Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-05-10
great-grandfather spent years in a

ing tnelf tllne Ill tHe Sdihe ""J'
"What was 1t uncle Sam said to you
about the treasure the evening l first
saw him?"
"That he believed it was concealed
somewhere in Holdenhurst Hall, and
might yet be found"
"Then why do you hope that the
robbery is not recent?'
Don't ask me-" exclaimed my
father, starting up eXcitedly; II hate
myself for my present thoughts. Tell
me where 1 will find that old manu-
script; will fetch it and read it here"
My father walked to the other side
of the room and took the book out OF
a drawer which I had indicated.
had never seen him so strangely moved
before. That he should be disturbed
by the information just impaired to
him was only what I had expected;
nevertheless his reception of my rev.
elation surprised me. Though greatly
concerned with the matter, and evil
IDENTIFY considering all l had said. 1t
Was plain that measures for the recov.
cry of the sequins engaged very little
of his attention; but I refrained for the
present from remarking on that cir
cumstance, and remained still and
quiet while he sat by my bed and read
his ancestors Record At last he laid
aside the book with sigh, and rising
from his chair paced about the room
thoughtfully. After some minutes he
suddenly paused before me, saying
81 wish you were well enough to &C.
company me to the crypt
assured my father of my ability to
do so without danger OF even incon-
venience, and was about to get up
when he stopped me.
Not until DR.. ThurlOw has seen you
again. and then only with his con-
sent"
what nonsensew I exclaimed,
springing out of bed. Because I
have been disappointed and have
knocked my head on stonc pavement
you want to make an invalid Of me.
Surely two days is enough to spend
in bed talking nonsense, especially at
such time as this, when there Is so
much to do and consider" and despite
nv fathers protests FASTENED to dress
myself, assuming Il smile and talking
cheerfully all the while. But the per-
formance cost me a tremendous effort.
for | felt wrctchedly weak and Ill.
"Well, / suppose it must be so, then,"
consented my father. when he per-
ceived that my obstinacy was not to
be overcome; at will be best to make
a careful examination of the place
before your uncle comes"
Before my uncle comes" echoed.
rs uncle Sam coming?'
"Yes; tomorrow morning. l tcle-
graphed to him yesterday, informing
him of your accident, and he replied
that he would come down on Thurs
day"
"Ah" ] said, "he little knows what
a story we have to tell him."
Il hope he does not, am sure" said
my father sadly.
How strangely you talk, father!
Surely you don't mean to imply that
your brother has directly or indirect
ly stolen those sequins out Of your
house? l would stake my life upon
uncle Sans honor; and as for his
wealth, liberality and ability, you
would not easily match them in an
other man."
To my ineXpressible surprise and
pain, my father ignored my question.
merely remarkinS that he hoped no
hlrm might come of my going down
into the crypt, and that must certain
ly be back in my room again before
Dr. Thurlow returned.
1t was an hour past noon when we
entered the crypt, my father walking
first holding lamp, for the place was
as dark by day as by night. After
pausing for Il moment to observe a
crimson stain which marked the spot
where l had fallen, we proceeded at
once to the AbbOt's Cell-for my
father, when he assisted in bringing
me up out Of the crypt, and again
when he went there with DR.. Thur
low to explain to him in what cir
cumstances | had been found, had not
penetrated so far.
The crypt's store of surprises was
not yet exhausted, whatever might
he the case with it's sequins, for walk
ing up to the Abbot's Cell l saw with
that it was closed by the
brick screen as when my attention
was first called to it. The bricks had
been carefully replaced one upon an
other precisely as l had found them
on Monday night, or if there was any
they were built up some
what more neatly; for notwithstand-
ing the aid of my father, it took longer
10 effect an entry into the cell than
when / was unassisted. On reaching
the interior we found that the candle
and matches had been taken away,
and the empty chest upon which l
had seen them vas placed with the
other empty chests. All else iD the
cell was unchanged.
My father spoke few words during
this investigation, and appeared great
ly depressed, though, so far as l could
make out he cared but little for the
loss he bad sustained. He agreed with
me (for indeed the evidences of it
were undeniable) that the contents
OF the chests had been abstracted quite
recently-probably only few days
before.
We left the crypt as we had entered
it, my father locking the door after
him and putting the key into his
pocket. Coming out of the stilIroom