Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-05-01
CHAPTER XXI.

| lne COIlHBe iWnpn Illey leHfueu liSaloh
next morning. Mark took them through
the park to Heaton Place, and drew them
up upon the graveled sweep before the
wide, arched door of the silent old house.
Mora, isn't 1t stranger whispered
Celia, in little autter OF delight and ex'
element. But I'm so glad Lord kes-
ton Is really living here at last! Mr.. Eos
ter will be so glad, won't he? See, there's
Miss Giffard in the hall. What beau
tiful place 1t Isl!
Tho servant who had opened the outer
door to them had thrown open door on
the right hand side Of the hall; and now
Celia and Nora and Mark followed Miss
Giffard and Mr.. and Mrs. Pennington in
to the room to which it led.
81 think lunch is ready for u.s." said
Mark, in his cool and leisurely way, but
| want you to spare us few minutes
first, il you will. We have little story
to tell Nora here, and | know she will
| like you to be present, too"
He had drawn up couch for Mrs Pen
nington and Miss Giffard, but Nora had
walked up to the wide, low window, and
stood looking out thoughtfully; remem-
bering well that this was the scene of
that little water-color sketch In Rachael
Corr's cabin, and recalling that one day
when Mark himself had told her the sad
legend Of this house. Was he going to
tell this story again to-day2 No, for
Mark only said:
I'VE think that in this room we can tell
you the end of the story better than in
any other spot. Nora, do you remember
It, or do you wish me to tell you any
part againT
"Oh. remember quite, quite WE'LL she
said.
"This was Arthur's room," Mark said.
II will call him Arthur still, because, as
you know, the title never reached him.
When first came here Il was paying
visit to my uncle them, this room was
filed with his machinery. and chemicals,
and a hundred specimens of his odd
tastes and pursuits, and l investigated
everything: for such work and such ex-
periments had a zest for me, TOO. AT last
one day | made an unexpected discovery.
l need not tell you now, Nora. That will
do another time. found that that one
fresco-just above your head, Mrs. Pen
nington-ftted into the wall with a
spring, and, when taken away, disclosed
narrow, secret staircase. Some day,
Nora, you will climb 1t. | can tell you
what found, just as we'll as IL you had
seen the little turret room to which ii
LEADS"
AS Mark spoke, sitting opposite Nora
at the window, he rarely addressed any
one except herself; but the vicar and his
wife sat listening quietly, and did not
seem to wonder why the story should be
told to Nora.
THAT turret room opens to the battle
ments by trap door, which cannot be
stirred from without, but which can be
opened from within with very little diff
Guilty. In this dim little room ! found
one or two things which-gradually,
think, not all at once-excited a strange
suspicion in my mind. First, l found
what seemed to me the remnants of an
old balloon; but presently l discovered
that the whole balloon was there, only
cut into pieces. Then found portions of
mans dress, an empty bottle, dry crusts
of bread, and torn pieces of paper. For
hours, Nora, l have sat in the gloom of
that secret chamber, trying to bring my
vague surmises into shape. seemed to
see so much, and yet, when | brought
what l saw fully into the light, 1t dwin-
died into so little, for want OF the KEY
to ALL Going back again and again to
that story of Arthur's escape, grew to
feel quite sure that he had, by means OF
this little balloon which he had him
self constructed, returned to the Place
. and taken refuge in this unknown room
from which, one day long afterward, he
may safely have escaped in disguise. Can
, you follow me, NoraT'
, yes"
, Though seemed to see that so plain
ly, there were still, as say, great gaps
where l could find nothing; and wal
D obliged to wait only watching earnestly
lest the slightest clew should escape me
But while | waited, searched we'll fol
t any trace of Arthur himself; and Mis-,
Q Gitard must remember well how, some
. times, | wearied her with questions"
Yes, l remember" Miss Giffard said
d But she answered Marks smile with ON,
I which was even grateful. as we'll as tran
{ Gull and content.
: But she never helped me in the slight
s est Mark went on; "she was too loya
d to her old friend, and too faithful to he
X promise. At last, Nora, came that day
when | was summoned so suddenly
n will not recall that" he added, hurriedly
i when he saw how the color left even he
), lips as that evening was brought befor
q her once again. After that the It'll
was mine, and the power to act You un
d derStond. sweet But then began m
u search for you, and the other search wa
} almost forgotten-almost not quite for
y had put machinery into motion whic
o worked on while my own misery
Nora. we will pass that time by. and
u will ask you IL you remember telling IN
=; one day-that first day you were Above
~ to walk to the little church, and when
n met you there-how Miss Giffard ha
given you your medicine Ia her sleel
u Yes, see how clearly you remember it.
Is he added. following her grateful, lovin