Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-03-03
CHAPTER XXI.

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1t had been a lucky inspiration which
had called Maynard's attention to the
hooks themselves as a means of OPEN
inS a supposed secret door. The third
to the left on the middle wall moved
under his pressure, and when it had
been forcibly turned round, he had
given the exclamation heard by the
butler.
He pushed against the wall, and OPP
ened like a door, admitting him into a
passage where the air struck chill, and
the smell was that of a cellar long UNI
used.
So low was the ceiling that he could
not stand upright, but partially closing
the door behind him, he bent his Shout
ders and went on, his lanterns light
shining ahead. Suddenly, when he had
proceeded for a few steps, the path
ended in a rough stone stairway, that
woHnd downward out of sight. A
frightened rat leaped from some Turk
ing place, the lantern striking OIL a
CLEAN from two fiery eyeballs as the
s creature dashed past and back towards
the cupboard, but Maynard had stead
Ter nerves than Polperro's, and it tool
more than a rat to startle him. He
FASTENED on, undismayed, his heart
loud in his ears.
Ten shallow steps he counted. At
the foot was a wooden door, black with
age, but al top and at bottom was a
huge bolt of suspicious, shining new
ness.
THANK Heaven, no key!" said May
nard, and then, with an encouraging
shout meant to cheer the waiting ears
within, he set himself to undoing the
bolts.
If he had had candle or even a lamp
to light him, the sudden rush of foul
dark air must have extinguished it as
he flung the great door open, but as it
was the flame of the lantern burnt
clear and true.
For a moment he could see nothing,
and then a white, haggard face, with
stubby dark beard and lank hanging
hair, doomed into the circle of the
light.
Good Heayens!" exclaimed May
nard. 1t was like looking at his own
ghost.
A tall, emaciated figure in scanty
clothing staggered towards him, sway
ed, and would have fallen had not May
nard caught it in his arms.
The wretched being had burst into
wild sobbing as he hung on Maynard's
shoulder, sobbing which shook him
from head to foot, and which ended in
mad laughter, gasping, gurgling, pitt
full to hear from one who had once
been a a young, and filled with the
Joy of life.
With soothing words, such as he
might have spoken to a child. Maynard
~tenderly placed him in the n chair
which the place could boast, and held
to the white laps his flask of brandy,
which he had brought for such an
emergency as this.
The poor fellow drank eagerly, and
at Task looked up with weak eyes that
blinked in the unaccustomed light into
Maynerd's face.
Perhaps I'm mad" he muttered, in
a hoarse whisper, with limping sylla-
bles. 1--WE thought SO a long time
months, years. it may be, since they
put mehere-since one night when tina
brute Palgrave called after me in my
boat, brought me back to land; knock
ed me on the head, and l woke up in
here, wet and dripping, ready almost
for death. Perhaps I'm mad, but it's
as though I looked in a mirror, when I
look at you"
I'VE might be brothers" said May
nard. God knows I'd do for you now
all that one brother could do for an
other. The villains who have brought
you to this shall suffer for it, I pro-
mise you. But come, let's not waste
time in questions and You're
stronger now. Lean on me, and let me
help you out of this. All you want to
know you shall hear afterwards"
The other tottered to his feet. cling