Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-04-22

celved some horrible shock while alone in
the blue room that twas the immediate
cause of his death. Consequently am de-
termlned to ascertain the fact, and punish
the guilty.
His voice was low, but there was ring
Oh determination in it that carried with it
convection to face any danger-to do or Gle
and his sister ceased her endeavors to de-
tam him. The words of entreaty died on
her lips, and she only whispered: Take
me with you, dear Arthur. Let Eae share
With you any danger or mystery. I will
snow you that | am my fathers child,
brave and strong"
Can trust you. Laura? Think well be-
fore you decide
Try me-only try me-
Come, then; but remember what tell
you. No matter what you may see or hear,
you must neither move nor speak. Will
you promise that?'
Yes, faithfully"
Taking her hand, they threaded the dark
passages leading to the blue room without
even so much of noise as the echo of their
footsteps. At the door they paused for a
moment. Then Arthur gently opened it
and led his sister within. The curtains
We're looped back, and emitted enough of
moonlight to render every object dimly
visible. Everything remained as it had
been left upon the morning of their fathers
death.
Arthur crossed the room with his sister,
and they took their places behind the heavy
damask curtains which hung from the old
fashioned high post bedstead. For at least
quarter of an hour they watched and
silence reigned supreme about the house
so much so, that the beating of their own
hearts appeared audible as they crouched
IN their place of concealment
Still they remained motionless, and
Laura was fast becoming more composed
and treasured by the perfect quiet, when
suddenly the peculiar rumbling sound be-
gan again, and, to the CONSERVATION of
the watchers, they saw one of the large
square panels in the wainscoting slide
from it position and reveal dark cavity
beyond. Scarcely breathing, they awaited
the result, expecting to see some terrible
shape appear. Arthur grasped his revolver
more firmly and his sister chung to him for
support.
But nothing presented itself to their
strained vision, and in few moments after
the panel slid back as if over huge rollers,
propelled by an invisible hand, and explain
ing the peculiar sound that had so alarmed
them and which had appeared like the
moving of heavy furniture. The panel
at intervals for some time. Then it re-
manned motionless, and though the brother
and sister relaxed not their vigilance for
even a single moment nothing came to
alarm them, and now, holding the KEY of
the mystery, they determined upon an
early investigation.
To all appearances that particular por-
ton of the wainscoting was the same as the
rest-a solid wall. But upon sounding it
gave forth q hollow noise, and finally, af-
ter many attempts with the point of his
knife, Arthur had the satisfaction of see
ing it move so far that he could insert his
fingers. Then he could easily force it far
enough back land without making any
considerable noise) to admit his body, and
on looking within he Distinctly saw mar
row, dark passage, and rude stone steps
leading to regions below.
They proceeded down a long winding
stone staircase, that appeared to conduct
them far beneath the old house, and en-
tered a passage half choked up by fallen
stones and dirt. Its direction was to the
north for some distance, and then abruptly
turned toward the sea and terminated in a
huge cavern. 1t was tenantless, though
with plain marks of having been recently
occupied.
a dirty pack of cards was scattered over
a rude table with several pieces of false
money ard the remnants of a feast There
were a couple of benches, a few broken
chairs, a pile of casks at one end contain
ing liquors, burglars instruments, and
dies for casting false coin. scattered in
random confusion-aIl pointing to the con-
clusiou that the cave was the haunt of
burglars and coinerS.
Laura chung tremblingly to her brother,
~
thur, what dreadful place! Let us hasten
back before the wretches who congregate
here come and surprise US
''Never fear, sister. 1t is, as l fancied, the
rendezvous of a gang of outlaws, who only
spend their nights here in rioting and fol-
lowing their unlawful calling. The sliding
panel creating the mysterious sounds they
imagined would be attributed to the
supernatural and SO brighten away any
persons who came to occupy the house
and leave them unmolested. But come,
we have seen enough
The return was swiftly made, the panel
replaced, and Laura retreated to her own
room to obtain the rest she greatly stood
in need of. Her brother rode to the next
town and made arrangements with the
authorities TO have a force on hand at
midnight. Long before that hour they APP
peared in little squads and were silently
admitted and conducted to the blue room,
young Rivers standing in the secret panel
and waiting for it to be moved.
Presently it slid back with a heavy
rumbling noise and Arthur sprang
through the opening, collared some one
who attempted to give a signal, choked
him into silence, dragged him forth and
revealed the face of the little old gardener
He was instantly gagged and bound, and
Arthur, accompanied by the body of armed
men, descended to the cavern, surprised
the entire band of desperadoes, and quickly
escorted them to prison through an open
ing by way of the sea.
In due time they were tried and SEN
fenced to long years of punishment, the
old gardener included. The red house was
troubled no more by mysterious sounds,
and even the housekeeper and two maids
had to give up their ideas of ghosts and a
haunted chamber.
Some years later, and upon her wedding
day, Arthur presented TO his sister the