Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-01-26


times, and consequently Paul Capel
was thrown a great deal into the So
ciety of Gerard Arts, treating him al
ways In the most friendly way, and
declining to notice the barbs of the
verbal arrows the other was fond of
launching.
One of Artists fayorite illusions was
to the house his companion inherited.
Il felt horribly jealous of you at
FIRST" he said, Seemed such pot
Of money; but with special commands
to live here with haunted room and
a mausoleum beyond tho, thank
you"
What shall YOU do with the cham
Der Of horrors?" said Arts, on another
occasion.
you heard-it Is to be built up"
"No. no; / mean the bedroom. Ugh!'
Il shall take that as my own"
What! A room haunted with the
spirits Of three dead men! Bah! I'M
possible"
Then came the ninth day, and Mr.
Critic announced that on the next his
instructions should be carried out pre-
clsely at twelve.
THAT will give you ample time, Mr..
Capel, to visit banker afterward !;
for, after the late experience, |
should not lose an hour in depositing
your great-uncle's bequest in the hands
OF your banker"
The old man looked pleased, and
nodded.
But had reckoned upon seeing the
| Jewels" said Katrine, with a smile at
the young heir which made his heart
throb and Lydia shrink
THAT pleasure must be deferred,
Miss d Enghien," said the old lawyer,
crustily; and no more was said.
At twelve o'clock punctually, the
next day, Mr. Critic unlocked the
door of the colonels room, and full
Milling Ramos duty, held it back while
the young men bore In lights; Katrine
and Lydia followed, and the old butler,
looking shrunken and depressed came
last, to close the door and draw the
curtain
1t was midday, but II might have
been midnight. Candles were lit
again on chimney-piece and dressing
table and after the old solicitor had
seen that the door was fastened within,
he took out his key, drew the portal
gurtaln at the end, and then unlocked
and slowly pushed open the iron
door,
At a given order the butler solerurly
carried a couple of candles down into
the vault. and stood there in the
gloomy stone chamber where to those
who stood waiting his re-
tuln, they seemed to east II peculiarly
weird light.
Then, in utter silence. the lid was
placed over the calm sleeping features
and the four men, taking each handle
lifted and bore the coffin down. Thare
was some little difficulty ih the sharp
turn of the steps, but in a few minutes
alt was done, ard the coffin lay upon
the ilagstones, while the two girls
stood hand clasping hand.
Mr., Critic walked round to the back
Of the iron safe and stopped down,
when peculiar clang was heard, as
" spring Hard been set free, and
large panel at the end wher" Capel
waa standing dropped down.
As the old lawyer came back, candle
in hand, 1t was now seen that the
panel that had fallen laid bare key
hole
Upon the key Being inserted in this,
and turned, the panel few back and
Gitdrd over the key-hnle as soon rs
the key was drawn ouE. displaying
second key-hole crossed by row of
lcttercd brass slides
These the OH lawyer manipulated
till the letters formed in row par
ticular word, when the second key
hole was laid bare. the key inserted
and turned, and one end OF the iron
snfe revolyed on pair OF huge ut
showing the interior plain, rectangu-
lar and DARK, with an oblong mass of
black metal IN the center.
THE steel chest said the Old law
yer, in u whisper, az he stepped inside
the great saic In which he could nearly
S'anu upright.
Candle In hand he went TO the other
end, put down tlhs ligAt fCT n moment
to set his hands free to get a second
key, a curiously long thin key, with the
end of which he pushed something at
the back of the chest. Then, going to,
one side. he repeated the act, went
back rouad to the other side, and,
again repeated it, AFTER which hn came,
10 the front, and as he held down the
light, those who were intently watrih-
ing his acticas saw that there was a
small circle of Roman figures with a
hand like That OF small clock, which
he pushed round with the end of the
key I'LL 1t was at the letter V. This
done, he bent over the chest, and re-
peated the action twice upon the top
Then, as he stepped out. sharp
sound was heard. and a key-hole was
laid bare once more. In this he placed
! the key, turned 1t, and the steel chest
seemed to split open from end to end.
! liNiliup IN pNual parfG NpbI1h elnu1Ny