Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-11-19
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CHAPTER XXII.

al midnight Oh tIe lllu OI NldTCD
Henry Elgin awoke from a painful
dream, and lay thinking Of his unfor.
!unate child. To save her dear life his
mind was slowly resolving to yield to
the desires of Hammond. "But l am
sure" thought Elgin, as he listened to
the steady tramp Of Daniel to and fro
In the hall, that my yielding will be
my speedy death. If by dying I could
give my child life and security from
the villain would cheerfully die. But
| fear that by following Luke Ham.
mond's wishes. shall hurry upon my
daughter the dreadful fate Of becom.
Ing the wife Of his son. The son must
be like the fatner-an unscrupulouS
villain. Oh, Eternal Father! have pity
upon me, and direct me Alright. James
Greene, whom l Wronged, is no more.
II Luke Hammond did not lie; and his
exulting eyes and cruel smile proved
to me that he spoke truly. May
Heaven deliver u.s.
He was thinking and despondina
thus when slight and irregular jal,
ring Of his bed attracted his attention,
His bed had been rolled against the
wall so as to be Immediately against
the small fireplace, which was fitted
with CRATE, and the head Of the bed
was nearest to the iron work.
Henry Elgn had been SO long an in
valid that his nerves were painfully
sensitive and acute. Had he been In
full and robust health, the scarcely per,
ceptible jarring or vibration would
have failed to draw his mind to 1t.
But now every sense and organ was
Instantly upon the alert.
"What can be the cause of this
strange vibration?' thought Elgin, as
he listened for some clue to guide his
reason. For more than an hour he
listened in vain, and then he placed
his ear against the chimney.
The dull and heavy sound Of pound.
Ing then fell upon his ear.
"Great Heavens!" he thought "Some
one is digging or pounding far below
me, and apparently at the base of the
chimney. Let me think. This chim'
ney was built upon the base Of an old
stone chimney, which was part Of
strong stone apartment Of the old
house l had torn down to erect this
edifice. The foundations Of the old
house We're so strong and durable that
left them standing, and made uA
Of them. Some one is certainly pound
Ing against the chimney, but 1t may
be somebody in the room below me,
since Hammond is in entire possession
Of the house. He may be preparing a
new prison for me, or for my poor
child. He may be preparing n tomb
for hpr. ! will dismiss this terrible
Idea from my mind, and try to sleep,
In sleep ] gain forgetfulness of my
MISERY. God help me"
And utterlnG fervent prayer, Henry
ElGin closed his eyes.
Still the ialling continued, and after
half an hours vain effort to sleep. ha
again applied his ear to the chimney.
He now heard the sound Of blows
distinctly. and once clang, as If iron
had struck iron.
1.-THE pounding is slowly but GER
tainly coming upward" thought Elgin.
sWhat can it mean?
He waited half an hour, and heard
sound Of humping without placing his
tar to the wall
at comes nearer and nearer"
thought he. Great Heaven! some one
Is forcing a way upward through the
chimney. In half an hour more, with
This rate Of progress, whoever it is will
be at work Immediately opposite to
.his fireplace. The chimney fiue runs
up behind this fire-escaDe, and grows
Yery small about three feet above the
throat of the flue Of this chimney. A
nan might work his way from below
antil he reached where the fiue of this
chimney opens into the main chimney,
but there he will find a strong iron.
work and a very narrow channel. But
who can it be? Can it be any one
wishing to effect my escape? 1 am
lead to the world-buried. II any of
Hammond's villains have become re.
norseful, why not open that door and
ead me out? Or why not lead the
police hither? Let me at least hopo
hat it may result in my deliverance,
Ind that if Hammond knows nothing
" it, neither he nor any of his villains
nay enter this room until l shall have
earned this mystery"
The noise continued, but so subdued
hat had not Elgn's head been against
Ihe chimney, he could hardly have
ieard it, and finally the noise ceased.
All was silent for ten minutes, and
hen it began again, and continued
until Elgin knew the cause Of it must
lave passed the level. Of his bed. and
tone two or three IccI upward.
"Ahw thought Elgin. "He has met
he iron work! He must stop there"
Another long pause, and then Elgln
esolved to speak. He forced his face
Up the chimney as far as possible, and
aid;
"In Gods name. who and what are
EouT
There was no reply.
"If you are q man." continued Elgin,
n the feryent tone of prayer, 'if God
las given you a heart to pity a most
Unfortunate being, in the name of COG,
tpray you answer me-" ;--------->--->----.--'