The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-03-17

To take refuge in her hut would be
likely contingency Why had she done
so? What mischief could she do US
from such a vantage point2 Suddenly,
Ike q vivid flash, the memory OF the
secret passage, which none of the in
mates Of the house could discover, re-
turned TO me. In all probability this
passage was well known to Mother
Heriot. for had not her mother commit
ted the murder which had taken place
in this very house, and did not the
legend say that she had entered the
house and quilted it again through the
secret passage?
I quickly made up my mind. 1 must
act, and act at once 1 would go
straight to the hut; l would confront
madame; I would meet her alone. In
open combat 1 had nothing to fear.
l waited in my room until the steps
of the old rector retiring for the night
were heard, and then went swiftly
downstairs. / took the key of the hall
door from its hook on the wall, opened
it, locked it behind me, went to the
stables, secured a lantern. and then
began my ascent of Grey Tor.
The night was clear and starlit, the
moon had not yet risen. but the stars
made sufficient light for me to see my
way. After a little over an hours hard
walking, 1 reached the herb-WOman S
hut. 1 Numbered on the door with my
stick. and in a minute the dame ap-
peared. Suddenly I remembered that
she was dumb but could hear. 1 spoke
to her.
Il have a word to say to the stran-
ger who was here yesterday" l began.
rs she within? I must see her at
once"
The herb-woman shook her head.
81 do not believe you" said. stand
aside. l must search the hut
She stood aside and l entered There
was no one else present. The hut was
small a glance showed me each corner
the herb-woman's guest had depart
| ed.
Without even apolOgizing for my alb
1 rupt intrusion, I quickly ran down the
mountain. and, as I did so, the queer
rhyme which cOntaiLed the key to the
! secret passage occurred to my memory.
| I had my memorandum book with me-
| I opened it now and read the words:
! When the Yew and Star combine,
! Draw it twenty Cubits line.
! Wait until the sanity lips
| Shall the belfry spire eclipse.
! Cubits eight across the first,
There shall lie the tomb accurst,
! Gibberish. doubtless, and yet giboer-
| ish with a possible meaning L pom
dered over the enigmatical words.
There is a yew tree in the church
yard" / said to myself, but the rest
seems unfathomable."
There was a short cut home through
the churchyard-I resolved to take 1t.
I went there and walked straight to the
yew tree.
when the Yew and the Star COM
bine," l said, speaking aloud. Surely
there is only one star which remains
immovable-the pole or north star
l looked up at the sky-the pole star
was shining down upon me. ! became
excited and much interested. Moving
about, l presently got the trunk of the
old yew tree and the star in line
Then | again examined the key.
Draw it twenty CUbits line"
Twenty cubits meant thirty feet.
walked on in straight line that dis
lance, and then perceived in the moon
light-for the moon had now risen
that standing there, and looking at the
church spire, the lips of the stone cary
ing of a saint just covered the spiTe it.
self from view. Surely the meaning OF
the second couplet was plain: