Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-04-02
.cNhr Is not fie watch setrr

I Ii tue bLGuCo Ludb AOhO"SA NAO O~~- S-SN~AA
clock began to strike, and hsSf dozen troop
/ ers tumbled out from the guard room, some
laughing, some grumbling at the GOODNESS OF
/ the night. The officer returned to the inner
ward as they dispersed to their posts; and
soon there was silence again, save for the
tramp, tramp Of a sentry crossing and re-
crossing the pavement below me.
All this while lay hattened along the
beam, scarce daring to breathe. But at
/ length, when the man had passed below for
the sixth time, found heart to wriggle my
self towards the doorway over which the gal
/ lows protruded. By slow degrees, and paus-
/ ing whenever the fellow drew near, crept
close up to the wall; then, waiting the proper
moment, cast my legs over, dangled for a
second or two swinging myself towards the
! sill, flung myself off, and, touching the ledge
with one toe, pitched forward into the room.
The effect of this was to give me sound
crack as / struck the flooring, which lay
about foot below the level of the sill.
picked myself up and listened Outside, the
! regular tramp of the sentry proved he had
/ not heard me; and drew a long breath, for
! knew that without lantern he would never
! spy, in the darkness, the telltale reps dang
! ling from the tower.
In the room where [ stood all was right.
/ But the flooring was uneven to the foot, and
/ 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
1 shns on the loose stones, found n 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 she keep
| winding past me, up into darkness.
Ny 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 be
| bold, and lifted the latch. A faint cry sa-
luted me.
I 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, n 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:
"Quick-quick! Down here behind the
counter for your life!"
There was scarce time to drop on my knees
before a couple of troopers louuged in, de
handing nulled beer. The girl BUSTED
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 frostI Lucky that
nd 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.
1.-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 timesT
''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
surel"
Its 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'll kill me for thisIn
Then you shall say: Is it forward or back
must go!"
Neither" She pulled up trap close be-
side her feet and pointed out ladder leading
down to the darkness. 1.-THE courts are full
of troopers" she added
1.-The cellar7'
She nodded.
Quick! There's door at the far end. 1t
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 knowsl
'Tis the best can think on"
thanked her and began to step down the
ladder. She stood for moment to watch,
leaving the trap open for better light. Be
tween the avenue of casks and bins STUN
bled towards the door and lantern that were
Just to be diScerned at the far end of the eel
lar. As l struck steel on flint I heard the
trap close, and since then have never set eyes
on that kind hearted girl
The lantern Lit, 1 took the key and fitted it
to the lock. 1t turned noisily, and cold
Whit of air struck my face. Gazing round
this new chamber l saw two lines of squat
pillars, supporting low, arched roof. Twas
the crypt beneath the chapel, and smelt vilely
A green moisture trickled down the pillars,
and dripped on the tombs beneath them.
AT the end Of this dreary place was broken
door, consisting only of plank or two, that
l easily pulled away; and beyond, narrow
passage, over which l heard the tread of
troopers plainly, as they paced to and fro;
also the muf1ed note of the clock, sounding z
The passage went fairly straight, but was
blocked here and there with fallen stones,
over which scrambled as best could And
then, suddenly, was near pitching down a
short flight Of steps. held the lantern aloft
and looked
At the steps foot widened out low room,
whereof the ceiling. like that Of the crypt,
rested on pillars Between these every inch
of space was piled with barrels, chests and
great pyramids of round shot In each cor
ner lay heap of rusty pixies. OF all this the
Specification was clear. stood in the NUM-
ton room of the castle
But what chiefly took my notice was a
great door, studded with iron nails, that
barred all exit from the place. Over the
barrels crept towards it, keeping the lam
tern high, in dread Of firing any loose Dow
der. Twas fast locked
think that, for moment or two, 4 could
have wept. But in while the thought struck
me that with the knife in my pocket twas
possible to cut away the wood around the
lock. ''CourageI" said 1, and, pulling it
forth, knelt down to work.
Luck in life has always used me better than
my deserts. At an hours eud there was,
hacking away steadily, yet had made but