The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1912-07-20
had called .o'BrIen to bring the lamp

j ndu culleurO brlen 10 Drlng the lamp
and we had together gone over the en-.
tire surface inch by inch. Apparently
the mantcl was us solid and immov-
able Us the closely fitted stones OF the
chimney. stepped back. staring In
bewildermcnt. beginning TO doubt the
evidence OF my own sight. O'Bren
still held the lamp IN unsteady hands.
II tould ye. sor." he burst out wildly.
"that was no human. Twas the divirs
own face that I saw, an nivcr q doubt
Of It,"
Whatever the cause or purpose,
whatever OF helllsh suffering lay be-
hind, that dreadful apparition pictured
the very spirit Of UNDERGRADUATES In
the dark.
Two murders have been committed
in this house within forty -elght hours,
O'Brien. You aud | both saw that
mantcl move until 1t revealed an open
ing. 1t was Done by human hands,
and the face which glared out at us
was human face. 1t was devilish
enough, ! admit, but with flesh and
blood behind 1t. Now shake yourself
together and stand by, for am going
to find way inI and you are going
along with me-"
He did not appear very promising
subject, and half expected TO see him
break for the stairs.
Come on. lad" ! insisted. "Place
the lamp on the chair, so you can keep
the gun in your hands while feel over
every inch Of this contrivance. There
is a spring lock here somewhere"
! heard him cock the carbine, the
sharp click plainly audible in the ST.
lence. and was pleased to note the thin
line Of his compressed lips.
Are ye sure It was human, sor?" he
said, wiping the persplration from his
forehead with one hand.
"They were insane eyes, that was all,
O'Brien. Now stand steady"
The mantel fitted back into the chin.
ney so perfectly found no spot where
even the thin blade of my knife could
find entrance; the stones were solidly
mortared. and the iron fire screen was
bolted down securely in place. A brass
rail extended out foot or so and ran
across the front, and two iron and.
irons were let In through slight cut
ting of the screen. moved one of
these, finding 1t loose, and then placed
my hand upon the other simply be-
cause ! knew not what else to do.
To my surprise 1t was immovable,
seemingly as solid as the stones be.
meath. | endeavored to pull 1t forth,
but without result :.
Here's a queer thing, o'Brien,"
exclaimed; that other andiron is loose.
but this one is fastened solidly."
He leaned over and stared at 1t. his
gun ready under one arm.
''Thry pullin' up on it. sor." he sug-
gested. Maybe it's just caught on
something"
l got up from my knees and bent
down, both hands gripping the iron.
AS | Strengthened my arms without
the slightest resistance or noise the
bar uplifted bare inch and then
caught again with dull metallic
click. There was a low whir rs OF
some hidden machinery. and l stepped
back, gripping the revolver at my
belt, uncertain whether my pull had
operated the strange con,rivance or
whether some happening was respon'
siblc. Slowly. utterly silent but for
that soft whirrlng. the mantel swung
as on central pivot halfway round
and then stopped with click. leaving
before us black opening large enough
to admit easily the passage of n mans
body ard about four feet high. !
seemed to see this and OBrien's face
at the same instant His limbs shook
under him.
"Uncock your cafBlnc," T ordered.
There is nothing there to shoot at,
Scc." and | caught up the lamp and
held 1t where the light streamed
through the opening. 1t was simply
the interior of huge chimney built
Of stones, carefully mortared and so
clean rs to be proof positive no smoke
had ever passed that way. The open
ing downward was square. three feet
across | judged. but as held the
lamp lower the passage appeared to
widen out considerably below the floor
level. and caught glimpse of a ladder
with wide steps tilted to such an an
gle as to make climbing scarcely more
difficult than would pair of stairs
In q niche OF the wall on wooden
shelf was lantern and a metallic
box of matches. | handed O'Brien the
lamp. bidding him place 1t on the
chair. and then stepped inside the
opening upon the narrow stone rim
cncircling the shaft. My extended
hand touched the roof. seemingly
proving that the form of chimney
above was mere sham. Intended TO
bear out the deception OF the fireplace.
yet several iron bars conveniently 10
Gated for steps were boted to the side
wall. making me suspicious that the
space above might be utilized rs a
small room. shook the lantern.
found 1t half filed with oil and APP
piled match to the wick. The vel
low iiame gave good view Of the
narrow quarters, but. although held
1t above my head. scanning the close
ly matched boards Of the ceiling. |
could discover no signs OF u trnpdoor
There was sufficient dust collected on