The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-10-11
ever with that dreadful mystery hanging
around her? Would he do the deed
Never God helping him, never

Never God helping him, never
Immediately he set about an examina-
ton of the walls of the cellar, and by care
full sounding he was enabled to detect the
outer wall He brought some Of his tools
to the side of the masonry, and in fifteen
minutes had made an aperture the size of
mans body through the brickwork,
Fresh air, from heavens outer couIt' 8
famed his brow, and the heavy plunge of
rushing water could be distinctly heard
Evidently the building, into which he had
been so strangely conveyed, was situated
in the vicinity of some river, if not upon
its very banks.
A wild, romantic plan-possible from its
very impossibility-swept through his
mind. Why not remove the body to the
shores of the river, from whence he could,
he felt convinced, subsequently, discover
and take it away to, at least, Christian
burial He could brick up the recess, as
his employer required, and who would be
the wiser2
This plan, once conceived, was carried
into effect without hesitation. By dill
gent labor he soon enlarged the cavity in
the wall sufficiently for his purpose, and
letting himself carefully out he reconnoit-
cred the premises. The night was black
as Ercbus, and he could ascertain but lit
tie beyond the fact that he stood in deep
drain which surrounded the mansion. The
ascent from this drain was steep and pre-
cipitous, but Horace felt within himself the
power to do great things, and he returned
at once to the cellar
Replacing the cover upon the box and
lightly fastening the screws, he sprang
through the aperture and drew it after him.
With the greatest difficulty he succeeded
in raising the heavy oaken box to the sur
face of the ground, for the sides of the
drain were wet and slippery. The gush of
water could be very plainly distinguished
at but little distance of, and close upon
the mansion, evidently between him and
the river, rose black copsewood of low
alders. Into these he at once dashed,
bearing his load, and in fifteen minutes he
stood upon the borders of great rivera
river which, he felt assured, was none other
than the Des p.
He deposited his burden, for he had not
minute time to waste, in dense thicket
close to the rivers edge, and marking the
spot by suspending his white pockethand-
kerchief from an overhanging branch, he
hastily retraced his way and arrived in
safety in the vault. Drawing forth his
watch-the little silver watch which had
been his dead sister 8, and which no earthly
need could induce him to part with-he
saw that it was near two O clock But a
brief period remained for the performance
of his task, and never did mortal man labor
with greater assiduity than did Horace
Flintwood. At the end of eighteen min
utes the torn wall was mended in so skillful
manner that it would have de6ed the
scrutiny of the closest observer This done,
he commenced upon the recess. Tier after
tier of brick rose up and at length the
aperture was closed It only remained to
add another thickness of brick, and over
all the thick coat of plaster, as the unknown
had indicated. Flintwood was just putting
the finishing touches to the plastering,
when the great door (Which he had previ-
ously unfastened) swung slowly open and
his mysterious employer entered the room.
A sardonic smile cleaned from his black,
fiery eyes, for no other feature of his face
was visible
$50 you are punctual to the time, my
friend He approached and laid his hand
upon Flintwood's 8 shoulder "Well, [
admire punctuality. And now, as we are
about to 90 forth from hence, I require you
to swear eternal silence on the events of
this night-silence as unbroken as the
darkness of the tomb r.
The wild eyes flashed savagely down into
Horaces face, and though his voice did
not tremble, his cheek became paler as he
s;'oke
s'I swear. "
Enough! A man like you will keep
an oath! Your work is done we'll. y
"I am happy to have pleased you'll 1t
was thoughtful in you to select such a
place for your gold-the most cunning
burglar would never guess itr'
s'You will lose nothing by your exceed
ing cleverness, he said, as he was fixing
the bandage over Horace's eyes, "here
my friend, is little present for you, and
he placed parcel into the mechanic s
hand.
The same road was driven over, the
same unearthly silence preserved in the
phaeton. and near daybreak Horace was
left blind folded at the door of his lodgings.
He tore off the handkerchief and looked
wildly around him, but he saw only great,
crazy houses and smoky manufactures.
The carriage and its occupants had vanish
ed.
He bethought himself of the parcel
given him by the unknown, and breaking
it open he found simply one hundred
dollar note enveloped in brown paper.
Early on the morning subsequent to the
events chronicled above, boat containing
two persons might have been seen proceed
ing at good speed up the Des P-river
Arrived within half a mile of Woodstock