Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-11-26
CHApTER Xxx.

'rhls, Mrs. Clum is a little bag con
tanning something very much valued By
the poor man who has just left this
world presume it will acquaint us
with the residence and address Of bis
near relatives. In order that they may
be notified Of his death, | deem it my
duty to Immediately examine its contents,
and as | do so, | wish you to be pres
snt. as a witness to the transaction
The key to the wallet DR.. Elfenstein
found tied close to the edge of the han
die. Inserting this in the lock, he at
once opened it and drew forth its con
tents.
All that presented itself to his notice
was about fifty pounds in money, md a
package of closely written papers. These
were without address or signature but
seemed n short journal of daily events.
Little did DR.. Elfenstein dream, as he
90 coolly turned over these leaves, that
they contained matters so vitality impor-
liant to himself and his future life!
Seeing no other mode of ascertainng
who the dead man really was, the doc
cor commenced at the beginning to read
a. follows:
"June1S-My God, my God; Why hast
Thou forsakcn me? is now almost daily
my cry. Alone, horribly. cruelty alone!
how can it be that l still existf
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, | will divert myself
by noting down some incidents of my life.
But to what purpose do / writer Who
can ever read what, out of an aching
heart, shall commit to these pages2
Yet, after my death, some person
may penetrate this living tomb, and then
they shall here nee recorded the terrible
wroIg, the fearful fate that has thus be-
fallen an unhappy peer of the realml
Have | been missed from my home?
Has any one mourned over my uneXplain-
ed nbsence2 Has my poor Constance
wept over my loss? And has my dear
Brother Fitzroy forgiven my harshness
now that he thinks me dead?
Dead? Yes; all think me deadl |
see clearly at this late date the whole
OF Reginald's iiendsh plot. He used that
dagger on my arm to draw blood, in or
der to leave the impression that | had
been murdered, before he shut me into
this living tomb.
"Yet l live. |, Sir Arthur Glenden.
ming, Bart, am alive to day, incorcerat.
ed In this concealed room. built in the
ruined part of my own residence"
"Haw 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 i'm
portant paper. Let us both seek instant.
~ for the presence of our neighbors. Viii
you summon Lawyer Huntley, who lives
next door, while | 60 for Rev. Mr.. Lee
Not one moment will we waste, for who
knows but yonder corpse may be all that
10 left of poor Sir Arthur Glendenning2 2
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 true'
exclaimed Mr.. Huntley. doctor. pleas,
read that last clause once more. | an
L
ly understand it."
"Yet l live. |, Sir Arthur Genden
ming. Bart am alive to-day, incarceratet
On this concealed room, built in the ruined
part of my own residence" again rea,
DIR. Elfenstein, and after a pause Ia,
continued:
''The fact that this room existed wa
known only to my father, Sir Godfrey
and he, shortly before his death, confide,
the secret to my brother Reginald an,
myself. We three were alone togethe
when he taught us to open the panel
By the aid of n sharp pointed knife
and after leading us inside this strang
apartment, he charged us to keep the OF
dstence of the place a profound secret, n
khs time might come when such bidder
retreat might prove of immense impor
lance.
"Dear father! how little did he drear
chat Reginald, for the sake Of usurpn
my lawful title and estates, would dra
me hither, in the darkness of night, ant
,Ay claiming me like a beast to the foo
By the help of his valet, Antoine DIVA
keep me a prisoner for months, yea
Afe
ut was the only time l ever saw tn
room, until the night was thrust With
A. by my inhuman brother Reginald, tw
days and one night after l was forcibl
taken from my bed.
"Ah that night! when they overpov
cred me in my own ROOM shall eve
forget it2 | had retired rather EARL,
than usual, and had fallen immediate
asleep. About midnight, | should judg
was awakened by feeling hand pres
ing something to my nostrils.
81 instantly had my complete sense
80 dashed the hand with the si,loroforu
ed sponge from my face, then sprar
with n bound upon the floor.
1.-TWO men stood above me, and fir
hands seized and pressed me back, viii
gag was forced into my mouth. A di
hight was burning and | saw that,
though masked, one figure was like Fit
rows. and his dressing gown was wra
ped around his form.
"Oh, how l struggled to free myse
Once did get hand loose, and tore {
mask from one face, to find it was n