Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-11-19
BY Prof. VIM. Henry Peck,

Copyright 1896,
BY ROBERT BoNNER's Sons.
can rights teserred.)
Author of the THE Stone Cutter
OF Lisbon" Etc.

| lICul IlC, "hoVNSi Sou WV WA
tinued Elgin, with his soul on his
tongue, "and pity me! I am Henry
Elgin, whom men suppose to have died
more than a year ago, to have been
buried and to lie in Greenwood l am
the prisoner Of my brother-in-law, Luke
Hammond. He also has imprisoned
my only child, Catharinc, to force her
to marry his son. l am Henry Elgin,
alive in the flesh; in Heavens holiest
name, who are your
! care you alone?' was the reply, in q
aenp whisper from the dark and mar
row flue.
I II am, thank Heaven" said Elgin.
, II am man." said the voice, still in
a deep whisper "a man Luke Ham
mond deems dead; man he tried to
kill. am James Greene!"
/ For a moment Elgn was specchless
with JOY and surprise, and while he
utters his silent thanks to Heaven for
| Its mercy, let us see how James Greene
, reached the spot where he was to he
more surprised than Henry Elgin, and
to be as fully rejoiced. We left him at
midnight beginning his work against
tho walledup fireplace in the old stone
kitchen, far below the crimson cham
Der.
| He was not long in forcing an en-
glad to find it so large and rugged that
he could mount upward several feet
Then he found another impeachment il
thick bars Of iron laid closely to
gether, and sustaining several layers
Of brick. After great labor, he loosened
the ends of four of the bars from the
bricks, and getting full possession OF
one bar, used it as Grow to pry
aside the others. He then dislodget
the bricks, and forcing his body
through the aperture so made, found
that he had entered another chimney.
II must go on up said he. Il must
reach the roof, and then Chamber along
until | can drop from the caves where
they overhang the old and untenanted
house adjacent to this. a leap of ten
feet will take me to the roof OF the
untenanted house, and then my escape
thence Will be easy"
He looked upward, but all was dark,
II might now cut from here into q
room," said he, "but into whose
room? Perhaps into Luke Hamnond's
kitchen. l know nothing Of this house
| am so turned around that do not
know whether l am in the main
house or in the wing. l must go up,
and in going up make as little noise az
possible"
Again he began to ascend. For q
few feet all was easy work. Then an
iron bar opposed his passage. This he
removed by beating TO pieces the
bricks in which it was imDcdded. IE
again few feet, and he found the
iiuc so narrow that it was impossible
TO ascend without removing Il layer Of
bricks all around the fiue.
A new fear arose in his mind.
THE continual dropping of the bricks
as remove them may cause an
alarm" thought he. "Still it must be
done. l see no help for it. God has
been with me so far. l will trust in
Him for all
He again labored, and the bricks fel.
one after another, and, to his ear,
with a stunning noise.
Somebody did hear them as they
struck far down below. Old Fan
trembling in her bed, heard them; but
she deemed the noise made by spirits
or by anything rather than mortal
hands. She crept out of her bed into
the kitchen, and crouching before the
smoulderng fire, trembled and stopped
her ears
Greene continued his slow and toll
some ascent until checked by the iron
work Henry Elgin had thought Of az
be listened to the mysterious noises in
the chimney.
Whenever Greene paused in his toll
he listened for alarm. But there was
no alarm until he heard Elgin's voice
Then he trembled indeed; for he did
uUI IcCOSuIZe tlle NOlCt, SlliuthSlSt "S ~
was in the fue; and, as We have seen,
Elgin was forced to speak three times
before Greene replied. His aStOnish'
ment on learning that Henry Elgin
was still alive was beyond expression.
Greene had been among those who
had seen Elgin in his coffin. James
Greene had shed tears when the collin
was consigned to the tomb.
! When Elgin was again able to speak.
6e said:
"James Greene, we have not time
for many words. My jailers. or Ham
mond himself, may enter this room at
any moment. God be with you, my
son, and may you escape. You are
now opposed by a strong iron frame,
placed in the main chimney to sustain
the weight Of this 1iue. If you can
overcome that obstacle, you will find
much difficulty in going up, as the tiue
narrows and takes turn some feet
farther up. Would to Heaven l could
aid you"
81 am nearly famished,' said Greene.
"Have you food and drink near you?"
81 have" said Elgin. "But how can
you reach it,"
"Thrust your hand up the fue as far
as you can" said Greene.
Elgln did SO, and his hand was
grasped by that of the brave young
carpenter,