Daily camera., 1897-08-25

what purpose? II IL was done Win tne
idea of hiding place. what was the
thing to be hidden? Something which
,.as never again to be reproduced, evi-
IDENTIFY. or the room would not have
been wholly sealed. Perhaps there was
Il secret entrance provided. But then,
why should your property have been
selected? We're you alone when the
discovery was made?"
NO. sir A woman who used to act
us nurse girl when was young one
was with me, and also Mrs Snyder, the
widow who takes care of the house"
"Yes, I know. | believe the old
widow can be relied upon to say moth
ing about the circumstances if she is
told not to. How about the other, your
old nurse?'
"She would do anything possible for
me. / was her idol when child, and
now devotion for me seems to have
been augmented in proportion to my
stature Sarah is wholly trustworthy,
and if | requested her not to mention
the matter she would have her tongue
cut out rather than breathe a word
of it,
That's good. The discovery had best
be kept secret" the old lawyer said, re-
flectively.
"'rhereis another thing Iwish to men
tiot3. though perhaps it is hardly worth
dwelling upon. Mrs Snyder thinks
there is something strange about the
house. And she has so succeeded in
impressing my old nurse with the idea
that Sarah is quite concerned about my
staying She seems to be imbued with
an inexplicable fear that something
harmful threatens me"
Indeed! What do you mean when
YOU say there is something strange?
You mean mysterious?' the old lawyer
asked, in the manner he would have
used in cross-eXamining a witness.
"Yes; Mrs. Snyder claims to have
seen mysterious lights at night, and
heard strange noises"
Mr.. Sonntag's eyes lost their shrewd
expression for a few moments; he re-
lapsed into deep thought.
"IIave these mysteries any relation
to, or any connection with, the sealed
cellar?' he finally asked.
"The woman said nothing about the
strange events being located in any par
ticular place, and did not think to ask
her" ] replied. The old lawyers ques-
ton opened up new train Of thought
Could it be possible that the strange
voice l had heard proceeded from the
sealed cellar?
"Ah! l suppose the women are su-
perstitious and think the place is
haunted. Such ideas generally get
abroad about old, long vacated houses.
But you do not mind their talk?
You are not afraid of ghosts, are you?"
The old fellows eyes twinkled merrily.
'Wen l have never come across any
Of those shadowy beings | could tell
better after l met one. hardly think
talk alone could frighten me" lreplied.
somewhat shamefacedly, remembering
how nearly ] had been unnerved the
night before by my own reflection.
81 will be over some time tomorrow,
and will see if anything can be done re-
garding the mysterious cellar Mr.,
Sonntag said. as rose to leave. "And
pardon me for referring to the unfor-
tunate affair-have you heard of any
new developments in the robbery case"
What" exclaimed you know of it
too?"
Certainly. lived near Philadelphia
at the time and ! read the papers,, he
replied, smilingly.
''It seems I cannot escape hearing of
that terrible affair."" ] said. bitterly.
And | acted the part of fool. too, in
the matter. Instead Of putting forth
every effort to find the perpetrators |
let the thing go; let others. who could
not possibly have had III" interest in
the case that l had. undertake investi-
cations 1 am rightly served for my
supineness, for l have heard nothing
about it at all. l know what | knew
the morning Of it's occurrence, not bit
more Others have failed; I intend to
see now what | can do.
"You intend going into the affair,
then?" he said, dryly.
Il do, with all the energy and re-
source am possessed of.
do you know how near you came
to being arrested for the crimeT
SoHntag asked
"Why, yes. l know. of course, that
would have happened could anything
have been found against me-
"Well, there was enough to hold you,
on suspicion at least"
"Then why did you not arrest me?
i am sure / was willing. l courted
trial"
'It was very seriously talked OF
among the trustees. But the president
opposed it, for one" Sonntag said.
"Yes, I know he really believed me
innocent
But his objection was not the strong
est influence which arose in your be-
half" continued my agent. ''The
strongest, most powerful opposition to
your arrest came from one whose infu-
ence outweighs even the presidQpt's."