrated to
his very soul. He dared not look at him.
sudden and terrible sensation of fear pos
sessed him. He felt as If the dead were COM
ing from their graves to accuse him.
''What crimes might be perpetratcd In \
place like this" continued Nat. "A murder,
say, and the body of the victim concealed be-
meath this noor-certainly spot calculated
to delight the mind OF novclist--but you APP
pear ILL.,"
The light OF the lantern fell upon Norton's
features, disclosing their ashy palor. His
blood seemed 10 CONCEAL in his veins, and
cold chills crept through his very marrow.
ut is nothing" he gasped. "A chill
nothing more"
Mats gaze had fallen from the face OF his
companion TO the floor In a crevice between
the nagstones he saw a toadstool.
"As live, vegetation" he exclaimed, cut
ting the RANK thing down with his cane
"Such things should grow upon graves, not in
winc-ccllars."
'T-I can remain here no longer" cXclaim.
ed Norton, staggering toward the door Il
am I'LL"
The lantern slipped from his grasp,
and would have fallen to the stone floor
had not Nat sprang forward and caught it.
As lie did so he noticed something spark ing
at his feet. He stopped, picked il up aud
examined it, 1t proved to be the stone from
ring--a bloodstone with the letters r. s. cut
in monogram upon It's face. Had he found L
diamond Of immense worth, he could no:
have clutched it with more cagcrncss.
AT last--at LAST. he exclaimed ''licrc
is proof"
Proof Of what!n asked Norton, wildly.
''Of your guilt" replied Nat, turning upon
| him--''of the murder Of Robert Stanford,
whose body lies moldering beneath the loOT
Of this vault"'
at is falsc" cried Norton.
at is true" replied Nat. 81 know THIS
seal lie was employed by you. lie disap-
peared suddenly, He was last seen in your
Office on the floor above When you discover
ed your bookkeepcr, Redield, to be none other
| than Robert Stanford, your former victim,
YOU were stricken with fear. He knew too
much Of your past llfc and could tell un-
pleasant truths in connection with il. To
prevent his uttering words which might cause
your overthrow, you murdered him aud
buried his body here"
II am lost-lost!' cried Norton, staggering
back.
"Yes" answered Nat, ''your reign is over
your career of crime is ended >
"No!n cried Norton, turning suddenly upon
him. "You are mistaken. Ynu have not
| crushed me yet | did Kill Robcr; Stanford,
and beneath your feet lies his body. You
know the truth now--l tell it TO ,oa with my
own lips But you shall not 30 possessing it,
No. Here you shall dir---staWe with the
ratsl"
And before Nat could fully realize the fact,
the wretch had snatchcd the lantern from his
hand and rushed from the place. closing and
! locking the heavy iron door between them.
Great Hcaven!n exclaimed Nat, when the
horror of his situation burst upon his mind,
she has locked the door! There is no escape
Must her newborn hopes be blightcd: Fool,
fool why lid not have patience. Why did
accuse him here Must die in this place.
in this dismal vault, with the body OF my
murdered cousin beneath my very feet /.
/ Help hclp!'
, He kicked and pounded upon the door, but
no help came At length, exhausted, tremb
ling with horror, the strong man sank back
upon the damp floor, a helpless victim to
despair He felt the rats run over his limbs,
and grca, beads OF cold perspiration broke
out upon his brow as he realized how man,
long, terrible hours must pass before death
would mercifully come TO release him FROM
his torture.
When Norton assembled from the vault he
! found Richard-who had returned In his
absence--and Sampson conversing together in
the Office The latter was dumiounded a.
seeing his employer return alone. What had
become OF the man who had followed him
down the stairsi The question was one
which perplexcd him.
Norton, having closed and fastened the
door after him, extinguished the lantern aud
returned II to its place; then, glanclng at the
clock, he turned to the boy and said;
"You may go home now, Richard"
Then he took up the paper he had been
reading when Nat entered, folded and de-
posted 1t in his pocket, tried the safe door to
see whether 1t was locked, and, putting on his
hat, said to Sampson:
''Klopp. ron can close up now. am going
home Good-evenng."