The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-10-27

quire ',hout him. and no n had seen
him.
"Mr Boyton," she asked. "have YOU
seen my husband? You were the last
to leave, | believe"
"Ycs. maGam. but | have not seen
Mr.. Blakcly since he put you into your
carriage yesterday"
"rhat decides IT," she mut,erci.
"Somcthlng has happened to him In his
room. The door must be forced. For,
ter, go for Il carpenter"
"you take the whole responsibility
OF forcing the green baixe door" | sug'
gested.
"The whole responsibility" she re.
piled and turned away impnticntly.
When the carpenter arrived Mrs.
Blakely led him to the door and or.
dered him to force II. He smiled grim.
~ as he looked the door up and down.
He sounded It with n mallet, anu his
jaw fell.
"lron" he said laconicully. "'Tisn't
my job; you want Il blacksmith"
The porter was sent Off In the eur.
rage to fetch Il smith. When the man
arrived, he eyed the door critically and
looked dubious.
For Ave minutes he dealt Il rapid fire
Of blows, and then the door began to
tremble, then to shake. Finally, after
10 or II minutes. II gave Il shudder ana
came forward, swinging on It's hinges.
Mrs. Blakely darted forward and
stopped. Six feet farther down the
narrow passage another door ohstruc,'
ed the way. She signed lmpetuonsly
to the smith, who stepped forward nnd
shlvered 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 u hushed voice.
get me a lantern. Then you can both
leave us. Mr.. Boyton's will DO all the
help l shall need"
We passed through the doorway and
into a small, dark room. poorly furnish
ed with q little office furniture and
Uttered with papers. There was no
sign Of Mr.. Blakely.
"Look" cried Mrs. BlNkcly. "Look!
A trapdoor"
saw n square had been cut out OF
| the carpet. In the center Of which was
n ring by which | mised the trap,
Looking through we saw Il 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 n large vault. In II wall
was a low, barred door. In n corner
was a small furnace. A peculiar look.
Ing machine stood In the middle Of
the vault, ana upon Il ledge OF lts
frame rested a row OF silver coins.
went down, and, stepping rs l
thought to the ground, my foot en-.
countered something soft, | sprang
aside, avoiding It, ana saw the body OF
Mr.. Blakely huddled up In a broken
bundle.
"Ah, me! All. mer she moaned,
propplng the head upon her knee with
frenzied tenderness. "leichard! Hus-
band! You did not merely dream-you
lived your crimes that highland now!
This IL his secret! Last nlght-tho
night before, he was restless In his
sleep. He talked Of colnIng, years Of
co%ining-coinlng silver coins and reap
Ing %protit-pr0ht. The mint makes
profit on It's silver coins, and why not
I? He said that, ana ns l lay awake
I hoped he merely dreamed. Dead,
dead! Yes, yes, and II you lived these
hands should kill you for the lgnomlny
and shame! Richard! Oh, Rlchard'
Richard!
Beyond the police only Mrs. Blalely
aud myself knew the true secret that
hid beyond the green baize door.-Lbn.
don Tlt.Blts.