Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-11-03
CHAPTER XXX


office chair, and laying the wallet before
him, said:
This, Mrs Clum. is a little bag con-
tanning something very much valued by
the poor man who has just left this
world. l presume it will acquaint us
with the residence and address of his
near relatives. In order that they may
be notified of his death, l deem it my
duty to Immediately examine it's contents,
and as | do so, l wish you to be pres
ent as a witness to the transaction"
The key to the wallet DIR. Elfenstein
found tied closet to the edge of the han
die. Inserting this in the lock. he at
once opened it and drew forth it's con-
tents
All that presented itself to his notice
was about fifty pounds in money, and
package of closely written papers. These
were without address or signature, but
seemed n short journal of daily events.
Little did DIR. Elfenstein dream, as he
so coolly turned over these leaves, that
they contained matters so vitality impor
tant to himself and his future life!
Seeing no other mode of ascertaining
who the dead man really was. the doc
tor commenced at the beginning to read
as follows:
"June1S-My 0od, my God; Why hast
Thou forsaken me? is now almost daily
my cry. Alone, horribly. cruelty alone!
how can il be that / still exist?
Nearly eighteen years have | survived
this dreadful solitude, and not until to-
day have l gained from my unnatural
keeper the slight boon of pen, ink and
paper. This gained, l will divert myself
by noting down some incidents of my life.
But to what purpose do | write? Who
can ever read what, out of an aching
heart, l shall commit to these pages?
yet, after my DEATH some person
may penetr e this living tomb, and then
they shall heIe see recorded the terrible
wrong, the fearful fate that has thus be-
fallen an unhappy peer of the realm,
Have | been missed from my home?
Has any one mourned over my unexplain-
ed absence? Has my poor Constance
wept over my loss? And has my dear
brother Fitzroy forgiven my harshness
now that he thinks me dsad?
Dead? Yes; all think me dead!
see clearly at this late date the whole
of Reginald's fendish plot. He used that
dagger on my arm to draw blood, in or
der to leave the impression that l had
been murdered before he shut me into
lnlS nFlnB tOnD.
Yet l live. 1, Sir Arthur Glenden-
ming Bart, am alive to-day, incorcerat-
ed in this concealed room, built in the
ruined part of my own residence"
'Hav' exclaimed Earle Elfenstein,
starting to his feet, as he read thus far
What have l here? If this be true, we
have before us an explanation of Sir
Arthur's fate. Mrs. Clum. we must have
others present at the reading of this inn
Dortant paper. Let US both seek instant
ly for the presence of our neighbors. Will
you summon Lawyer Huntley, who lives
next door, while l so for Rev. Mr.. Lee?
Not one moment will we waste, for wEo
knows but yonder corpse may be all that
is left of poor Sir Arthur GlendenningT'
Replacing the papers and keeping the
precious wallet in his hand, Earle at once
left the house for the manse, while Mrs.
Clum ran out to summon Mr.. Huntley.
In less than half an hour they both re-
turned to the physicians office, accom-
panied by the above named gentlemen.
Then, while eager attention was to be
seen ON every face, the doctor again
opened the wallet, and read, as far as we
have written above.
'Merciful heaven, can this be truar
exclaimed Mr.. Huntley. Doctor, please
read that last clause once more. / am
so dazed with surprise that | can scarce
~ understand it."
yet | live. I, Sir Arthur Glenden-
ming. Bart, am alive to-day, incarcerated
in this concealed room, built in the ruined
part of my own residence" again read
DIR. Elfenstein, and after a pause he
continued:
The fact that this room existed was
known only to my father, Sir Godfrey.
and he, shortly before his death, confided
the secret TO my brother Reginald and
myself We three were alone together
when he taught us to open the panels
by the aid OF a sharp pointed knife
and after leading us inside this strange
apartment, he charged us to keep the ex-
istence of the place a profound secret. as
the time might come when such a hidden
retreat might prove of immense impor-
lance.
Dear father, how little did he dream
that Reginald, for the sake of usurping
my lawful title and estates, would drag
me hither. in the darkness of night. and,
nv claiming me like beast to the floor.
by the help of his valet. Antoine Duyal.
keep me a prisoner for months, year,
iifel
1T was the only time | ever saw this
room. until the night / was thrust within
II nv my inhuman brother Reginald. two
days and one night after l was forcibly
taken from my bed.
'Ah. that night when they ererpow-
cred me in my own C9m; shall | ever
forget it? l had retired rather earlier
than usual and had fallen immediately
asleep. About midnight. | should Judge,
was awakened by feeling hand press
ing something to my nostrils.
II instantly had my complete senses.
so dashed the hand with the chloroform-
ed sponge from my face. then sprang
with bound upon the floor.
Two men stood above me- and firm
hands seized and pressed me back. while
a gag was forced into my mouth. A dim
light was burning and l saw that. al
though masked. one figure was like Fitz-
roy's. and his dressing gown was wrap
ped around his form.
"Oh how l struggled TO free myself!
Once did get hand loose. and tore the
mask from one face. 10 find il was not
Fitzroy. but Reginald who was perpe-
trating this outrage upon me. his elder
brother. Turning then to the other, |
r~~ognized the form and voice of Antoine |
Duval.
in the course of the conflict Reginald |
drew out a dagger and plunged it into |
my arm, then threw the dagger, red with !
blood, on the carpet, saying grimly:
'Fitzroy's dagger. Lie there and tes- 1
tify that he did this deedr
oh. my brother, my innocent brother, i
have they dared accuse thee of my /
death? This question harrows me night
and day. Alas! l tremhle for Fitzroy. /
when such hend as Reginald has prov
ed himself to be is let loose upon his
track.
But to go on: Binding my hands-for
all my strength could avail little against
two hardy men-they passed a rope
around my body. after first putting on
my clothing, and, dragging me from the
window. swung me from the balcony 10