Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-26
CHAPTER XIV.

w stared at the blank stones, Out
III they returned no sign from their
unavailing grayness. The silence
began to speak in that gloomy
place Recovering myself, I put down
the lantern and considered. First l
put the key in my pocket, definite
precuution which was to influence
strangely the history Of this narrative
1t was not conceivable that any one
could have opened the heavy door
when 1t was locked, yet the prisoner
was gone slf he is gone said
aloud in order to .reassure myself, "he
must needs have gone by some hole
That was incontrovertible. l decided,
100, that the means of escape must lie
within the dungeon. Once more l In
;pected the huge oaken door and shook
ny head. Was there any flaw in the
yood? Perchance there was a secret
pring In a panel Went over the
urface carefully, but found nothing.
very we'll" said l, Il will unriddle
his or be hanged for u felon,' and l
,et to work upon the walls. Inch by
nch / passed the masonry under my
scrutiny, but made no discovery. II
Will so over 1t again." ] declared des-
perately and resumed my work from
the beginning. / had not reached n
point very far from the door on this
second round Of Investigation when
nv glance slid off at venture and al
most mechanically rested upon the
reasure chests. Something unfamiliar
II their appearance vaguely persisted
II my thoughts l left of fumbling
With the wall and stood gazing at
hem. They took my eyes with inter
,st. and, crossing the room, shed the
light upon the cases, lingering the gold
pieces under the broken i'd One, two,
three-they stood exactly as-no, that
was the point. They had been moved!
With new zest I examined the floor,
md, sure enough. one Of these chests
had been pulled out from the wall as
Jar as its own width. peeped over 1t,
Illuminating the space beyond. The
,lab Of stone which the box had Gov
cred was like the other flags that made
the floor Of the dungeon. leaned low
ar, and, sitting crossways on the chest.
pushed the slab with my foot. 1t
clanked duly to the kick OF my heel;
but, what was even more amazing to
ne, 1t seemed to shudder and tremble
beneath me. Fully aroused to action, /
Jung myself over and alighted with
10th feet hard upon the flooring. In
mother moment was tipped forward
and felt myself falling precipitately
lpon my face. Catching Mt the chest
With one hand, ! saved myself, but in
he effort the lantern fell from my
,and and went out.
Slowly CROPPED in the darkness and
truck match, relighting the candle.
Then turned to the slab of stone.
It lay open, displaced, one end pro-
truding upward, and. as saw, had
twisted on some kind Of axle. Below
was disclosed great mouth Of dark
ness.
Come" said to myself, II think !
l.now where friend Hood is, and this
begins to get interesting"
l felt in my pocket where my re
volver lay safely, and, seizing the can.
die, plunged into the evil looking hole
A stairway of stone ran downward,
but very steeply, and had the utmost
difficulty in preventing myself from
pitching forward against the rough
masonry Of the opposite wall. The
walls brushed me upon either side as
descended, so narrow was the funnel
Down. down went, until presently
reached sort Of landing, which broad.
ened into little irregular chamber.
Here ray Of light caught my eye, and
followed 1t till happened upon a
small door in the wall A huge key
was in the lock, but the bolt was not
turned, and by wrenching hard
forced the door open. now looked
/ down upon the waters Of the moat, in
which my tiny fame danced in the
growing darkness.
After a little consideration I saw
where I was. This must be sally
port giving access to the fosse. In
deed, the water Tapped the lowermost
step, upon which l stood. Was it by
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