The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1899-10-31

since the bank closed the night before.
He was not in the bank-had not been
home-indeed, it was Mrs. Blakely who
had driven down the first thing to in
quire about him, and no one had seen
him.
-Mr. Boyton,n she asked, shave you
seen my husband? You were the last
to leave, l believer
ayes, madam, but 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, go for a carpenter"
"YOu take the whole responsibility
of forcing the green baize doorT 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 a mallet, and his
jaw fell.
"Ironw he said laconically. "'Tisn't
my Job; you want blacksmith"
The porter was sent of 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 a rapid fire
of blows, and then the door began to
tremble, then to shake. Finally, after
10 or II minutes, it gave a shudder and
came forward, swinging on its hinges.
Mrs. Blakely darted forward and
stopped Six feet farther down the
narrow passage another door obstruet-
ed the way. She signed impetuously
to the smith, who stepped forward and
shivered 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 l 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.
"Lookv' cried Mrs. Blakely. Look!
A trapdoorl''
l saw a square had been cut out Of
the carpet, in the center of which was
ring by which raised the trap.
Looking through we saw 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, DaI1ed door. III a cornc1
was small furnace. 4 peculiar look
ing machine stood in the middle OF
! the vault, and upon ledge Of Its
frame rested row of silver coins.
l went down, and, stepping as
thought to the ground, my foot en-
countered something soft. 1 spranG
aside, avoiding it, and saw the body Of
Mr.. Blakely huddled up in broker
bundle.
"Ah, me! All, mer' she moaned
propping the head upon her knee witt
( frenzied tenderness. Richard! Hus
band! You did not merely ,dream-yol
lived your crimes that highland now
This is his secret! Last night-th'
: night before, he was restless in hi
r sleep. He talked Of coming, years o
J. coining-co coming silver coins and reap
e ing profit-profit The mint make
a profit on its silver coins, and why no
L? He said that, and as lay awak
. / hoped he merely dreamed. Dead
deadl Yes, yes, and If you lived thes
hands should kill you for the ignOmin
e and shame! Richard! Oh, Richard
Richardw
=
s Beyond the police only Mrs. Blakel
IS and myself knew the true secret tina
r. hid beyond the green baize door.-LoI
i don Tit-Bits.