The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1912-07-20

TIRE SURFACE inch by inch. Apparently
the mantel was as solid and immov-
able as the closely fitted stones of the
chimney. ! stepped back. staring in
bewilderment. beginning to doubt the
evidence of my own sight. O'Brien
still held the lamp In unsteady hands.
Il tould ye. sor." he burst out wildly.
that was no human. Twas the divirs
W face that | saw. an niver a doubt
of it."
Whatever the cause or purpose
whatever of .hellish suffering lay be-
hind. that dreadful apparition pictured
the very spirit of murder-murder in
the dark.
Two murders have been committed
in this house within forty eight hours.
O'Brien- You and | both saw that
mantel move until 1t revealed an open
ing. Ii was done by human hands.
and the face which glared put at us
was a human face. II vas devilish
enough. | admit. but with flesh and
blood behind 1t. Now shake yourself
together and stand by. for I am going
to End a way in. and you are going
along with me-"
He did not appear a very promising
subject. and I 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 l feel e
every inch Of this continuance. There
is a spring lock here somewhere"
l heard him COO 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. SORT" he
said. wiping the perspiration 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 a foot or so and ran
across the front. and two iron and
irons were let In through a slight cut
ting Of the screen. l moved one Of
these. finding it loose. and then placed
my hand upon the other simply be-
cause l knew not what else to do.
To my surprise 1t was immovable.
seemingly as solid as the one be
meath. ~endcavored to pull it 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 it. 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 a bare inch and then
caught again with a dull metallic
click. There was a low whir as of
some hidden machinery. and stepped
back. gripping the revolver at my
belt. uncertain whether my pull had
operated the strange contrivance or
whether some happening was respon
sible. Slowly, utterly silent but for
that soft whirring. the mantel swung
as on a central pivot halfway round
and then stopped with a click, leaving
before us a black opening large enough
to admit easily the passage of a mans
body and about four feet high. |
seemed to see this and O'Brien's face
at the same instant . His limbs shook
under him.
"Uncock your carbine." / ordered.
There is nothing there to shoot at
See." and l caught up the lamp and
held 1t where the light streamed
through the opening. 1t was simply
the interior of a huge chimney built
of stones. carefully mortared and so
clean as to be proof positive no smoke
had aver passed that way. The open
ing downward was square. three feet
across l judged. but as / held the
lamp lower the passage appeared to
widen out considerably below the floor
level. and I caught glimpse of a ladder
with wide steps tilted to such an an
gle as to make climbing scarcely more
difficult than would a pair of stairs.
In q niche of the wall on a wooden
shelf was a lantern and a metallic
box of matches. l handed O'Brien the
lamp. bidding him place it on the
chair. and then stepped inside the
opening upon the narrow stone rim
encircling the shaft My extended
hand touched the roof. seemingly
proving that the form of a Chimney
above was a mere sham. intended to
bear u the deception OF the fireplace.
yet several iron bars conveniently To-
Gated for steps were bolted to the side
wall. making me suspicious that the
space above might be utilized as a
small room. / shook the lantern.
found it half filed with oil and APP
piled a match to the wick. The yell
low fame gave a good view of the