The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-08
CHAPTER NIL.
TIE MNIINM OAK

| CHAPTER NH.
THE HOLLOW OAK.
When Sergeant Binks found the umbrella
| lying Iust under the tree whore the footsteps
grass was troddrn down. he felt that he had at
last threaded the wlndlnEs OF the maze. and
arrived at tho clear space In the centre.
If he's been murdered ana dragged from
here hal ilnd som" t trace Of the HrnEGng'
bound to, leave mark Of some kind on the
and thu %nSrT 700. And If he hasn't
| shall find some trace of the burying."
The Sergeant in looking around had noticed
that. some short distance, from the tree. the
| tooturints OF George Candlemas wore crossed
by others. and "a casual gance at these was
sufficient to show him that these footprln!s
after coming to the long grass around the tree,
| 1t had been dull day all tho afternoon the
| sky had been cl0uded and overcast suddenly.
| through n break in tho clouds. tho sun came
out, and bright stream of light II M the SPOT
on which tho detective was standing.
That's better he exclaimed. looking up Mt
the sun, can do with u bit moro light on tho
As H. looked upward lie noticed that close by
| the sile. OF the tree where the iootmarks OF
Old tree which must have persisted. or been
struck hy lightninE many years ooiorei
about fifteen feet from the ground. it throw out
one short. Enarled. and shrivelled branch.
And HANGING AoatiaG gently nv in the soft air
That's odd. anyhow" exclaimed the de-
tectve.
Then an idea occurred to him, and no struck
tho trunk Of tho old OAK with his stick.
by heaven cried the detective. as terri
bile thought las he'd aero his BRAIN all trace
OF George CanGlemaS ceases here. Suppose
his body has been carried up into that tree
and lies concealed in tho huge hollow trunk.
The detective turned pale with the Ehastli-
ness of his own idea
But hat floating strip Of linen fascinated his
eye and gave color to his grucsOmo fancy.
IIaI nn, M pnl m al n, hn tran n,,nr TO
tho hollow trunk. pulling himself up from
branch to branch.
places the bark vas torn away. and ono or two
Of the smaller branches we're broken
some ones p"en up this tree before me. at
He assembled slowly. for he was not an expert
At last he reached long, stout branch which
hung partially over the hollow trunk.
Swinging himself gently on this. he man.
aged TO rest his foot on the top edge OF tho ho-
Then he paused. and. s'eadying himself and
holding on TO tho branch. he peercd down into
the cavity
1t was very large cavity, indeed at tho top
1t was four feot il diameter: ut the bottom II
must be considerably larger.
The sun had come out brilliantly and rs the
rays Of lignt penetrHtef the darkness Of the
cavity. the detective gave cry OF mingled hor-
ror and satisfaction.
At the bottom of Tie tree. right on the ground.
lay a dark mas.
It was the body of man in his shirt sleeves.
Tho detectivc could see the white OF the
linen, and ne could make out the features OF
Sergeant Binks felt convinced that he had
found the missing George Ganiiemns at last.
had died away tbs detective; fully alive to tho
responsibility Of his position, began to con-
sider what he should do.
He hesitated to go down into the hollow
trunk where the dead man lay, alone.
ilonSly ono Tho village WAS a milo from tho
SPOT and 10 one from the Hall might traverse
this part OF the wood for weekS.
10 Ityht InSpnnI and not bD abla plimb
up again; and then tho position would be
The wooden coffin in which he would DO ly.
ing would deaden the sound Of hi. voice, and
he might Ice in there undiscovered for days
for weeks-perhap5 for ever
Tho detectives brain reeled as he pictured
the horror OF the situation which he had con-
Tic He made a IN his mind that he would descend
at once and obtain as-lstance from the Hall.
But lie was Fascinated by inc sEht OF the
low tree-the man whose iato until this mo-
ment had been shrouded in ,mySteiy.
lie wanted 10 make sure that his senses wero
not decoviug him. that he was not the victim
Holding IN by the branch Of the, opposite
tree, he knelt gently down on the odge Of tho
crumbiuG trunk. and shading his eyes gazed
intently into ,ho cavity.
AS his cyns grew more accustomed TO the
gloom. ho saw more distlncty,,
Yes. IL wa u man's body lying there lIo
could make out the form perfectly now. Tho
body 10 lined almost In an upright position
against the side of the trunk
All NFObnl tleTo TelHitu INV HbSI uthlIlIy
silence Never in his whole experience had
the Sergeant boon brought face to face with u
wilder. woirder tragedy than this.
suddenly tho sergeant heart stood still,
and his eyes nearly started from bis head.
a strange. dun sound proceeded from tho
trunk OF the tree.
Trembling in every limb. the Sergeant
STRAINED his ears to listen.
Again
Itwp, groan-a Groan from tho body that
lay below him.
Then all was still again.
1t must have Doen ms fancy" said the Sor-
Eoant, his Inns trembling his toeth chatternR,
and lis blood running cold" must got down
AT once and Summon assistance
lie raised himself from his knees aud tried
to regain an upright position
At that moment tho branch by which he was
supporting himself suddenly slipped fran his
grasp lie gave one cry, and the next moment
lost his ioothOld and felt himself slipping
down, down into the hollow al the tree.
lie clutehed ut the rotten edge nni II broke
away. He tried 10 dig his hands into the soft
wood. and II cTumbled TO pieces.
SLOWLY, but surely, ho WAS Sllpiing lower and
10 ysr into tho trunk OF tho tree
Presently hia feet touched the ground and
his hands cauU In cuntark with a SIT cold
substance.
IL" drew thGm away in terror
llo was reclining, firmly wOdged in the trunk
OF the old oak. and beside him there rested the
inAnimate body OF q man.