The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-01-17

not rise until late, as their breakfast
hour was from ten to eleven.
All being quiet in the room Of the in.
valid, she returned to her own apart
ment, and fastening the door securely,
resolved at once to start upon her ex-
ploring expedition, as she felt that she
would be for at least an hour and half
unobserped and mistress of her own time
and motions.
It was now naif after eight.
With little Of the trembling nervous
ness of the night before the brave girl
opened the intervening doors and stepped
into the corridor.
All was folded in the same solemn still
ness that made the place oppressive on
the previous night.
She resolved to explore the ruined
parts before she sought the tower, there
fore unlocked the door and stepped out.
As she did so she noticed that the cov-
cred basket was still there.
The door opened directly into small
rickety hall that led into several large
rooms, all dusty, moidy, and more or less
dilapidated. Broken windows, torn wall
papers, bare rsfters, seen through i'm
mense places where ceilings had fallen,
were every where visible. Some rooms
were filed with broken furniture, pieces
of old china, and fragments Of time-worn,
cast-off clothing.
All, even the floors, were in an ad-
vanced state Of decay.
Ethel looked at these dilapidated OBJ
jects and found herself wondering why
Sir Reginald had lot had the whole
pulled down and removed? Its destruc-
tion certainly would heighten the value
of property, while its presence only spoke
of neglect and untidiness.
One thing she observed in her ramble
there was an easy mode Of egress and
ingress to this part into the hall, and
marks of recent footsteps on the floor
told that this formed the entrance place
10 the person who prepared and bought
the food she was nightly to place on the
iron shelves.
Another thing struck her; in all the
premises there was not the slightest ap-
pearance of the concealed room, in which
she knew the treasure was secreted.
Only bare, blank wall appeared upon
the side where she knew it must be.
Retracing her steps after all had been
examined, she unfastened the door, and
then sought the Haunted Tower.
The door leading to this was closed,
but not bolted, so she opened 1t, and
crossing quite large square place, She
began ascending long fight Of stairs.
The steps were steep, and not at all
easy, and she became very tired before
she reached the top, but pressing on, she
did reach it, but not before she paused to
rest upon a broad, fat landing; paused,
too, with horror, at an unexpected sight
that there presented itself.
1t was the stuffed image OF q man,
fixed upon wires, that worked upon the
same principle as the jumping-jacks
often bought to amuse children.
This, however, was nearly as large as
life; its head was hollow, with red glass
in place where the eyes would be, so
tkat lighted glass lamp, placed within,
would give flaming appearance to those
eyes.
From each side horns projected, and
she could easily imagine what whole
terrific effect must be to an outside be-
holder. This figure, she saw, could be
elevated and put iE motion by winding
up crank to which it was attached.
Arrangements for different colored
lights were also on every hand.
After carefully examining all the ma
chinery until she perfectly understood
it's workings and the whole wicked plan
to give supernatural appearance to the
tower, Ethel passed upward until she
could gaze without hindrance upon the
tall windows of this lofty place.
Then ordinations of delight escaped
her, for there she could catch an unob-
structed view Of the grand panorama that
stretched for miles and miles away on
every side.
But she did not linger, fearing she
would be seen by some of the villagers,
and her presence reported to Sir Reg
inald.
This visit she knew would be displeas-
ing to him, if he wished 1t to be place
that should fill every heart with fear, in
order to keep visitors from it by day as
well as by night.
After, then, one more glance around
on the glorious scene that lay before
her, she descended, glad that she had
been there, had seen the true inward
ness of the place, for now it certainly
could never have feeling OF terror with
which to inspire her heart.
Let any person ever speak to her Of the
fearful sights seen in that lonely Haunt
ed Tower, she could turn away unawed,
knowing the whole thing to be a de-
ception, heartless imposition, wicked