Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-03-09

This was less difficult than i antici1
pated. Either this room was regarded
as SO safe from intrusion that a secret
like this could be safely left unguarded,|
or the door which was plainly to BID
seen in one corner had been lately lifted
that it had hardly sunk back into its
place. found it, if the expression may
be used of horizontal object, slightly
ajar and needing but the slightest pull
to make it spring upright and remain
so by means of some mechanical con-
trivance will not attempt to describe.
The hole thus disclosed was filed
with the little staircase up which / had
partly mounted in my daring explora7I
tions of the day before 1t was dark
now, darker than it was then, but fel d
I must descend by it, for plainly to I'D
heard now through the crack in thu
closet door, which seemed to have 4
knack of standing partly open, could
hear the heavy tread of the six bearers
as they entered the parlor below still
carrying their burden, concerning thd
destination of which I was so anxious
to gain clew.
That it could be here knew to BID
too improbable for consideration. Yet
if they took up their stand in this room
it was for purpose, and what that
purpose was was determined to know.
The noise their feet made ON the bard
boards of the floor and the few words d
now heard uttered in Williams stoiid'
tones and Lucetta' s musical treble as
sured me that my own light steps in
the softesi of felt slippers would 10
more be heard than my dark gown OF
quiet wool would be seen through the
narrow slit through Which was Ire1
pairing to peer. Yet it took no small de-
gree of what my father used to cal
pluck for me to put foot ON this wind
ing staircase and descend almost as il
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 lei
I had previously seen such horrors as
should have prepared me for this las
and greatest one.
In moment l understood the whole
A long square hole in the floor, lately
sawed, provided an opening through
which the plain plank coffin, Of which
now caught sight, was to be lowered in
t0 hn hn xx,hi lor
doubtless been dug there. The ropes in
the hands of the six persons, in whose
identity l had made no mistake, wa
proof enough of their intention, and
satisfied as I now was of the means and
mode of the interment which had beer
such a boundless mystery to me,
shrank step upward, fearing lest my
now but feel for Altheas children
would betray me into some exclamatiol
which might lead to my discovery and
a similar fate.
One other short glance, in which
saw them all ranged around the darl
opening, and 1 was up out of theil
reach, Lucetta's face and Lucetta's one
SOD CuS lupus DCodh W SlSuh UClhSW
the one memory which followed me th(
most persistently. She, at least, wa
overwhelmed with remorse for a deed
she was perhaps only answerable for il
that she failed to make known to thu
world her brothers madness and tho
horrible crimes to which it gave rise.
/ took one other look around his room
before fled to my own, or, rather, td
the one in which I had taken refugd
while my own was under lock and key
That 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, FASTENED in ther,
and lay my head with all its unhappy
knowledge on my pillow. But did no
sleep. The oldest thing of all this wa
that never once thought of giving
single note from the whistle which
would have brought the police into tina
abode of crime. Perhaps it was wis
omission. had seen enough that wa
horrible for one night without behold
ing Althea's children arrested befor|
my eyes.