Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1894-03-28
in case any such arrest should

presence in case any such arrest should
occur?
But, in reality. he gained the vault
quite unobserved. 1t was built of solid
granite in the side of slight hill. de
listened for moment, and then descend
ed the small flight of steps leading in
ward to large metal door. Then he
inserted his key in the lock. 1t fitted
perfectly, and quite soon afterward he
had passed within the interior of the
vault, leaving the metal door behind
him Just enough ajar to admit certain
quantity of air, yet not enough SO as to
attract the notice of any possible passer
He now stood in pitchy darkness. A
heavy smell as of fresh cut flowers at
once oppressed him. He had ceased to
feel trepidation; his old magnificent
courage and GOODNESS had come back To
him. Slowly he struck match and
lighted one of his tapers. AS the flame
struggled from intense dimness into com
parative brightness the solemn, stone
wrought chamber became clearly yisi.
BILE. 1t contained but three collins, each
laid in separate niche. One was thai
of Louis Bonds mother, one that of his
father and one was his own. The lasl
lay heaped over with wreaths ant
crosses. All the inches were large, and
in a manner took from the usual grim
ness of such receptacles by being I'M
cramped and commodious of aspect.
Gerald had brought small sconce fo
his candle, and now set both on the edg
of the empty niche, just above the caske
| of his friend He waited some time II
awed silence. To open the coffin was al
act from which he shrank most reluc
family. And yet his sacred oath com
PEELED him to perform this act Their
was only the usual lock to be prize
asunder, and for this purpose he hat
brought with him capable instrument
Presently he banished his repulsion
"How can there be the least dissertation.
he thought, "when am only following
ont LOUIS own earnest wishes? Besides
the VOW he once exacted from me Their
is new stimulus in Brenda's account o
that hidden paper"
And yet to spend three mortal hour
in this dismal vault! He began alread,
to feel that his nerve power, strong ant
trustworthy as it was, could scarcely en-
dure SO drastic an ordeal Still he mus
make the effort. Looking at his watcl
he discovered that only fifteen minutes
Of the allotted time had already passed
And yet they had seemed far more thai
an hour.
One stout wrench with his chisel an(
the coffin was pried apart. He soon looked
upon the calm, waxen face of Louis
How like, and yet how completely soul
less and irresponsible! What hope of an,
vital resurrectional sign could possibl,
be drawn from this pallor and apathy.
He leaned closer above the still feat
ures, familiar and yet utterly changed
He forgot the concealed paper of whicl
Brenda had told him, while he parte'
from the dead mans breast and chin TIN
thick masses of flowers which lay there
But he remembered, and with piercing
force Of recollection, what he had bount
himself of old to use every mental effor
in desiring and yearning after.
Some of the flowers fell over upon til
stone flooring of the vault-loose camel
las and white roses, with perhaps fey
glossy leaves of either. He meant t
stoop and pick them up, when suddenl
strange and horrible thing occurred
The light went out, and it seemed to hir
that as it did SO sharp metallic SCUM
rang through the dead, abrupt darkness
And then something struck him, wit
light, yet distinct, contact, full on tn
breast. He lifted his hand and caught
stiff square of glazed paper.
"The hidden letter." flashed throug
his brain. HE has given it to me him
selfr'
For the first time in all his brave youn
life Gerald Ravelow knew what it wa
i / L !