The Princeton union., 1900-07-19

n
pistol was in my pocket, and taking the
candle and some matches, again made
for the cook house. Having resolved Ia
descend again into the mysterious
gloom, I did not allow myself to pause
and think; that would mean perhaps a
return of my fright. Unjust plunge into
the mystery suddenly, or not at all.
1t was like taking cold-water bath;
the longer one waits the harder to make
the plunge. ss:.5.
Inside the cook house I lit the candle
and, taking the pistol from my pocket
approached the stairway.
| About again to descend, the recollec-
ton of my first experience came to me
in all the force of it's unearthly quail
tiles, and was seized with a trembling
fit. My knees smote together, and my
hand shook so that the fame Of the
candle was nearly extinguished.
The return of my fear, however, made
me all the more resolved to go on. I
gritted my teeth, and, advancing my
pistol in readiness, slowly began the
descent. Not sound greeted my ears
save that made by my own footsteps.
After reaching the bottom step held
the candle aloof and gazed expectantly
around.
The room was about 20 feet square;
the fat stones with which it was paved
and the surrounding walls were Shiny
with moisture, and here and there re-
fected back the light of the candle.
| M 1,oi
sight, not a sign of one having been
here.
At my feet part of the stone pave
ment had been removed and plank in
serted. Lying near the edge of the
plank was a paper with some printing 6
on the outside, like that on bond or
deed. I stepped down upon the plank,
and again noticed that one end
sank under my weight. Stoop-
ing down to pick up the paper,
my ears were again assailed by the SOL
emn adm:onition seeming to come from
the opposite side of the cellar: can
other step means death. Pause before
you take it!''
Grabbing the paper, quickly re-
sumed an upright position, and, hold
ing the candle above me, gazed intent
ly in the direction of the voice. There
was nothing but the walls around me.
With cautious tread I took the forbid
den step.
''Bac]z, for your life! Back, for your
life!" The words were hurled at me
in fercer tones than before.
| ~4s
lived. Waiting few moments, with at
tention strained to fix the spot whence
the voice sounded, and being given no
further warning, I began by the light
of the candle to search the place close.
ly with my eyes. Where could the voice
have come from? No possible hiding
place appeared; nothing but the bare
walls.
Moving the candle about, it struck me
that there was a space in the wall op.
posite which did not reflect back the
light, which did not have over it the
dank green ooze. When approached
nearer, two cracks running parable
perperdicularly, and about two feet
apart, became apparent. Iran my hane
over the intervening space, and fount
it smooth. A close examination re
vealed to me what seemed to be some
kind of wooden door, rudely painted
to represent the surrounding stone
} walls. But there was no sign of bolt
latch or hinge. If this was a door i
must close with a spring lock which
was on the other side. But then how
; was it opened? Rapping upon the woo(
produced hollow sound. Undoubted
} ly there was some kind of apartment
behind it.
What was it used for, and where dit
it lead to? Was there a passage wa.
behind the door leading to the walled
l up cellar under my bedroom? Thi
was probable, as the door was in tn
wall nearest the main building.
Some one had gone through the doc
on the night of my arrival, and, startle
: by the pistol shot at my reflection, ha
? allowed it to slam.
Standing before the place and reason
ing thus to myself, noticed sma]
: hole between two stones at about tn
height of my chest. Resting one han
} on the edge of the door frame, I stoope'
: down to examine it more closely.
Immediately there was blindin.
flash right in my eyes, a hot flame al
: most burning my cheek, a loud report
then total darkness. The candle wa
!. shattered in my hand. There was tn
, smell of burnt powder, and my lung
: told me of the smoke which filed tn
e cellar. Half stunned, groped abou
: for the stairway, but it was some tim
before located it and ascended.
b The soft, pure air outside partly re
t vived me, and I managed to drag myse]
b across the yard to the main building an
s so to my room. On the first occasion
y terror had lent fectness to my feet; no.
e they seemed weighted with lead.
l. numbcd Indifference to my surrount
;ngs was over me. I was heavy-heat
l. ed and drowsy, so much so that T fe
g asleep.
I awoke suddenly, with start thu
t brought me to a standing position
r glance at my watch told me it WE
It past nine o'clock, and that had slel