Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-03-04
THE CLOCKS SECRET.

AAL OA@0VAA ~ AfAAN 49,
IL was hard work to build up doctors
Southern town, but held on and hoped
for the best. Annie taught in the public
school there, and said she was content to
wait if il was for 10 years until we should
be able 10 marry.
was Just beginning TO despair. when
] heard Of my uncle's death in the North.
He had left me nothing, however but his
old manor near the town where lived
a moldy old structure. inhabited by an
old darkey caretaker, and for many years
the upper floors had never been occupied.
On Saturday took Annie down TO look
over the place. for after all it was some-
thing to own a house and be free from
rent when we were married.
Ef was you, said the old negrcss.
when We explained the reason of our
visit, Il wouldn't 60 up them windin'
stairs The upper floors is full Of ghosts
and ghostesses. Why, my brudder went
up one day, and ne was found nigh dead
the next mawn.
1 only laughed at superstitions, and
started UP the fatal stairs. When about
half way up the most horrible sound,
greeted us. It was as the old woman
had said. as though q whole host of de-
mons were groaning and gnashing thei,
teeth. and the sounds seemed to envelop
us. They were horrible. and enough to
make the stoutest heart quail. for they
seemed to increase after they had once
commenced.
] turned to Annie as quickly as could
and, seeing by her face that she was like
~ to faint, put my arm about her to sup
port her as seated her on lower step.
for the sound ceased as we stepped back.
DO you mind waiting for me down
stairs f8 asked, "while examine into
this OF would you prefer to have me
wait and come out another timer"
No, am going up stairs with you,
she said bravely, II am ashamed of my
want of nerve just now.
As she spoke she leaned back and
rested one elbow on the step al We her
Instantly the horrible sounds wele heard
again, but as Annie moved forward again
they suddenly ceased.
You had better let me take you down,
said quickly, as Isaw her face lose color
again.
No, she said in half subdued voice,
Il felt something give way just then,
Tom. See what it is.
1t did not take me many minutes To
remove the carpet, but in doing it found
that could, at will, render the horrible
sounds audible or inandible Annie H..
came as much interested and excited al
/, and wien | raised the loose plank
that seemed to cause it all she peered
with as much interest as into the cavitv
il revealed.
II am not afraid Of anything now,
she had said when hesitated to remove
it. y must see what 1t Is, Tom.
What we did see was mass of ma
chinery. There were wheels, so put to
gether that they grated frightfuIly wher
touched.
"what do you suppose this was forY'
asked Annie.
81 do not know, unless my uncle used
It as a sort Of watchdog to keep from be
ing molested while upstairs. He sur
rounded himself with mystery to max.
himself and everything about him ter
ror to both black and white during the
war.
We examined the machinery and It's
connection. aud found that each step
above it was connected with some pari
Of it, so that the sounds kept increasing
as one proceeded up the stairs; but, JUS
as was about to restore the plank to its
place, she stopped me, and drawing oui
slip Of yellow paper, read;
@Behind the clock on the stairs
Above us, still and silent, stood the
old clock on the landing. Slowly, and
with feeling OF awe, we went to it and
moved it, wondering what new mystery
was about to be explained; but appar
emily there was nothing unusual ex.
amined the clock itself and then the wall.
having some visionary ideas OF secret pan
els. but all Of no avail. and we were
about to give up the search when the sun
came out again, and, shining through >
broken shutter. showed solitary spech
in the oldfashioned paper that glitterao
like diamond Eagerly we worked al
it. until we could understand the working
Of II, and then--yes, there was our secret
panel. and there was my dead and gone
uncle's money box.
Taking it into an adjoining room and
examining it. We found papers and
money amounting to 5000, which had
been hidden during the war for safe
keeping. As the money was all in gold,
It would have been a godsend to some
one had not my uncle. By his eccentrici-
ties and mysteries kept every one at bay.
Unfortunately he did not live to enjoy IL
himself, and it was left for me to inherit
and make the most Of. Annie and | de-
cided Immediately TO make our homa
there, and it is very happy one, for tbs
winding stairs send forth none but happy
sounds now
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