The Elbert County tribune., 1902-07-17

| street OF the Steen. the TWO friends
arrived in the shadow of the great
building whose history stretched back
centuries into the dim past.
Together they entered. like other
pilgrims desirous OF gazing upon the
art treasures which lay within those
ancient walls.
Charlie had seen all these before.
and cast but casual glance around.
being more deeply interested in the
actions of his confederate.
An old dame with her wide cap
started toward them. but one glance
from Artemus' eyes seemed to bring
about decided change in her inten-
tions, for she stood still. and then
backed away
1t was a signal victory. or. as Arte-
mus expressed 1t. a ''howling sue
cess" nevertheless. his companion
was still fain to believe the magic OF
gold had more to do with the old
lady's sudden blindness than the ex-
ertion of rare hypnotic powers on the
part OF the prossd wizard.
Content to follow the others lead.
Charlie soon found himself in that
apartment where several tall brass
candlesticks stood upon an antique
table, to be used in exploring the
mysteries below.
Artemus motioned that he should
straightway possess himself OF one, in
order that their candles might have
proper receptacle. and Charlie. having
enlisted for the war. come veal, come
woe. took up the nearest Of the lot,
which was Ia itself a treasure OF art.
Nervously Artemus tried several
keys in rapid succession. muttering to
himself the while in way peculiar to
him. At last came little subdued
screech that announced success on
the part of the chattering idiot at his
side They were evidently In for 1t.
since the ponderous door opened be-
fore them.
Charlie was not the one to hold
back. so he stepped beyond the portal
and went down.
Immediately the door closed, and
the clang of 1t was unlike any sound
he could ever remember hearing.
That creaking, rusty key turned In
the lock.
Now" said Artemus, in shrill
voice. pregnant with eager anticipa-
ton. now we are IN control. and the
| devil dungeons OF the Steen must
| yield up their CHASTITY secrets to a
| MASTER"
Down the venerable stairs they
wended their way. Could those same
steps have been gifted with the power
| of speech, what strange and startling
tales they might have given forth. of
human misery, OF historical person.
ages and deeds that would have made
the bravest cheeks pale. But they
were mute. The dread secrets of the
dim past would ever be safe in their
| keeping.
"Harkl"
Artemus uttered this word In a
shrill whisper. and at the same time
| clutched his companions arm. Their
surroundings were SO eerie that it was
not wonderful that his vivid imagina-
ton seized upon the slightest pretext
to arouse the ghosts that had lain
here for long centuries.
what you hear is only the CUR
| Cling of the river Sheldt beneath our
feet. At the foot of the worn stone
staircase we descended there is n
trap in the solid stone, through
which opening many a wretched
condemned man met his fate Yes, 1t
was only the fretful flood you heard
crying peevishly for more victims"
Charles calm manner quite re-
assured the other.
Perhaps you are right; but 1t
sounded wonderfully like human
voice calling for help"
Thus in tiers the dungeons lay, each
Individual one seeming to surpass its
predecessors in awful associations.
Long had they been at their task.
The regular routine pursued by tour
ist and guide had been done; but
there were other dark passages to ex-
| plore, gloomy as the river Styx-
passages that the ordinary voyager
never saw. but which Artemus was
bound to Investigate; for If perchance
there was a grain of truth In the
story he had heard. surely the prison
er of the Iron Mask must be found
in such an unused quarter.
Charlie began to feel bit anxious
He was about ready TO confess that
for one he had quite enough of it.
and only figured on how he might
manage to curb this insatiate ambi-
tion on the part of his companion.
The task was taken from his hands.
however. and in most unexpected
manner.
Artemus was eagerly urging him on
to fresh fields and pastures new"
while Charlie held the other in check.
fearful lest they fall into some hor-
rible pit. with rusty spikes at the bot
tom. such as they had discovered in
one dungeon, when, suddenly. with
out warning. there came to their ears
sound so strange in this uncanny re-