The Forrest City times., 1891-06-26
THE HAUNTED CHAMBER,
BY ''rxs DUCHESS" 1"
Ave@oe sf "xonied," "Hoas Ssvlly, \ "PhyRis." ste.. etc.
CHAPTER. VIII.

Mouiu not near or tnelr departure, and Florence, feeling it will be selfish of her to cut short Dora's happy hours With her supposed lover. sighs. and gives in, and sacrifices her own wishes on the altar of friendship.
 It is five o'clock, and all the men, gun in hand, have been out since early dawn. Now they are coming strag- gllng home, in one or twos. Amongst the first to return are Sir Adrian and his cousin Arthur Dynecourt, who, paving met accidentally about mile from home, have trudged the remaind- CT of the way together.
 On the previous night at dinner, Miss Delmaine had spoken of small gold bangle, favorite of hers. she was greatly in the habit of wearing. She said she had lost it-when or where she could not tell; and she expressed her self as being very grieved for it's loss, and had laughingly declared she would give any reward claimed by any one who should restore 1t to her. Two or three men had, on the instant, pledged themselves to devote their lives to the search; but Adrian had said nothing. Nevertheless, the bangle and reward had remained in his mind all that refrain from speaking about it to the man he considers his rival,
 Odd thing about Miss Delmaine's bangle" he remarks carelessly.
 Very odd. dare say her maid has put it somewhere and forgotten it."
 Hardly. One would not put brace let anywhere but in q jewel-case or in . special drawer. She must have dropped it somewhere"
 T dare say; those Indian bangles arc very liable to be rubbed off the wrist" But wherey have had the place searched high and low, and still no tid- ings of it can be found"
 There may have been since we left home this morning
 Just at this moment they come with in full view of the old tower. and it's strange rounded ivy grown walls, and the little narrow holes in the sides they show at it's highest point that indicate the position of the haunted chamber.
 What is there at this moment ill a mere glimpse of this old tower to make Arthur Dynecourt grow pale and to start so strangelyY His eyes grow brighter, his lips tighten and grow hard.
 "Do you remember he says, turning to his cousin with all the air of one to whom a sudden inspiration has come, that day when we visited the haunted chamber? Miss Delmaine accompanied us, did she not?"
 aYes"-looking at him expectantly.
 Could she have dropped it there?" asks Arthur lightly. By love, it would be odd if she had-ehp Uncanny sort of place to drop one's trinket."
 Tt is strange didn't think of it be- fore. responds Adrian, evidently must have been just about that time when she lost 1t. Tho moro think of 1t the more convinced feel that 1t must bo there.'
 Nonsense, my dear fellow; don't lump at conclusions so hastily It is highly improbable. l should say tha, she dropped it anywhere else in the -Well. I'll go and see, at all events, declares Adrian, unconvinced.
 1t is some lingering remnant o1 from the crime that has begun to form itself within his busy brain. that now induces Dynccourt to try to dissusdo Sil Adrian from his declared intention t. search the haunted chamber for tho lost banNlep With all his eloQuence hs seeks to convince him that there tht bangle could not have been left, but tf no effect. His suggestion has taker firm root in Sir Adfian's mind, and al least, as he frankly says, though it may be useless to hunt for 1t in that uncan ny chamber, it is worth try. It may be there. This dim possibility drive. him to his fate.
 Well, if you go alone and unprotect cd your blood Do on your own head, says Dynecourt lightly, at last surren dering his position. Remember, what ever happens, I advised you not to gol'
 Aa Arthur finishes his speech sinis ter smile overspreads his pale features and quick light, n evil IS it is pierc ing comes to his eyes. But Sir Adriar secs nothing of this. He is looking a his home, as 1t stands grand and ma iestic in the red light of the dying sun He is looking, too, at tho old tower and at the upper portion of 1t, wher' the haunted chamber stands, ant where he can soc the narrow holes tha serve for rwindows. How little could man imprisoned there see of tho bus. world without
 sYes, I'll remember" i" he says testing 1y. "When the ghosts of my ancestors claim mo aa their victim, and incarcer- ate mo in some fiendish dungeon, shall remember your words and youl advice"
 You don't mean to go there, oi coursew asks Arthur cArelessly, whilst watching the other with eager scrutiny ~It is quite a journey to that disma holc. and it will be useless"
 Well, if it distresses you. consider haven't gone" says Sir Adrian lightly
 That is right" rejoins Arthur, stil with his keen eyes fixed upon hi: cousin. Il knew you would abandon that foolish intention. certainly shal consider you haven't gone" @
 They are at the hall door as these words pass Arthur's lips, and there they separate, Sir Adrian leaving hin with a smile, and going away up thu large hall whistling gayly. as4s
 When he has turned one corner, Ar thur goes quickly after him, not with the intention of overtaking him, but o keeping him in view. Stealthily h, follows, as though fearful of being seen.
 There is no servant within sight. N, friend comes across sir Adrian's path All Is silent. Tho old house seemi wrapped Ill siumDor. Above, the prer ty guests in their dainty tea-gowns ar, slipping Bohea and prattling scandal below, the domestics are occupied il their household affairs.
 Arthur, watching carefully, sees Si Adrian go quickly up the broad iron staircase, after which he turns aside and, as though filled with guilty fear rushes through one passage or another until he arrives in the corridor that bd longs to the servants quarters.
 Coming to a certain door, he Openl 1t, not without some difficulty, and moving into the dark landing that lie beyond it, looks around. To any casu