Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-06-21

She was in her BAH dress, and looked
at me vaguely; there was a peculiar
expression In her eyes. 1t needed blu
was in a state of trance or mesmerit
sleep. / went VI and spoke to her.
What is the matter?" ! asked
What do you want?"
There is a boz of old silver in {
safe at the back of n or the panels
she replied. II have come to fetcf
It; grandfather wants it,"
She looked past me, answering m!
questions, but not apparently seeins
me. Now, in my examinations of this
curious chamber l had carefully in
vestigated the contents of every pane
except one; that one, to all appear
ance, had 10 spring, and ! had no
been able to open 1t. To this pane
Constance made her way. Withou'
hesitation she pressed her finger
against an ornamental trail of ivy
which had been painted on the wood
work, and the panel revolved back
revealing inside a long and narrow
safe made of solid iron. The safe
was about three to four feet deep
Constance went in. and began to pull
forward a heavy iron box which stood
on a shelf.
1T is too heavy" she painted, urn
ing to me.
Let me help you" | said.
Just as if she were in an ordinary
state, she stepped out OF the safe, and
| went in. She stood on the threshold
! stretched up my arms to take down
the box, and as ] was in the act OF
so doing, suddenly ] found myself in
complete darkness. The spring door
of the panel had come to; ! was shut
up in a living tomb.
The place was not only dark and
narrow, but also, | was quite certain,
almost sound proof. 1t was a safe
built Of solid iron, and doubtless her.
meticaiiy sealed. | guessed quickly
what had happened, Miss Enderby
she had made Constance her tool, and
had sent her to entrap me in the iron
chest. | knew that unless / could
find a prompt mode of exit my hours
were numbered; nay, more, that / had
but a few minutes to live. ] would
swiftly absorb the air in this mar
row chamber, and in a very short
time die of asphyXia. / felt in my
pocket, took out a silver case which
contained matches. and struck one.
Already the confined space of my
cell was taking effect upon me; there
"a a buZzing in my ears, my heart
throbbed wildly, and painted as one
does in the throes of ~suffocation.
CHANGING dizzily around ] saw Just
over my head and behind the iron
box what looked like a bolt. ] tapped
the wall at this spot; 1t sounded hol-
low. Desperately | pulled the box
from it's place, and flung myself saw
agely against the wall where it sound
breath of cold air, and in less than a
minute was myself again. Lighting
another match, | found myself on the
edge of some deep steps which went
down into apparently bottomless
depths, and descended carefully. Very
charity ! got to the last step, and
then pursued MY way along a very
narrow and winding passage, which
presently. borught ne t9 On old door
thick with cobwebs. Selling a bar o.
iron which happened to be on the
floor, l pushed back the hasp of the
lock, A breath of cooler air greeted
me, and / found myself out Of doors
and in the direction of the servants
part of the house. AS quickly as pos
sible / once more entered the house
and regained my chamber by means
of the servants staircase. / went in,
shut the door, and sat for some time
thinking over the position of affairs.
Whether Miss Enderby was mad
or sane, my plain duty was to ac-
quaint her relatives with the occur
renee which had just taken place. 1t
was not safe to have such a woman at
large. Doubtless even now she
thought l was dead, as l ~assuredly
should have been but for the discov-
cry of the secret door at the back OF
the safe. After resting for an hour
l changed my dress and went down to
the ballroom. l heard the merry
strains of music, and entered the ball
room by one Of the side doors. Thc
hrst person l saw was Constance.
She looked radiant in her white
dress; the light of youth and happi-
ness shone in her hazel eyes. When
she saw me she smiled; she was, l
knew afterward, perfectly unconscious
of the terrible deed she a just com
mitted. ] did not trouble her with
any remark. but went further into the
room. ] stepped VI to an open win
dow, and partly ~concealing myself be
hind "A curtain, began to look around
I was now able to watch Miss Ender'
by without being seen myself. She
was dancing with a handsome man
and talking to him brightly. But
observed that, Notwithstanding her as
sumed mirth, she was the victim O
an uneasy terror. Seen closer. hel
face looked haggard. I could not re
sist the temptation to stretch out ont
of my hands and lay 1t on her shout
der. She was talking to her partne'
at the time, and they were In the ac
of resuming the waltz. She turned
her eyes met mine, an expression o
horror came over her face, and sh'
| retreated backwards, gazing at M
| with distended pupils. ] have not tn
| least doubt that she thought ! was
- 1890 ~--aytl1- f~,. har n