Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-04-05

waters of the moat and the spikes of
the portcullis protruding just below
the archway. These appearances seem
ed to point in one direction and to ac-
quaint me that the game was up.
Inside I met Mrs. Main, who started
in alarm and pursued me with her ex-
cited inquiries-so that it was very
plain whence the news Of my disap-
pearance had reached the police She
Informed me that Mr.. Sheppard and
Mr. Montgomery were both within and
seated, in fact, at lunch In the dining
room, therefore, sought them and
broke in upon them. will not say
with what delight / was welcomed,
embraced affectionately by Sheppard
and sturdily shaken by Montgomery's
great fist They had been anxious, and
yet not alarmed, by my absence. Shep-
pard's wits were always quick, and
said he:
81 knew that it was not worth their
while to slaughter you, Ned, but what
/ other deyilment they might be up to I
could not guess. On the whole, we de-
cided finally in favor of what actually
occurred" And then, $50 you were
takenY' he asked. But how"
Give me food and wine and will
give you my story" replied, sitting
down to the table.
Sheppard laid his hand on my shout
der. No. said he; mot yet. There
is something further first" And, look
ing at him, perceived great gravity
on his features. He showed a worn
and troubled face, now that the excite
ment of my return was over.
"What is the matter" asked. 'Is
the treasure
sThat is it" he said. 81 want that
key. We tried the door in vain. We
could not break it down. It is ada
mant. God knows it was not for want
of trying"
Il fear the key is nc use to us now"
said quickly.
He regarded me seriously and with
pale face
you must forget, Ned" he said gen
tly, sswhat you left there"
Montgomery's face had fallen, and
he sat echoing Sheppard's consterna-
ton. Suddenly a light dawned on me.
1t was Hood they had in mind.
Hoods not there" l said. Shep-
pard stared at me-
mot a bit of it," l went on. Hes
plump and live as ever, and a worse
rascal
"But how-but why?" exclaimed
Montgomery 81 thought the poor devil
was dead and rotten by now. We tried
] ID we could'
"Oh, ]. see I must hasten on to my
story without more ado" I said, and
accordingly began at once upon my
narrative. Chagrin grew upon their
faces as / proceeded, and was inter
rupted only by the expressions of as
constituent and anger which the vari-
Gus episodes of my adventure evoked
from both. When it was over, Shep-
pard rose.
with your leave, Ned" said he, Il
viii go down to the keep forthwith"
And he left the room, with Montgom-
cry. at his heels. /, too, followed, for
was eager to know the worst without
unnecessary delay.
Ny surnlises were quite correct. The
dungeon rested as it had done when 1
saw it last and apparently had suffered
no trespass The chests stood in the
corner as before, but they were bare
Of every piece of gold, amulet or jewel.
The thieves had made clean job Of
their depreciation. We stared at one
another in dismay and retreated dis
mally to the upper regions of the
house.
well. there's an end,o said Mont
gomery, with sigh, and I fancy we
were all Of the same opinion in that
early blast of despair.
The treasure was gone, and he must
be sharp fellow indeed who could
discover its hiding place throughout
the district of the event or maybe
within the borders of the kingdom.
Sheppard was the first to show us the
way out Of our deadly apathy.
Il am not going to see it stop here,
Ned, he said, with determination, "and
that's the truth. That treasure must
! be somewhere, and we've got to find
it.v
Il say ditto to that cried Mont
gomery stalwartly, heaving sigh Of
resolution.
IF we could narrow the field" said.
.sPshawF' said Sheppard. sAThey
can't have got it far. How many days
4 is it7 Why, they can't have got the
] money out all at one shot; otherwise
they would not have kept you locked
H up. III go bail that the last was fetch
ed out only last night, If as early as
that. And, if SO, the treasure is not
very far from the castle"
4some Of it may be in London an
zsWered moodily.
sWell, mind you, / don't admit it,
But say it is SO, there must be some
thing still about the Gwent, and we've
got to run it down. I think, from
what you say, you surprised them by