The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-04-16
4 Tale Of Two Continents.
BY MRS. NINA LAWSON.
CHAPTER HI-(CoNT1NUED.l

minutes had released the poor Suterers
from their perilous. position.
They were leaving the detestable,
= sickening place when Johnny's quick
ear caught faint moaning at distant
corner.
"Hark! Williams; I hear a moan.
! Who can it be? This way with your
lantern, quick; perhaps it may be my
father, or-or maybe it is that poor
beautiful grill"
Williams quickly glanced at Johns
pale, anxious face, and what he saw
there told him all.
In damp, dark corner lay the al
most ifeless form of Mr.. Jones.
"Great heavens! he is dead! My
poor mother, II, my poor mother; what
Then he raised his father in his
strong arms and gently pressed his ear
to the almost silent heart.
@Thank God! He is not dead. All,
but nearly so from the loss of blood.
The two then carried the almost life
less body out in the fresh air, and
gently laid it on the soft velvety moss.
During this time the rest of the party
had found and lighted the lamp that
had been extinguished when Johnny
had fred.
They had searched the room long
and thoroughly, and were about to give
up in despair Of finding any secret door
when one of the party discovered a
spring knob resembling one of the nails
of the floor.
It was tightly pressed, when to their
great surprise a trap door flew open
and they then plainly saw how the
other thief had so easily escaped.
A pair of steep, narrow steps, led
down into dark damp room.
"We must 60 down, boys, for he is
certainly hiding somewhere near here"
They were soon searching the floor and
Halls of the lower room.
mo one is here, you see, and it seems.
almost impossible to find secret
door"
"But there is one somewhere, and it
must be found"
After another long and close search
one of the party found small, round,
yellow stone, different from the rest.
He pressed it once, twice, three times;
then door opened in front of him as
gently as leaf falling in the air.
"Ah! What means all this, boysa
Are We entering an enchanted region,
or is it all one horrible dream?"
II don't know anything about en-.
chanted regions, but this does seem very
strange. Let us SO in and see what we
can find"
As the door swung open bright
blight flashed in their eyes and sweet.
scented, warm air famed their cheeks.
After crossing short corridor that
separated the two rooms they entered
pne of grandeur and beauty, fit for a
king in the glory of his reign. The
room was not large, but roomy, and
brilliantly lighted by candles placed
N gold candlesticks that were set with
diamonds.
The walls had the appearance oi
old gold, while the floor was covered
With rose-colored plush. The orna.
nents of the room were made of gold,
md from many flashed the bright light
f the pure diamond. A few choice
ii paintings hung on tle wall, while
the center of this room was table
q which were placed many strange and
eautiful curiosities that had been gath
red from all parts of the globe.
One side of this room was beautiful,
RHcately colored plush, hung on rods
u The curtains were trimmed, and
lightly ioopca from the center, with
Eold fringe
It seemed to the lockers on that
here was . room back OF this, or,
ather, that This curtain was partition.
Young Jones and the Sheriff were
till working with the rescued prison
|rs.
By the time the discoverers had some
that recovered from their surprise, the
he other two had found their way
own the trap door and iGS Slis beau
6ful room.
"Hello! what has happened and what
oes- all this mean?
led us ON here
pme unknown, enchanted world?"
"No, Sheriff Williams, there is neither
sorcerer here nor are you here by
heans of magic, but by means of force,
nd you are certainly aware that your
|resence is not at all agreeable"
The whole party gazed in utter
mazement at what they now saw, and
ould scarcely believe their own eyes.
As Jones and the Sheriff entered the
= pom the curtains were parted in the
enter, and man, arrayed in robe fit
DR. king, with crown of gold and
iamonds on his head, stood before
hem.
aIs it necessary 1or me to repeat what
said to you, Mr.. Williams?" uttered
his unknown, strange man.
"No, it is not necessary, you thief,
pu villain. I, the Sheriff, come to ar
bst you in the name of the law"
This grand splendor and brilliancy
not petriy young Jones, for the
sd in front of him he recognized to be
pe second party he had seen in the
pom above.
aIt will be of no use to you, Master
pnes, to become angry with me and
ish for my arrest, because you have no
nance or right to do so.
"This house is now in my possession.