The record-union., 1896-05-31

ydfu Inc ydrQ WdS ONeTSrOWn with
weeds, and there was no sign of life
anywhere. / found the shed and went
in, closing the door behind me. l struck
a light to get my bearings, and then
blew it out, fearing that it might attract
some one; and then l went to work in
the dark. Removing the rubbish,
scraped away the earth, and after feel
| ing about, caught hold of an iron ring,
and with some difficulty raised the slab.
Some of the disturbed earth ratified
| down as did So l found the rope-lad-
der as the letter said, and 1 pulled it
from its hiding place, and it unfolded it
| self down the hole. Then l thought I
| might venture to light the candle in my
horn lantern. 1 did not relish going
! down into the hole all in the dark Get
| ting on to the ladder, | found a project
| ing nail on which to hang the lantern
while l pulled the slab into it's place
again, and then 1 descended, making
sure of the strength of each rope rung
before I trusted my full weight to it.
| Although l was going only to get my
| own, ] felt strangely like burglar
| suppose l went down thirty feet before
| I touched the bottom, and then the pass
age l had to traverse ran gradually
| downward, so that / must have been
| forty to fifty feet underground when I
| got to the door of the treasury. l had
! taken particular note of the way; but
it was impossible to get lost. Without
difficulty l found the key, and, with a
| beating heart, inserted it in the key
| hole. The noise of the unlocking star
tied me. l had used some force. but the
key turned easily. and 1 pulled open the
heavy door. 1t swung back wide easily.
enough. l took out the key, and then.
raising the lantern above my head. step
ped into the dark chamber, and stood
for moment peering into it. 1 noticed
that 1t was of considerable size that
there was a rough table and chair. and
two or three deed-boxes, and then some
thing struck me heavily in the back,
hurting me staggering across the cham
Der, and there was a great thud which
shook the air
For moment 1 was frightened. and
then | laughed softly to myself. 1t
was only the door that had blown to.
1t was fortunate that L had the keyi
CHAPTER III.
1 relit my candle, which had been
knocked out as l sprawled across the
| room.
1 went to the table, and found a stiff
envelope with my name upon it. There
were three keys in it, and also a closed
envelope, across which was written,
ITO be read after inspecting the treas
ure."
Curious old chap!" 1 murmured, as
1 started to open the boxes For mo-
ment, I thought the first one was
empty, so light was it as lifted it upon
the table. Certainly he had converted
the treasure into a convenient form fol-
removing. The box contained half-a-
| dozen small packets of Bank of Eng
land notes-f30, 900 in all. There was
also a small bag of gold, probably a
recent addition to the treasure With
eager fingers l opened the second box
1t contained only a small leather case
but it's value l could not tell 1t was
full Of precious stoes, chiefly dia-
monds The third box contained only
a will, duly signed and witnessed, made
shortly before Felix Gilman called or
me at the Hall. In legal form it made
me master of this treasure, leaving the
Tower to his nephew, exactly as the
letter stated.
Then 1 opened the letter he had left
with the keys. 1t ran as follows:
MY good friend, you are now a rich
man. Enjoy your wealth as best yoU
may. You thanked me once; will you
thank me now? The feud is settled
1 lie straight and still, awaiting burial
and you are shut in the old dungeon o1
the Tower, to wait for DEATH
/ e.
/ as with cry rushed to the door.
Great heayensi 1t was true There
was no keyhoIe on this side of the door
at all. The door had closed itself upor
me. and the heavy bolts had sprung
back. l had been trapped Here, il
the very midst Of wealth, must die the
horrible death of starvation!
The villain! The murderer. Deat
as he was, 1 cursed him. In my de.
spair, l sat down, and flung my arm.
wildly across the table, letting my heaC
fall upon them. Already l imagined
= that l was hungry and thirsty. Ny
arms knocked the case of diamonds OF
to the floor. When 1 looked up, 1 coult
see one stone which caught a ray O.
light from the candle gleam at me vi
ciously like an evil eye.
Presently 1 became calmer How Ions
could | live without food? How Ions
should l retain strength enough to en-
deavor to escape? l took the lantern
and again examined the door I saw
no hope there. L looked up to the roo
of the vault. 1 tapped the walls.
stamped upon the floor. And then
terrible thought flashed into my mind
Air was certainly admitted to tn,
chamber somehow, but there was NJ
window, not SO much as a grating a.
far as 1 could discover. When my can
die was gone, l should be in total dark
ness! 1t was night now. A little Hgh
might come with day. / would wal
and see. I sat down, drew my cloal
round me, set the lantern on the tabl,
beside me and blew out the light
What could 1 do? Even tomorrow
when it was light in the world abov,
me- what could 1 do? If a ray of Iigh
came to my dungeon, how could it hell
me? l might shout, but would anyon
hear? Would anyone miss me. A
the Hall they would wonder where
was, but for few days at least the,
would do nothing more than wonder
; I had been away before now withou
, | IcllInS tISIIl hIlOW WHGIe was. E~rl
when they got anxious, they would lool
for me in every place but the right one
They might go to Holroyds: Ethe
would hear of my disappearance. Wha
would sl.e dc? Would she be sorry
and remember the kiss 1 had pressed
passionately upon her hand that othe
day when l was wild enough to fame,
that 1 might win her? And then, sup
posing at last they did find me? All
. The thought was too awful; a deat