The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1894-01-12

llOlI, Balu tiC dOIs oIu mai %
moved it up above before he died, but
he must have left a great quantity here.
These boxes and bales contain all man
ner of goods, now surely worthless"
We had reached one end of the vault.
do you care to see the resting place
of my ancestors? You must; as | de-
sire to be laid beside them"
He grasped a lever sunk in the wall
and pulled, and a sheet iron plate some
12 feet in length sank slowly into the
ground and revealed three stone steps.
which we mounted and stood in a room
of, l judge, IS feet square. I nearly
tainted. The-don drew from his pocket
a flask of brandy. We took a swallow
each, and it revived us.
There, extended on two sides Of this
room We're marble slabs, some 6
feet wide and elevated on a stone
foundation about four feet from the
floor. On these slabs and side by side
lay long objects. 1 held my lantern
close. They were evidently bundles of
some kind. Cloth or canvas was wrap
ped around them, and they had been
wrapped with care. OF some of them
there was evidently little substance left,
as the packages We're almost fiat.
My ancestors" said the don. "No
coffin even confined their limbs. Each,
wrapped in oiled silk and canvas, has
there been laid at rest. father and son,
for generations back, except such as
lie beneath the ocean waves. This one,
the last in this row, was my father.
Each of these frames was once master
of Chanson and a pirate chief. The
women of the race all lie in the ceme-
terry at Coquombo, as does my own son.
I desire to be the last Of my race to be
laid here. When I die, place me here,
next my father. Pedro will assist you.
He knows where the oiled silk and can
vas can be found. Now for the treas
ures."
He stepped to the end of the room, and
from underneath the marble slab pulled
out another lever. A slab sank from
the side of the wall and disclosed a
small space of 6 feet in length and per
haps 3 deep. There o. the floor stood
a brass or iron bound box, and on it lay
a form similar to those on the marble
slabs.
"Old Ma1teii," said the don. LET
US remove him."
We each seized one end of the bun
die. A handful of rotten canvas; moth
ing more. I set down my lantern and
took hold with both hands. The can
vas and silk came away, and the dry
bones of old Martell rolled from the cas-
ket, rafting az they struck the stone
floor. The vertebra snapped asunder,
and the grinning head of the silent SEN
tinel rolled down the three stone steps.
Poor old Martell!" said the don. II
will soon keep you company"
He fitted a key to the casket, and we
500 had il open. The don removed
what, [ judge, was once a pirate flag
from the top, and I saw before me I'M
told wealth-diamonds, rubies, pearls,
gold coin of every nation. I raised a
handful of the jewels. How they spar
killed.!
when . am Dead" said the don,
"remove them. They are yours. No
crowned head of Europe possesses their
value. Stay! Put these in your pocket,
that after you have slept this may not
seem a dream. And now bring back
the head Of old Martell. It was ever
a true one, and, old friend, we will
leave it with you"
I did SO, and he closed the casket.
We placed the skeleton again on its lid.
Now mark my movements WELL"
said the don, as he showed back the lev
er. The slab arose to its place. We
passed out of the tomb, he pushed back
the lever, and naught but a wall con-
fronted us. Back through the vault,
another pushing back of a lever, and
the entrance was closed. We were soon
out Of the council room, the door lock-
ed, and back in the library. n
The clock struck 2. The don was
very pale.
Here, Claud, are the keys. Inever
desire to see them again. You have OBJ
served ALL"
Il have observed all and can scarcely
believe what l have seen, but God grant
that it may be yet many years before
you are laid with your ancestors be-
low"
Promise me, Claud, to fulfill my
wishes"
II promise" I replied.
well, a glass of brandy and good
night, or rather good morning, and
don't forget your promise"
went to the floor above to my sleep
ing wife and boy.
CHAPTER III.
awoke in the morning with a start.
Some M was knocking wildly. I leap