Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-08-13

), here with a friend, who wished [,
show me the east end. At a window il
the fourth floor Of the house l saw
girl who tried to attract my notice.
was persuaded that it was only a deco.
and l went away. To-day l felt some
how uneasy about it, and came here
asked civilIy to see the girl. That mar
denied that one was here. l persisted
and they all three set on me- Here i:
my card. l am the earl of Marlborough
and beg you to make the most search
ing inquiries"
The sergeant saluted. I'VE shall dc
so. my lord" he said. This man has
given us a great deal of trouble already
Now, men," he added, turning round
Martin, hold those doors and see that
NO one enters or leaves the place
Saunders, go through to the back and
remain there No SO and 90. stay here
with Martin, and if either of these
three men move blow your whistles
and handcuff them. Dick, you and the
gentleman come with me- Have you
anything to say, Mr.. Berger"
The man glanced at them sullenly.
No"
The sergeant led the way and they
passed behind the bar into a dark stone
passage. Opposite them was crazy
staircase from which the banisters had
been torn away and even some of the
steps,
"One at & time" cautioned the SER
geant. You 80 first, Dick. Don't be
in a hurry, sir It's a regular caution,
that staircase is. Locks like q trap
1t bore them al. however and so
did the next. On the second floor they
left the policeman and hurried on to
the fourth The whole place seemed to
be deserted. The doors of the rooms
stood wide open and the walls and
floors were bare. They did not pause
however, until they reached the top
floor.
This would be the room looking out
into the street." said the sergeant,
and kicking open a door HIN, seems
empty enough
They stood together in the middle
of it, There was no sign whatever of
any recent occupation. The paper was
hanging down from the walls in long,
forlorn strips, and the windows were
broken or thick with dirt.
We'll look at the others on this
floor" said the sergeant, shortly
They entered them one by one. Be-
fore they had finished, however, the
sergeant drew Lord Marlborough back
into the room they had entered first.
Anything strike you here?" he re-
marked, pointing downward to the
floor
Lord Marlborough followed his fin
gers. His heart gave a great jump.
They've swept the floor" he cried,
in a low, excited whisper. I'm every
other room the boards are thick with
dustv'
Exactly" the sergeant remarked.
He walked to the wall opposite to
the door and sounded it carefully with
his knuckles. After a few attempts he
stopped and turned round. There was
q crimson flush on his face.
Il wouldn't have been out of this for
a years pay" he said, quickly.
'EThere have been rumors for years of
a hidden chamber somewhere in this
quarter with an iron door. No end Of
undecided crimes have been set down
to it's existence and we've searched
and searched till I'd despaired Of ever
finding it. There it is, my lord
fOundr'
He strobe out on to the landing and
blew his whistle softly. The man who
was on the landing below came hurry
ing up.
Take my compliments to Mr. Jan
Berger" the sergeant directed, grimly,
and ask him to step this way and
bring the key Of the iron door"
TO BE CONTINUED.