Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-05-31
the curiosity of the OTHER was too

/ ''llctlSc UOU ISltSIuUSl WI
saw-whcn you were down there last
time" painted Minna. rs she passed
them on her way down.
l'Ikc young men gave a mumbling as
ks1t, aud followed her slowly to the
bottom of the staircase. rs Mr. William
Berringtou's hard voice was heard call
ips to them to come.
Duke himself. still supported by his
Nmdcs arm. still looking as II he only
\ hall undcrstood the import Of his ac-
lfNoite took the key from her, and with
ts6ar difficulty, for his hands We're
weak and trembling, turned 1t in the
lock, and suffered his uncle to lead him
into the cellar. He .shivercd as he
stepped over the uneven ground. and
glanced about him as If he wanted to
escape. His uncles stridcnt voice
echoed through the. vaults.
Come now, where is the precious
bin: Don't pretend you have forgotten
the way to it,"
NO, / have not forgotten" answered
Duke in Il faltering voice. And to
Minna's surprise and horror. he led the
way straight in the direction of the
secret door.
But it was no longer to be seen. A
row of white bins partly filled, occupied
the space against the wall before them.
Duke started in Il hewildcred man.
ncr at the new obstruction.
lit was here, I'm sure it was here"
was all he said.
His uncle shook his arm impatiently.
Nonsense" he said abrunty. IF it
nad been there then. it would have been
there now.
Somebody must have blocked it up
again" he said at last.
| His uncle moved impatiently.
Now who would, who could do such
thing:" asked Mr.. Bennington sharp
ly.
Dukes answer was given with dis
concerted simplicity.
I'm sure l don't Know" he said.
Then a fresh idea seemed to strike him,
and he began trying to move the bins
away. CHANGING round toward the other
| two young men, he called to them to
help him.
Reluctantly enough. and sharing Min
mas fear, they did so.
! But when by their united eXertions
they had succeeded in removing the
wine-bins. it was only to find fresh
obstacle. The doorway was blocked and
entirely hidden with boards and old
broken bricks.
| Duke uttered an exclamation so en-
tirely like genuine surprise that it was
almost impossible to believe that he
could be only acting.
Its boarded up!' he exclaimed.
The bricks. however. were only built
in one upon another without cement Of
any kind so that when he pulled at one
of the boards the whole obstruction
began to give way. A few more efforts
disclosed tile paddock on the door.
That's it; L told you So" he cried,
turning to his uncle. Il knew the door
was here. though how it came to be
blocked up again I can't imagine. But
now, where's the key?"
I'VE must do without that" said the
elder man shortly" The DOORS old, and
l don't suppose it will hold out against
any one who means business. Where
there's will there's way.
Selling one Of the displaced bricks, he
dealt on the door shower Of blows
which made the old wood split and
crack until at last. with loud noise, it
broke away from its hinges and flew
open. hanging to the paddock. At the
same moment Il horrible smell Of putre-
faction filled the outer cellar. Every
one but Mr.. William Darlington drew
back in horror and dismay. He, how
ever. in state of frenzied excitement,
jumped down into the inner cellar. and
STOPPING. touched the hideous and re-
voting heap Oh the floor. Then he
sprang erect.
at is the dead body Of your clerk,
Joseph Radstock." he cried, facing his
nephew with the sternness of a judge.
Duke reeled as if he had been struck.
1t was impossible to misread his look
of horror and utter bewilderment. The
discovery came to him as an absolute
surprise.
''The body Of Joseph Radstock?' lie
exclaimed slowly, incredulously. 1T is
not possible. Who put it there?'
His murderer, l suppose returned
Mr.. Bennington as harsnly as ever.
Still Duke could not believe.
who could have murdercd-' he be-
gan.
But he stopped short. and over his be-
Wildered face there came a look Of
horror SO intense that the muscles OF
his face seemed to contract so that he
looked like a withered old man. For
standing behind the rest of the group,
her face even more livid, more terror
stricken than his own, was his wife,
Cicely. And in her burning eyes he
read that the discovery was no new
thing to her.
Staring ut her steadily, his expression
and demeanor suddenly changed. Sup
porting himself against the wall near
est to him, he turned and met his uncle
face to face with quiet air OF deter
mination.
Yes" he said in perfectly steady
| voice, II did it. I murdered him. 1t is
of no use trying to hide it. He was in
the way-so l shot him and dragged
him in there"
Then they all heard a low cry and a
fall. Turning. they saw Cicely lying on
the ground. Minna and the two young
er men ran to her assistance, but Duke
pushed them away.
81 will carry her." he said.
And although they knew that he was
much too weak to do SO. there was on
his face such a look Of unspeakable