Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-06-20

scattered with small pieces OF masonry.
Twas one of the many chambers in the castle
that had dropped into disrepair. Cropping
my way with both hands, and barking my
shins on the loose stones, l found low vault
ed passage that led me into a second cham
Der, empty as the first. To my delight, the
door OF this was ajar, with a glimmer Of
light slanting through the crack. l made
straight towards it, and pulled the door
softly. 1t opened, and showed lantern
dimly burning, and the staircase Of the keep
winding past me, up into darkness.
My chance was, of course, to descend;
which did on tiptoe, hearing no sound. The
stairs twisted down and down, and ended by
a stout door with another lamp shining above
it. After listening moment decided to DO
bold, and lifted the latch. A faint cry sa-
luted me.
stood face to face with the jailer's daugh-
ter.
The room was a small one, well lit, and
lined about the walls with cups and bottles
Twas, as l guessed, tap room for the sol
diers; and the girl had been securing one of
| the pewter mugs when my entrance startled
her She stood up, white as if painted, and
| gasped:
"Quicli-quickl Down here behind the
counter for your lifeI'
There was scarce time to drop on my knees
before couple Of troopers lounged in, de-
manding mulled beer. The girl hustled
about to serve them, while the pair leaned
their elbows on the counter, and in this easy
attitude began to chat.
"a shrewd night"
"Ay, very freezing frost! Lucky that
soldering is not all gentry work, or for one
ud ensue my natural trade o. plumbing. But
let's be cheerful, for the voice o. the turtle is
heard i the land"
"Heyf
The man took pull at his hot beer before
explaining.
"The turtle signifeth the Earl O. Stamford,
that is tonight visiting Col. Essex in secret;
an this is the import-war, bloody war.
Mark me-"
"Stirring, striving timesl"
"You may say sol "A hath fifteen thou
sand men, the earl, no farther off than Taun-
ton-why, my dear, how pale you look, to be
surei"
"'Tis my head that aches" answered the
girl.
The men finished their drink and sauntered
out. l crept from under the counter and
looked at her.
"Father'u kill me for this"
"Then you shall say: Is it forward or back
must gof"
side her feet and pointed out ladder leading
down to the darkness. THE courts are full
Of troopers she added.
1.-The celar~
She nodded.
"Quick! There's door at the far end. It
leads to the crypt Of St. Johns chapel. You'll
find the key beside it and lantern. Here is
flint and steel" She reached them down
from shelf beside her. Crouch down, or
they'll spy you through the window. From
the crypt passage takes you to the COVER
nor's house. How to escape then, God knows'
IT'S the best I can think on"
thanked her and began to step down the
ladder. She stood for n moment to watch
leaving the trap open for better light. Be-
) tween the avenue of casks and bins l STUN
bled towards the door and lantern that were
:, just to be discerned at the far end of the eel
lar. AS struck steel on flint l heard the
trap close, and since then have never set eye:
on that kind hearted girl.
The lantern lit, l took the key and fitted il
to the lock. 1t turned noisily, and a cole
Whit of air struck my face Gazing roun,
} this new chamber | saw two lines of squa
} pillars, supporting a low, arched roof. 'Twa
the crypt beneath the chapel, and smelt vilely
: a green moisture trickled down the pillars
l and dripped on the tombs beneath them.
9 At the end of this dreury place was a broker
e door, consisting only Of splank or two, tina
f ! easily pulled away; and beyond, a marrow
t passage, over which | heard the tread o
/ troopers plainly, Us they paced to and fro
, also the muilled note OF the clock, sounding
v The passage went fairly straight but wa
blocked here and there with fallen stones
n over which | scrambled rs best l could. An,
= then, suddenly, | was near pitching down
Nir,b- n I hold tba In l,t
d and looked.
|, At the steps foot widened out T. low room
:, whereof the ceiling, like that of the crypt
d rested on pillars. Between these every inc
e of space was piled with barrels, chests an
great pyramids of round shot. In each cor
Il ner lay heap of rusty pixies OF all this til
g Specification was clear. | stood III the nun
Ie ton room of tine castle.
If But what chiefly took my notice was
r great door, studded with iron nails, tina
o barred all exit from the place. over I'll
l. barrels ! crept towards it, keeping the Lar
G, tern high, in dread of firing any loose pow
der. Twas fast locked.
he think that, for moment or two, coul
IF have wept. But in a while the thought struC
81 u.e that with the knife in my pocket 'twi
lie possible to cut away the wood around ii
'r lock- "Courage" said |, and, pulling
forth, knelt down to work.
/ Luck in life has always used me better tina
t, my deserts. At an hours end there | wa
hacking away steadily, yet had made bl
ls little progress. And then, pressing the kni
S. deep, broke tho blade off short. The doc
,e upon the far side was cased with iron.
Id Tramp tramp!
y Twas the sound of a mans football, and
N the ear appeared 10 be descending fight
1t steps on the other side of the door. | bel
my ear to the keyhole, then stepped TO
L. casll of bullets that stood handy by. | too
r, out dozen, felt in my pocket for Delia's Ike
chief that she had given me, caught up phi
from the pile stacked in the corner, an
IL softly blowing out my light, stood back to
concealed by the door when it opened.
The footsteps still descended. l heard 6
" aged voice muttering:
If ''Shriyel my bones--uFh ugh! Wintl
work-wintry work! Here's an hour to ser
IN a grandfatherly man a-groping for keg
D. powder"
ne A wheezy cough closed the sentence, as
of key was with difficulty fitted in the lock.
-, 81 tubt ughI Sura the lock- AM be q pail