Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-03-30
The Haunted Chamber.
BY "THE DUCHESS

A bitter sheer contracts Arthur
DynecOurt's lips as he listens to the
first part OF this conversation and guess
es at the latter half. He notes cor
rectly the kindling of their eyes. the
quick breath that ONE and goes like
happy sighs from the breast of Flor
ence. He hears the whisper. sees the
warm blush. and glances expressively
at Dora. Meeting her eyes he lays his
finger on his lips TO caution her silence,
and then, when passing by her, whis-
pers:
Meet me in half an hour in the Iowa
er gallery"
Bowling her acquaintance in this ar
rangement, fearing indeed TO refuse.
Dora follows the others from the
haunted chamber.
At the foot Of the small stone stair
case-before they go through the first
iron-bound door that leads To the cor
ridor without-they find Ethel Villiers
awaiting them. She had been looking
round her in the dimly lighted stone
passage, and has discovered another
door hXed mysteriously in a corner,
that has excited her curiosity.
Where does this lead to, Sir Ad-
riany" she asks now, pointing to it.
"Oh. that Is an old door connected
with another passage that leads by a
dark and wearying staircase to the
servants corridor beneath! / am afraid
you won't be able TO open it, as il is
rusty with age and disuse. The SER
wants would as D o think of coming
up here a they would of making am
appointment with the Evil One; so it
has not been opened for years"
Perhaps | can manage it," says Ar
thur Dynecourt, trying with all his
might TO force the ancient lock to yield
TO him. At length his efforts are
crowned with success: the door flies
c%reakingly open, and a cloud of dust
uprising covers them like a mist.
All" exclaims Ethel. recoiling: but
Arthur, STOPPING forward, carefully
examines the dark staircase that lies
before him wrapped in impenetrable
gloom. Spider-nets have been drawn
from wall 10 wall and hang in dusky
clouds from the low ceiling: a faint,
stale, sitting smell greets his nostrils,
yet he fingers there and looks carefully
around him.
you'll fall into it, if you don't
mind" remarks Captain Ringwood.
"One would think uncanny spots had
aH unwholesome attraction for YOU
RingwOod, even since the memorable
night in the smoking-room. when Sir
Adrian was so near being killed. has
looked askance ut Arthur Dynecourt,
and, when taking the trouble to adj
dress him at all, has been either sharp
or pointed in his remarks. Arthur,
cOntenting himself with a scowl at him,
closes the little door again, and turns
away from it.
AT night" says SIR Adrian, in an
amused tone. the servants, passing by
the door below that leads up to this
one, run by ii as though they fear some
ghOstly ancestors of mine, descending
from the haunted chamber. will pounce
ont upon them with their heads under
their arms, or in some equally unpleas-
ant position. You know the door,
don't YOU, Arthur-the second from
the turning?"
NO" replies Arthur. with his false
smile. IL do not; nor. indeed, do | care
TO know it. / firmly believe ] should
run past it too after nightfall, unless
well protected"
That looks as if YOU had an evil con-
science" says Ringwood c~arelessly, but
none the less purposely.
1T looks more rs if / were a coward.
| think" retortS Arthur laughing, but
shooting an angry glance at the gal
liant captain as he speaks.
We'll, what does the immortal Will
lam say" returns Ringwood cOolly.
Conscience doth make towards of us
ALI"
You have a sharp wit, sir" says Ar
thur. with apparent lightness, but pale
with passion.
Il say, look here" breaks in Sir Adj
Tian hastily, pulling out his watch; 1t
must be nearly time for tea. BY Jove,
quite half past four, and we know what
Lady FitzAlmont will say to us if we
keep her deprived Of her ~favorite bev-
erage for even five minutes. Come, let
us run, or destruction will light upon
our heads"
So saying, he leads the way. and soon
they leave the haunted chamber and all
its gloomy associations far behind
them.