Iron County register., 1899-10-26

| my descent, for | knew not whether
my rope was of sufficient length. Nor
were my fears without cause, for had
| come to within a foot of its limit ere
l touched ground. Then with a sigh of
| relief / loosened NJ hold, and taking a
box of matches from my pocket struck
a light and lit the candle L had had
the foresight to bring with me.
1 stood within a dungeon 20 feet
| square, with, save the shaft down which
L had descended, no outlet but a pom
| derous door. locked and bolted on the
outside. | looked round. The ground
was roughly paved with large flags OF
sandstone, broken and thickly covered
with a lichenous growth. At one spot
two had been raised to permit of an
excavation some four feet in depth be-
| ing made. \ shudder travelled through
met looked like a grave.
At my feet lay my bag. 1t had been
burst open by the fall, and its contents
| were strewn about in considerable con-
| fusion. The case, however, which con-
tanned such few jewels as Sir John had
discarded when making his selection
was comparatively uninjured.
Before my eyes hung the improvised
rope by which l had effected my de-
scent. That must be destroyed. | ap-
piled a match to the dry linen. The
flame sped upwards, Illuminating the
humid sides of the black shaft as it
| leapt aloft. 1t burned out against the
trap through which | had come. A
tenous cloud of black ash floated slowly
downward, and darkness again closed
in. Then stretching myself on the
ground, my right hand gripping my re-
volver. hidden beneath me, / waited
my fate.
Soon l heard steps approaching; hey
halted without the door, and after
few seconds of hushed colloquy the
grind of heavy bolts being drawn from
their sockets and the creaking of
rusty lock fell on my ears. Sir John en-
tered, followed by his brother.
He raised the lantern which he car
ried above his head and peered into the
gloom.
Good" he exclaimed, at length.
My dear Godfrey. you deserve my
heartiest congratulations for the skill
with which you have furthered my
scheme. You have we'll earned your re-
ward; it. shall be yours to-day. But let
us lose no time. Take out the fellows
pocket book-'tis in his breast pocket, I
think: you'll find my check there. Bet
ter destroy that. I'll look for what |
didn't choose last night. All, there it is,
l suppose. in that case"
He turned aside. while Mr.. Lansdell.
bending over me. unbuttoned my coat.
OF a sudden, as he was about to insert
his hand into my pocket. L fired.
I'm done." he gasped, and stagger-
ing backward fell into the grave he had
intended for his victim.
In an instant L had covered Sir John
with my weapon.
Move at your peril!" L cried, as l rose
from the ground.
His face flushed pale with fear and
rage as our eyes met in a long. relent-
less glare for mastery. Then his fell.
What would you do?" he said, with
an insolent shrug of his shoulders.
Hand me that case" | answered.
He seemed disinclined to obey.
Quick" L cried, or
He no longer hesitated
Now" L said, hold up your hands"
''Why. you wretched bagman?" he
sneered. but for all that obeyed.
Surely a supertiuous question" L
said. backing-the barrel of my revolver
still upon hin-to the door
Look here." he yelled. What the"
His remaining words were lost in thq
clang of the massive door as l swung it
after me. With desperate haste l shot
the bolts.
You hound!" shrieked the trapped
man. striking the hard wood with impo-
tent fury. Would you leave me here to
die?"
Did you consider me?'' l made an
swer, as I turned upon my heel.
His blasphemies and curses followed
me as l slowly groped my way up the
narrow passage, dying away at last
into bursts of inarticulate rage.
When | had, as far as I could judge,
traversed some hundred or more yards,
my further progress was arrested by
closed door.
Fortunately, however, the miscreants
had not removed the key, So opening it
without delay. entered a small domed
building of marble, and lighted b. col
ored windows of rare beauty.
As, however, the door of this building
was locked and the key gone. l had per-
force to break several of the stained
panes in order to effect an exit.
Clambering through the opening ]
had made, | found myself in a spinney,
whence was soon able to gain the road,
and. hurrying to the station. was just
in tiIneyfor the 1880 express.
/ reached oJ1r tah
after midday, and at once requested an
with Mr.. Mortimer, to whom
| related in full my adventure.
Il thought it better, sir | said, in
Ito confide my experience |
to you ere laying it before the police"
lin this. Cathcart. said my employ
er. you have, as always. shown great |
Tomson" - opening the |
door and calling one of my confreres- |
pay this check into The firms account |
at once. This affair."" he continued, as |
he resumed his seat. lis emphatically |
not one for the police. For any incon-
venience you may have suffered You
shall be fully Unidentified subse-
quently redeemed his promise in most
handsome manner-''Mr. Lansdell's |
death is not an incident to be regretted. |
Sir John. however, must be treated with |
due consideration and forbearance. He |
has been an excellent customer in the
past. and ! doubt not, If we discreetiy |
ignore this unfortunate peccadilio, will |
be so again in the future. | shall my
self. as soon as his money is secure, see
hat he is released from his present
awkward nosition uitho.It any scan |