The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-03-07
CHAPTER XVII.
THE MYSTERIOUS WALLET.

THE MYSTERIOUS WALLET.
| Drawing an easy seat close to the cen
| Efenstein seated himself in his OWL
Office chair, and laying the wallet before
| him. said:
This, Mrs. Clum. Is little bag, con
! tanning something very much valued By
the poor man who has just left this
world l presume it will acquaint us
near relatives. In order that they may
| be notified Of his death, deem it my
duty TO Immediately examine its con.
| tents, and as do SO l wish you to be
present as witness 10 the transaction.
Signifying her willingness TO be this
witness, Mrs. Clum babe him proceed
The keys to the wallet DR.. Elfcnstein
found tied close TO the edge Of the handle.
Inserting this in the lock, he at once
opened it and drew forth its contents
All that presented itself to his notice
was about fifty pounds III money, and :,
package Of closely written papers.
These papers were without address or
Signature, bat seemed short journal oil
daily events.
Little did DR.. Eifenstein dream, as he
so cooly turned over these leaves, that
they contained matters SO vitality im-
portant TO himself and his future life.
Seeing no other mode of aScertaining
who the dead man really was, the Doctor
commenced at the beginning TO read
what follows:
June Is
MY God, my God. Why hast Thou
forsaken me? is now almost daily my cry.
"Alonc! horribly. cruelty alone! how
can it be that / still exist?
Nearly eighteen years have survived
this dreadful solitude, and not until to-
dag have ! gained from my unnatural
keeper the slight boon Of pen. ink and
paper This gained, ! will divert my
self by noting down some incidents Of
my life. But 10 what purpose do
WRIT?
"Who can ever read what, ont Of an
aching heart, shall commit TO these
Iayes?
Il know rot.
yet, after my death. some person
may penetrate this living t,mb, and then
they shall Ia r. see recorded the terrible
wrong, tie fearful fate that has thus be-
fallen an unhappy peer of the realm.
Have | been missed from my home?
Has any one mourncd over my uncx-
planned absence? Has my poor Con
stance wept over my loss? And has my
d ar brother FitZroy forgiven my harsh
ness row that he thinks me dead?
Dead? Yes; all think ne deaf!
Il see clearly at this late date the
whole of Regnad's ficndish pot.
HE used that dagger on my arm to
draw blood. in order to leave the impress
sion that l had been murdered. beto-e he
shut me into this living tomb.
Yet | live. ], Sir Arthur Glendcn-
ming, Bart. am alive to-day. in 2arcerated
in this concealed room, built in the ru ned
part of MY own Residence"
"Ha." eXclaim med Earle ElfenStcin,
starting to his f ct as he read thus IA.
IN hat have / here? If this be true. we
have an explanation 81 Sir Arthur 5
fate. Mrs. Glun, we mnst hlv. others
PRESENT at the reading OF this important
Taper. Let Us 10th seek instantly for
the presence Of oar ncighburo. VIII
you summon Lawy T. liuntey, who live 5
next door, while | go for Rev. Mr.. Lee?
Not one moment Will We waste. for who
knows but yonder corpse may be all that
is left OF poor Sir Arthur GlendcnniHg
Replacing the papers and keeping the
precious wallet in his hand Earle AT
on:e left the house for the manse, while
Ms 'iHHi IAN eut " suHiHioi MI.
Huntley.
In less than half an hotr they both
returned To the physie ian's Office. ac-
conpanied by the aboye-named gentle
men.
Ihe!i, while eager attention was to be
seen on every face, the IO"tor again
opened the wallet and read as far as We
have written above.
"Merciful heaven. can this Lee tine!"
exclaimed Mr.. Hnntley. doctor. please
read that last clause once more | am
50 daz"d with surprise that l can scarce
~ understand il.
Yet | live. ], Sir Arthur Glcn,!en-
ming, Bart. am alive 20 day. iacarcer-
ated in this concealed room, built in the
ruined part OF my own residence again
read DR.. Elfenstcin
After a pause he continued:
The fact that this room existed was
known only to my father. Sir Godfrey
and he, shortly before his death, confided
the secret u my brother Reginald and
myself. We ttrte were alone together
when he taught rs how ID open the panels
by the aid Of IA sharp pointed knife, and
after leading Us inside this strange apart
ment, he charged us 10 keep the exist
tIitt VI tuS i'i.lSS Il pielpt.4h sttItl, as
tue time might come when such 4 hidden
retreat might become of immense i'm
p0rtance.
Dear father! how little did he dream
that Reginald, for the sake OF us;lrpiug
my lawful title and estates, would drag
Inc hithcr, in the darkness of night ard
ly claiming me like a beast to the floor
by the help OF his valet. Antoine Duval,
l-,s1 a in he
life!
"0h. that horrible Antoine, how ! al
ways disliked his soft, fawning ways, his
smooth tongue and cringing airs.
VILLAIN that lie is. Villains. indeed.
both master and man.
But viii not thus anticipate VIII
go back 20 our fathers leading his two
Young sons 70 this place, and pointing
ont its many conveniences for spending
. time in hiding.
See he said. here IS Il bathroom,
with ali lis appointments. opening from
this small and neatly furnished bed
chamber. Soft mattresses. plenty OF
bedding, heat from an unseen register.
through pipes leading to the kitchen
ranges. on. everything is complete.'
at was the only time ] ever saw this
room. until the night I was thrust within
it by my inhuman brother. Reginald. two
days and one night after ] was forcibly
taken from my bed
All. that night. when they oserpoN-
cred me lii my own loom, shall l ever
forget il?
-Shall that terrible scene ever be oblit-
Grated from my weary brain?
81 had retired rather earlier than usual
and had fallen Immediately asleep
About midnight, | should judge, l was
awakened by feeling a hand pressing
something 10 my nostrilS.
Il instantly had my complete senses,
SO dashed the hand with the chloroformed
sponge from my face, then sprang with
Il bound upon the floor,
Two men stood above me. and firm
hands seized and pressed Inc back, while
4 gag was forced into my mouth
~ dim light was burning, and saw
that, although masked, one figure was
ike Fitzroy>s. and his dressing gown was
Iyrapral rcr,pI EiS