Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1899-10-06

Quire about him, and no one had seen
him.
"NIr. Boyton," she asked, "have you
seen my husband? You were the last
to leave, l believer"
Yes, madam, but l have not seen
Mr.. Blakely since he put you into your
carriage yesterday"
"That decides it." she muttered.
Something has happened to him in his
room. The door must be forced. Por-
ter, 60 for carpenter"
"You take the whole responsibility
of forcing the green baize door," sug-
gested.
"The whole responsibility, she re-
piled and turned away impatiently.
When the carpenter arrived Mrs.
Blakely led him to the door and Or
dered him to force it. He smiled GRIM
ly as he looked the door up and down.
He sounded it with mallet, and his
jaw fell.
"Ironw he said laconically. "'Tisn't
my job; you want a blacksmith"
The porter was sent off in the car
rage to fetch a smith. When the man
arrived, he eyed the door critically and
looked dubious.
For five minutes he dealt rapid fire
of blows, and then the door began to
tremble, then to shake. Finally, after
10 or II minutes, it gave shudder and
came forward, swinging on it's hinges.
Mrs. Blakely darted forward and
stopped. Six feet farther down the
narrow passage another door obstruct-
ed the way. She signed impetuously
to the smith, who stepped forward and
shvered the lock of the second door,
which was only light wood. All was
darkness beyond the door.
/ turned to Mrs. Blakely, who stood
gazing in wonderment into chaos.
Porter" she said, in hushed voice.
"get me lantern. Then you can both
leave us. Mr.. Boyton's will be all the
help shall need"
We passed through the doorway and
into small, dark room, poorly furnish
ed with a little office furniture and
Uttered with papers. There was no
sign of Mr.. Blakely.
Look" cried Mrs. Blakely. look!
A trapdoor!'
l saw square had been cut out Of
the carpet, in the center Of which was
a ring by which raised the trap.
Looking through we saw a ladder
leading down to darkness.
Going carefully down four rungs of
the ladder held the lantern out at
arms length and surveyed the scene.
A stone walled chamber stretched
before me like large vault. In one wall
was a low, barred door. In a corner
was a small furnace. A peculiar look
ing machine stood in the middle OF
the vault, and upon a ledge of its
frame rested row OF silver coins.
| went down, and, stepping as l
thought to the ground, my foot EN-
countered something soft. | sprang
aside avoiding it, and saw the body of
Mr.. Blakely huddled up in n broken
bundle.
"Ah, me! All, mel! she moaned,
propping the head upon her knee with
frenzied tenderness. Richard! Hus-
band You did not merely dream-you
lived your crimes that highland now!
This is his secret. Last night-the
night before, he was restless in his
sleep. He talked of coming. years of
coining-coining silver coins and reap
ing profit-protit. The mint makes
profit on its silver coins, and why not
L? He said that, and as l lay awake
l hoped he merely dreamed. Dead,
dead, Yes, yes, and if you lived these
hands should kill you for the ignominy
and shame. Richard! Oh, Richard!
Richard"
Beyond the police only Mrs. Blakely
and myself knew the true secret that
hid beyond the green baize door.-LOn-
don Tit-Bits.