Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-12-07

partly mounted in my daring explora-
tions Of the day before. It was dark
now, darker than it was then, but I felt
I must descend by it, for plainly to be
heard now through the crack in the
closet door, which seemed to have q
knack Of standing partly open, I could
hear the heavy tread of the six bearers
as they entered the parlor below still
carrying their burden, concerning the
destination Of which 7 was so anxious
to gain clew.
That it could be here I knew to be
too improbable for consideration. Yet
if they took up their stand in this room
it was for a purpose, and what that
purpose was was determined to know.
The noise their feet made on the bare
boards of the floor and the few words
now heard uttered in Williams stolid
tones and Lucetta's g musical treble as.
sured me that my own light steps In
the softest of felt slippers would no
more be heard than my dark gown Of
quiet wool would be seen through the
narrow slit through which I was pre-
pairing to peer. Yet it took no small de-
gree Of what my father used to call
pluck for me to put foot on this wind
ing staircase and descend almost as 1t
were in the midst Of what must regard
as the last wicked act Of most coward
ly and brutal murder.
did it, however, and after short
but grim communion with my own
heart, which would persist in beating
somewhat noisily, l leaned forward
with all the precaution possible and let
my gaze traverse the chamber in which
had previously seen such horrors as
should have prepared me for this last
and greatest one.
In moment / understood the who14
A long square hole in the floor, lately
sawed, provided an opening through
which the plain plank coffin, Of which I
now caught sight, was to be lowered in
to the cellar and the grave which had
doubtless been dug there. The ropes in
the hands Of the six persons, in whose
identity l had made no mistake, was
proof enough Of their intention, and,
satisfied as 1 now was of the means and
mode Of the interment which had been
such a boundless mystery to me, I
shrank step upward, fearing lest my
indignation and the horror could not
now but feel for Althea's children
would betray me into some exclamation
which might lead to my discovery and
q similar fate.
One other short glance, in which I
saw them all ranged around the dark
opening, and I was up out Of their
reach, Lucetta's face and Lucetta's one
sob as the ropes began to creak being
the one memory which followed me the
most persistently. She, at least, was
overwhelmed with remorse for deed
she was perhaps only answerable for In
that she failed to make known to the
world her brothers. madness and the
horn lble crimes to which It gave rise
took one other look around his room
before I fed to my own, or, rather, to
the one in which l had taken refuge
while my own was under lock and key.
That l spent the next two hours ON my
knees no one can wonder. When my
own door was unlocked, as it was be-
fore the day broke, hsstened in there
and lay my head with all it's unhappy
knowledge on my pillow. But I did not
sleep. The oldest thing Of all this was
that never once thought Of giving q
single note from the whistle which
would have brought the police into that
abode of crime. Perhaps it was wise
omission. I had seen enough that was
horrible for one night without behold
ing Althea's children arrested before
my eyes