Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-08-12
CHAPTER Xxx.

office chair, and laying the wallet before
him, said:
"This, Mrs. Clum, is little bag con-
tanning something very much valued by
the poor man who has just left this
world. I 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 its contents.
and as l do so, | wish you to be pres
ent, as a witness to the transaction"
The key to the wallet DR.. Elfenstein
found tied close to the edge Of the ham
die. Inserting this in the lock, he at
once opened it and drew forth its con-
tents.
ALI that presented itself to his notice
was about fifty pounds in money, and a
package of closely written papers. These
were without address or signature, but
seemed short journal of daily events.
Little did DR.. Elfenstein dream, as he
so coolly turned over these leaves, that
they contained matters so vitally 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:
JuuclC-Nly 0ot, NY oOus " hJ AoSI
Thou forsaken me? is now almost daily
my cry. Alone, horribly. cruelty alone!
how can it be that 1 still exist?
"Nearly eighteen years have 1 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 l write? Who
can ever read what, out of an aching
heart, shall commit to these pages?
"Yet, after my DEATH some person
may penetrate this living tomb, and then
they shall here see recorded the terrible
wrong, the fearful fate that has thus be-
fallen an unhappy peer of the realm!
Have l 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 dead?
Dead? Yes; all think me dead! 1
see clearly at this late date the whole
of Reginald's fiendish plot. He used that
dagger on my arm to draw blood, in Or
der to leave the impression that 1 had
been murdered, before he shut me into
this living tomb.
"Yet 1 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"
"Ha!' 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
portant paper. Let us both seek instant
ly for the presence of our neighbors. Will
you summon Lawyer Huntley, who lives
next door. while | go for Rev. Mr.. Lee?
Not one moment will we waste, for who
knows but yonder corpse may be all that
Is left of poor Sir Arthur Glendenning?"
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 truer'
exclaimed Mr.. Huntley. doctor, please
read that last clause once more. L am
so dazed with surprise that can scarce
ly understand it,"
'Yet l live. L, 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 Geoffrey,
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 sharp pointed knife,
and after leading us inside this strange
apartment he charged us to keep the ex-
istence of the place profound secret, as
the time might come when such a hidden
retreat might prove of immense impor-
tance.
"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,
by chaining me like a beast to the floor,
by the help of his valet, Antoine Duval,
keep me a prisoner for months, year,
life!
"It was the only time 1 ever saw this
room, until the night was thrust within
1t by my inhuman brother Reginald, two
days and one night after 1 was forcibly
taken from my bed.
"Ah, that night! when they overpow-
cred me in my own room; shall l ever
forget 1t? l had retired rather earlier
than usual, and had fallen Immediately
asleep. About midnight. l should judge
1 was awakened by feeling hand press
I'm fn f~ilS
Il instantly had my complete senses.
so dashed the hand with the chloroform-
ed sponge from my face. then sprang
with a bound upon the floor.
1.-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 | 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.