Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-04-20
CHAPTER XVIII.
IN THE CELLAR

IN IiE CELLAR.
had meanwhile stood silent. There
was no reason for me to obtrude myself,
and l was happy not to do so. This does
not mean, however, that my presence
was not noticed. Mr.. Trohm honored
me with mere than ole glance during
these trying moments, in whose express
sion l read the anxiety no felt lest my
peace of mind should be too much dis
turbed, and when in response to the I'M
doubted dismissal no had received from
Lucetta he prepared to take his leave it
was upon me he bestowed his final look
and most deferential bow. 1t was q
tribute to my position and character
which all seemed to feel, and I was not
at all surprised when Lucetta, after
carefully VIZ ching his departure, turned
to me with childliko impetuosity, say
ing:
This must be very unpleasant for
you, Miss E"tterworth, yet must we
ask you to stand our friend God knows
we need one"
II shall never forget occupied that
position toward your mother" was my
straightforward reply, and I did not
forget it, not for q moment.
II shall begin with the cellar" said
Mr.. Gryce.
Both girls quivered. Then Loreen lift.
ed her proud head and said quietly:
"The whole house is at your dispos.
al. Only I pray you to be as expedi.
tious as possible. My sister is not we'll,
and the sooner our humiliation is over
tho better it will be for her,
And, indeed, Lucetta was in q state
that aroused even Mr. Gryce's anxiety.
But when she saw US all lowering ovel
her she reused herself with an extraor.
binary effort, and, waving us all aside,
took the first steps herself in the direc.
ton of the kitchen, from which, as
gathered, the only direct access could be
had to the cellar. Mr.. Gryce immedi.
ately followed, and behind him came
Loreen and myself, both too much agi.
tated to speak.
At tho flower parlor Mr.. Gryce paused
as if he had forgotten something, but
Lucetta urged him feverishly on, and
before long we were all standing in the
kitchen. Here a surprise awaited us
Two men were sitting there who ap-
peared to be strangers to Hannah at
least, for the lowering look she cast
them as she pretended to be busy over
her stove was so out of keeping with
her usual good humor as to attract the
attention even of her young mistress.
"What is the matter, Hannah" asked
Lucetta. And who are these men?''
They are my men" said Mr.. Gryce
1.-The job have undertaken cannot be
carried on alone"
The quick look the two sisters inter
changed did not escape me, or the quiet
air of resignation which was settling
slowly over Loreen.
Must they go into the cellar, too?''
she asked.
Mr.. Gryce smiled his most fatherly
smile.
my dear young ladies'" said he,
these men are interested in but one
thing-they are searching for q clew to
the disappearance that have occurred
in this lane. AS they will not find this
i'll your cellar nothing else that they
may see there will remain in their
minds for moment"
Lucetta said no more. Even her in
domitable spirit was giving way before
the inevitable discovery she saw before
them.
"Do not let William know" were
her low words as we passed by Hannah,
but from the short glimpse / caught
through the open kitchen door of that
same Williams burly figure standing,
guarded by two other men, ON the stable
floor felt that this injunction was quite
superfiuous. William evidently did
know.
was not going to descend the cellar
stairs, but the girls made me.
1--WE wish you" said Loreen, and in
no ordinary tones, while Lucetta paused
and would not go on till l followed.
This surprised me. no longer seemed
to have any clew to their motives, but
1 was glad to be one of the party.
Hannah, under Loreen's orders, had
furnished one of the men with lighted
A'tSAh, .fio ulOh Jul uCsCcuI lutO Iuo
dark labyrinth below it became his duty
to lead the way, which no did with
due circumsDectioc. What all this
underground space into which we were
thus introduced had ever been used Tor
it would be difficult to tell. At present
it was mostly empty. After passing a
small collection Of stores, wine cellar,
the very door of which was unhinged
and lay across the cellar bottom, we
struck into hollow void, In which
there was nothing worth an instant,s
investigation save the earth under our
feet.
This the two foremost detectives ex-
amined very carefully, OBTAINING us Of
ten longer, thought, than Mr.. Gryce