The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-10-01

downstairs to ascertain the cause. IL
is strange that both Of you should be
30 mistaken. Nobody had broken into
the house; all the outer doors were
fast, and nothing 10 missing. One cir
cumstance none Of as can understand
is how q certain lantern came to be
lying by your side; 1t belongs to the
stable, and I have never known It to
be brought into the house. But am
talking too much; DR.. Thurlow will be
back In q minute and lecture me for
disobeying him."
Your conclusions are es I thought
they would be. Has DR.. ThurlOw
gone homer"
mo; he Is with John"
"Why with John?
"The old man is very Ill; he has not
yet recovered from his fright at dnd-
ing you rs be did"
"Ah! I have much to tell you which
should make you angry with me for
concealing 1t from you so long; but
you are SO good and gentle with your
foolish boy that don't suppose you
will be-"
MY Ernest would have to act very
differently from anything I have ever
known OF him to excite my anger"
declared this best of fathers. II have
nothing to forgive; or. II I have. I for
give you with my whole heart before
know what is the offense you charge
yourself with"
At this point our colloquy was later
rupted by the entry Of DR.. Tburlow.
He stayed but very little while, how
ever, and having expressed his salts
faction with the condition OF both
his patients, and promising to call
again In the evening. he took his de-
parture. As soon as the sound OF his
footstepy In the corridor had died
away, / resumed the conversation
with my father.
TEL me what are the matters /
have raved about since that night IN
the crypt" said. 1T may be that
you know something of what ] would
tell you"
My fathers face relaxed into smile.
and his eyes twinkled In q manner Pc
culiar to him In moments Of amuse'
ment
"oh. we will ten you about that in
years to come"
what was 1t l talked aboutT l
asked again
MANY things. I don't remember .
tenth of them"
"Tell me q few that you do remem-
ber." urged.
About vast stores Of gold coins
being stolen from this house-about
the beauty of your aunt Gertrude's
sister-about the Rev. Mr.. Price-and
lot OF. similar nonsense which / may
perhaps recollect more Of by-and-by."
mo. father; 1t was not nonsense l
talked about. but sober fact; though
maybe I didn't know what was say
ing ut the time. In very truth. as true
as you are listening to my words, you
have quite recently been robbed Of
nm immense treasure in gold" And.
raising myself on my elbow. / ac-
quainted him as clearly and briefly
Us could with the information ! had
obtained from Roger Trueman's Rec.
ord, and Of my consequent action and
it's result.
NV father. who soon became deeply
interested, suffered me to continue my
narrative without interruption. When
l had ceased speaking he made no ra-
mark, but rested his face upon his
hands and appeared lost In thought.
After waiting some time. and finding
tia. my father exhibited no sign OF
remarking upon my story. asked him
II he did not now believe that he had
been recently robbed Of quarter Of
million seQuins.
II believe l have been robbed OF 30
much treasure" he assented; but ]
nope and pray it was not recent"
what an extraordinary wish" ]
exclaimed. astonished. "Surely the
chances Of recovering the treasure are
much greater II it was lately stolen
than they would be II it was taken
away years ago."
DO you know, Ernest" said my
father. appearing not to notice my re-
mark; your uncle Sam was talking
TO me about that very treasure the
first evening you saw him here"
Then It's existence was known to
you both:"
Not exactly. It was known to all
his family that Roger Trueman-Roger
the Renegade. or Roger the Alchemist.
rs he was variously called-brousht
with him from Turkey m immense
treasure of gold and jewels; but none
Of us ever knew what finally became Of
them, and for more than n hundred
years nobody has troubled to inquire.
But have always understood that my
sreat.grandfather spent years In Il
fruitless search for 1t. which / suppose
has deferred his successors from vast
ing their time In the same way"
What was 1t uncle Sam said to you
about the treasure the evening l frs,
saw him?"
| THAT he believed 1t was concealed
somewhere in Holdenhurst Hall. and
might yet be found"
Then why do you hope that the
robbery Is not recent"
Don't ask me-" exclaimed my
father. starting up cxcitedly; II hate
myself for my present thoughts. Tell
NE where l will find that old manu-