Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-09-22

was holding up his right hand, as if to order
me to be silent. Then he held his candle |
down, for there was another sound, but this |
time more of a grinding cracking in dull |
sort OF way, Just as if some one was forcing
an iron chlsel in between the Joints of the |
stones. Then there was long pause, and l
half thought 1t had been fancy; but S, on
after, as stood there hardly able to breathe,
the sawdust just in one place was heaved up
about an inch
was terribly alarmed, not knowing what
to think; but Sir John was brave as brave,
and he signed to me not to speak, and stood
watching till there was a dull cracking
sound, the sawdust was heaved up again,
and all at once seemed to get hot puff of
that burnt oily smell right in my nose
Then began to understand, and felt afraid
in different fashion, as knew that we had
only got there just in time
The next minute Sir John made a move
ment toward me, took my candle and turned
it upside down, so that it went out, and then
pointed back toward the outer cellar, as he
put his lips to my ear:
! 'Iron bari"
| | stepped back softly and got the iron bar
from where it lay on the edge of a bin, and l
was about to pick up the screw driver, when
remembered where the wooden mallet lay,
and picked up that before stepping softly
back to where Sir John was watching the
floor; and now | could See that the sawdust
was higher in one place, as if fagstone had
been heaved up little at one end.
There was no doubt about it. for as |
handed the wbar, the end of the stone was
wrenched up little higher and then stuck ;
for it was tightly held by those on either
side; but it was up far enough to let a thin
ray of dull light come up through the floor
and shine on the side of one of the old chests
TWAS curious scene there, in that gloomy
cellar; Sir John standing on one side, candle
in his left, the iron bar in his right hand, and
me on the other bending down ready with
the mallet TO hit over the head the first
that should come up through the floor, For,
though horribly alarmed, could understand
\ now what it all meant-an attempt to steal
the gold in the chests, though how those who
We're working below had managed to get
there was more than could have said.
As We watched, the smell of the burnt oil
came through, and | knew that it must have
been going on for long time.
All at once we could hear a low whispering
and then there was grinding noise of iron
against stone; the flag gritted and gave 8
little, but 1t held fast ali along, and | could
understand that the man who was irving Il
wrench it up had no room to work, anc
therefore no power TO wrench up the stone
Then came the faint whispering again, ant
it seemed to sound hollow Then another
grinding noise, and the end of the flag wa.
moved tritle higher, so that the line o.
light on the old chest looked two or tire,
inches broad
stepped softly TO Sir John and put m,
lips to his ear as the whispering could b
heard again, and said softly:
shall fetch the policeF'
Sir John for answer set his candle dow
upon the top of one of the chests and put
out with the bar as he whispered to me il
5 turn: Wait few moments" And them
"Lookf He pointed with the iron bar; an,
as l stared hard at the faint light shining u
= from below the edge of the stone, could Sc
Just the tips OF some ones fingers com
, through and sweep the sawdust away I
u right and left Then they came through
q little more and were drawn back, while d
- rectly after came the low whispering agar
It and the hand now was thrust right throug
q as far as the wrist.
a Yes" said Sir John then, as he graspe
!. my arln-''the police Just then he uttere
IA a gasp, and | turned to look at him. but "
| were in the dark, and could not see his fac
o but he gripped my arm more tightly, and
looked once more toward the broad ray,
see the hand resting now full in the hight, an
'. | turned cold with horror. for there W,
Ia something shining quite brightly. and l couI
"a see that it was a signet ring, ana what w
IT more, the old ring Mr.. Barclay used to we;
the one he had worn since he was quite
stripping, and beyond which the JOINT he
grown 50 big that he could never get ii
jewel of
| should have bent down there, staring
y that ring for long enough, fascinated, as u
n may say, only all at once l felt my ar
If dragged, and was pushed softly into t
Nd outer cellar, and from there into the passa
or beyond. Sir John closing and locking t
door softly, before lettering into the pant
l." and sinking into n chair, utterinC low moa
e. "Oh, don't take on. sir l whispered; b
he turned upon me roughly.
at ''Silence, man." be painted, 'and give 7
ut time 10 Think and then heard him breat
softly, in a voice so full of agony that it W
We terrible TO hear: oh my sonl-ny SOM
ne ''He wouldn't; there's some mistake"
on mistake. Then You saw it too, BurdC
all No; there is no mistake
couldn't speak, for l remembered abe
nd the KEYS, and something seemed to come
Ike in my throat and choke me, for it seemed
FER terrible for my young master to have dc
nS this thing.
he '.What are you going to do, sir!" said
last, and it was me now who gripped
'at arm
Oh Dor he said bitterly 'All that is hf
bat tage: mine to hold in trust for my son
rad after my death to bold in trust for the &
md erations to come Burden, it is an incubu
one a curse; but have my duty to do that
me gold shall not be wasted on a wanton'-
ar. "What!7 painted You think that II
of eyes" he cried fiercely. TIT is t
90, wretched Jezebel who has turned my p
ice boys brainT
''' Trio RI CGNTTST-rD