Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-11-30
S. O., WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 1898

communication was established with
the room above. Anxious to be con-
vinced Of this, asked what detective
would do in my place. The answer came
readily enough. Mount the stairs and
feel for yourself whether there is lock
there" But my delicacy-or shall ac-
knowledge it for once?-an instinct Of
timidity seemed to restrain me, till q
remembrance Of Mr.. aaryce's sarcastic
look which l had seen honoring lesser
occasions than these came to nerve me,
and I put foot ON tse stairs which had
last been trod-by whom shall I say?
William? Let us hope by William, and
William only.
Being tall, had to mount but a few
steps before reaching the ceiling. Paus-
ing for breath, for the air was close and
the stairs steep, I reached up and felt
for the hinge or clasp I had every rea-
son to expect to encounter. I found the
latter almost at once, and, satisfied now
that nothing but board separated ME
from the room above, I tried that board
with my finger and was astonished to
feel it yield. As this was discovery
wholly unexpected I drew back and
asked myself if it would be wise to pur-
sue it to the point Of raising this door,
and had hardly settled the question
with myself when the sound Of voice
raised in a soothing murmur revealed
the fact that the room above was not
empty and that / would be committing
the greatest indiscretion in thus tam
pering with a means Of entrance posi-
bly, under the very eye Of the person
speaking. .
If the voice I had heard had been all
that had come to my ears, might have
ventured after moment Of hesitation
to brave the displeasure Of Miss Knollys
by venture which would have at once
satisfied me as to the correctness Of the
suspicious which were congealing my
very blood as stood there, but another
voice-the heavy and threatening voice
of William-had broken into this MUIR
muir, and I knew that if I so much as
awakened in him the least suspicion Of
my whereabouts I would have to dread
an anger that might not know where to
stop.
I therefore rested from further efforts
in this direction, and fearing he might
bethink him Of some errand which
would bring him to the trapdoor him
self I began a retreat which I only made
slow from my desire not to make any
noise. succeeded as well as If my feet
had been shod in velvet and my dress
had been made Of wool instead Of rus
tling silk, and when once again I found
myself planted in the center Of the flow
er parlor, the closet door closed and no
evidence left apparent of where I had
been or what I had heard, I drew deep
breath of relief that was but symbol
of my devout thankfu]ness.
Ibid not mean to remain much longer
In this spot of evil suggestions, but spy
ing the corner Of book which 4. had
not yet seen protruding from under q
cushion Of one Of the lounges l had q
curiosity to see if it were similar to the
rest, and quickly drawing it out took
one look at it.
need not tell what it was, but after
a hasty glance here and there through
its pages put it back, shuddering. If
any doubt remained in my breast that
William was one of those monsters who
feed their morbid cravings by expert
ments upon the weak and defenseless, it
had been dispelled by what I had just
seen in this book.
I did not leave the room, however,
Immediately. AS it was Of the greatest
Importance that should be able to To-
cate in which of the many apartments
on the floor above the supposed prisoner
was lodged I cast about me for the
means Of doing this through the loca-
tion of the room in which I then was
AS this could only be done by afhxing
some token to the window which could
be recognized from without I thought,
first, of thrusting the end Of my hand
kerchief through one Of the Stats Of the
outside blinds; secondly, Of simply
leaving one Of these blinds ajar, and
finally of chipping off piece with the
penknife I always carry, with innu.
merable other small things, in the bag ]
invariably carry at my side. (Fashion,
I hold, counts for nothing against con-
venience.)
This last seemed by much the best de-
vice. A handkerchief could be discover
ed and pulled out, a blind could be
shut, but a silver once separated from
the wood nothing could replace it OF
even cover it up without itself attract
ing attention.
Taking out my knife, I glanced at
the door leading into the hall, found il
still shut and everything quiet behind
it. Then I took look into the shrubs
and bushes Of the yard outside, and, OBJ.
serving nothing to disturb me, shipped
off a bit from one Of the outside edges
Of the Stats and then carefully reclosed
the blinds and the window.
was crossing the threshold when
heard rapid footstep in the hallway.
Miss Knollys was fastening down the
hall to my side.
"Oh, Miss Butterworth,' she ex'
claimed, with one quick look into the
room 1 was leaving, "this is William e
den, the one spot he never allows any
of US to enter. l don't know how the
key came to be upon the string. 1t new
er was before, and l am afraid he never
will forgive me-"
"He need never know that I have
been the victim of such mistake,
said l. my feet leave no trail, and as
I use no perfumes he will never suspect
that I have enjoyed glimpse OF these