The Lamar register., 1901-10-23


plank was q paper with some printing
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 admonition seeming to come from
the opposite side of the cellar: San
other step means death. Pause before
you take It'll"
Grabbing the paper, I 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 took the forbid
den step.
"Back, for your life! Back, for your
life!" The words were hurled at me
in hercer tones than before.
advanced another step, and still
lived. Waiting a few moments, with at
tcntion strained to fix the spot whence
the voice sounded. and being given no
further warning, l 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 q space in the wall op-
posite which did not reflect bac, the
light, which did not have over it the
dank green ooze. When approached
nearer, two cracks running parallel
perpendicularly, and about two feet
apart, became apparent. Iran my hnnd
over the intervening space, and found
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 it
must close with q spring lock which
was on the other side. But then how
was it opened? Rapping upon the wood
produced q hollow sound. Undoubted-
ly there was some kind Of apartment
behind it.
What was 1t used for, and where did
It lead to? Was there a passage way
behind the door leading to the walled
up cellar under my bedroom? This
was probable. as the door was in the
wall nearest the main building.
Some one had gone through the door
on the night of my arrival. and, startled
by the pistol shot at my reflection, had
allowed it to slam.
Standing before the place and reason
ing thus TO myself, I noticed small
hole between two stones ut about the
height of my chest. Resting one hand
on the edge of the door frame, / stopped
down to examine 1t more closely.
Immediately there was binding
flash right in my eyes, hot flame al
most burning my cheek, loud report.
then total darkness. The candle was
shattered in my hand. There was the
smell of burnt powder, and my lungs
told me of the smoke which filed the
cellar. Half stunned, I groped about
for the stairway, but it was some time
before located 1t and ascended.
The soft, pure air outside partly re-
vived me. and managed to drag myself
across the yard to the main building and
80 to my room. On the first occasion,
terror had lent feetness to my feet; now
they seemed weighted with lead. A
numbed indifference to my surround
ings was over me. was heavy-head-
ed and drowsy, 10 much SO that fell
asleep.
awoke suddenly, with start that
brought me to q standing position. A
glance at my watch told me it was
past nine o'clock, and that had slept
two hours. When put back my coat
for the purpose Of replacing the watch
in my vest pocket, a rustlipg of paper
attracted my attention.
This brought to my mind the piece
had picked up in the cook-house cell
lar and hastily thrust into my coat
pocket. took it out and examined it.
Among the securities lost by the bank
in the robbery was a batch of Morgan
county refunding bonds. There had
been 100 of them issued, each of 81 900
denomination, and the bank had pur-
chased the entire issue.
The paper picked up in the cook
house cellar, and which now held in
my hand, was one of those 81 900 bonds.
CHAPTER XIV.
How did the bond which was stolen
from the Safety Security company
over a year ago get into the eel
lar of an old country house be-
longing to a former employe of the
bank? Who could have dropped it
there, and where were the rest? Was
trap laid for me7
sonntAg. Skinner, Jackson, the un-
explained and curious relation between
these three, the walled-up cellar, the
underground passage undoubtedly lead
ing to it, and SO safely guarded-what
could it all mean? Was it possible
that my old house was the receptacle of
the stolen property, and Sonntag.
Skinner, even Jackson, the gang, or q
portion of 1t, had perpetrated the rob