Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-02-22


what weapon he lilkes?"
s.Was there anything?" / asked Of
Sheppard in whisper.
HeAfrowned In embarrassment. TO
have waited for anything would have
been too late,n he answered in the
same tone. q had to forestall
guessed, but I'll swear guessed right.
I can't prove it. | caught the CLEAN"
Then he turned quickly from me and
picking up the dagger offered it to
Hood q am sorry for this misunder-
standing, Mr.. Hood he said sweetly.
IF / had stopped to think should
have known that man like yourself
would only carry a weapon for some
good purpose. But am creature Of
impulse, full of mistakes, but of a
warm heart below all, and / offer you
the dagger back in token Of my trust
in you, with which he sat himself
down in his seat and ostentatiously
played with Montgomery's revolver for
the rest of the interview.
"Come, come. That is well said and
well ended" said the captain genially,
and he was evidently very much re-
lieved at the conclusion of this scene.
4'And now, Mr.. Greatorex, and to show
that it is not both sides that are so
unnecessarily suspicious, If you will be
SO good as to take this paper from me
/ will trust you to read out the whole
document.
This proposal, coming on the top Of
what had happened between us, as
founded us all, as you may suppose.
But Sercombe was rarely at loss for
some amazing movement, and he knew
well enough that he was perfectly
safe with me, whereas he was also
aware that I knew / was absolutely
unsafe with him. Therefore he assum-
ed golden air of courtesy and lofty
faith, as between gentlemen. But these
reflections are not to the point for
there was /, with the two parts Of the
precious document in my hands and
four pairs of bright eyes burning upon
my face with their eager Interrogation.
You may conjecture my emotions and
the way my pulse ran. spread the
paper had received from Sercombe
upon the other, smoothed it with the
back of knife and, forthwith deci-
phering the following composition, read
it slowly aloud to the company:
II, Sir Ralph VIVIAN, being now in
my thirtieth year and upon the eve of
exile through the malicious treachery
Of friends, this 18th day of April, in the
year of our Lord 1916, do hereby, as
follows hereunder, give and proclaim
to all or any of my descendants, law
fully begotten, or their heirs, the en-
suing information. 1t being in the
twentieth year of the reign of our be-
loved sovereign his gracious majesty
and in the fifth of the lamentable and
abominable strife with the disloyal
houses, was besieged in Iyor castle
by one Colonel Morgan, attached to
the army of the houses and more par
ticularly to the notorious traitor Sir
Thomas Fairfax. held this castle for
the king for three days and three
nights, but upon the fourth day, this
said 10Th day Of April, through the ac-
cursed act of traitors, the enemy hath
gained entrance by the towers and
even now is pressing upon the garri-
son. And thus set down these sew
eral facts here upon the instant of the
final essay--to wit, that I, being the
custodian of divers cases of treasure,
gold pieces. Jewels and the like, des-
tined for his, majesty's uses, having
taken counsel with my steward and
my friend Sir John Clunes, have con-
cealed this great treasure in a priyy
place within the castle precincts and
do hereby deposit this said writing also
in a secret hiding place. And to whom
soever of my descendants or their law
full heirs this shall fall, in the event Of
my death or exile, charge them to de
liver the same unto his gracious mai
esty King Charles or unto his heirs, the
sovereign kings of this realm, as duti-
full subject, being held in trust for that
purpose.
sAnd here is how ye shall find the
treasure: If ye will descend by the
stairway in the guard room within the
northern tower ye will find gallery
among the donjons of the basement
Keep upon this, feeling upon the walls,
until ye shall touch the corner where
the castle turneth to the south"
Now paused for a moment, for here
the document which Sercombe had Civ
en- me was ended. / cast a glance at
the others as laid it aside and took
up the other portion. Sercombe's face
was appalling in its marks of greed.
The vulture shone from Hoods eyes.
I resumed:
Turning this corner, it is necessary
to proceed upon the. western side of the
castle for the space of thirty footsteps,
and at the close thereof to pause and
survey the walls. If ye will then de-
termine height Of five feet from the
footWay, there will be hereupon dis
closed a small knobbe, the which re-
volving will give access to large cup
board within the wall. Observe dill
gently upon the back of the cupboard
and where the oaken lining adjoins the
i.