Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-05-29

lions, for she stood still. and then
backed away.
1t was a signal victory. or. as Arte-
mus expressed 1t, bowling 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 proud 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 a
proper receptacle. and Charlie, having
enlisted for the war come veal, come
woe, took up the nearest of the lot.
which was in itself treasure of art.
Nervously Artemus tried several
keys in rapid succession, muttering to
himself the while in a way peculiar to
him. At last came a little subdued
screech that announced success on
the part Of the chattering idiot at his
side. They were evidently in for it,
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
master"
Down the venerable stairs they
wendell 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.
"Hark!'
Artemus uttered this word in
shrill whisper, and at the same time
clutched his companions arm. Their
surroundings were so eerie that 1t was
not wonderful that his vivid magma
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
trap in the solid stone, through
which opening many a wretched
condemned man met his fate. Yes, 1t
was only the fretful food you heard
crying peevishly for more victims"
Charles calm manner quite re-
assured the other.
Perhaps you are right; but 1t
sounded wonderfully like a 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
list 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 Huth 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 a bit anxious.
He was about ready to confess that
and only figured on how he might
manage to curb this insatiate ambi-
ton 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-
gion, so utterly out of sympathy
with their surroundings, that both
men stood still. as though paralyzed
and the sound was as of woman
weeping!