Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-05-29

explained matters briefly, and at Pep
perton's suggestion the four of us went
directly to the fourth floor. so that
Miss Octavia might see the whole con-
trivance in the most effective manner
possible.
My awkward pen falters in the at
tempt to convey any idea Of Miss Oc-
tavia's delight in Pepperton's revela-
ton. She kept repeating her admira-
ton Of his genius, and her praise of
my cleverness. which, to protect Heze-
kiah. l was forced to accept meekly.
When in broad daylight Pepperton
found and pressed the spring in the
upper hall. and the hidden door opened
with a slowness that indicated a real
ization of its own dramatic value, Miss
Octavia cried out gleefully. like a child
that witnesses the manipulation of q
new and wonderful toy.
Beyond any question:" she kept as
sorting. beneath the chambers of the
old house down there we shall find the
bones Of that British soldier who per-
ished here. or it is even possible that
a chest of hidden treasure is concealed
beneath the floor"
We were lighting candles prepare
tory to stepping down into the dark
stairway, and Pepperton was plainly
hard put to keep from laughing.
Miss Octavia followed P]epperton
slowly. pausing frequently to hold her
candle close to the stair walls. whose
rough surfaces confirmed all that Pep
perton had said of the preservation Of
the old timbers. I had brought a
handful of candles. and when we had
reached the dark rooms beneath I
lighted these and set them up in the
black n of the old rooms. in
which, Miss Octavia remarked, not
even the wall paper had been disturb
ed. The exit into the coal cellar and
concealed openings left for ventilation
which had escaped me before. were
now pointed out by the architect, who
kept laughing at the huge joke of it all.
Miss Octavia searched thoroughly
for any signs of a trapdoor beneath
which the bones of the British soldier
might repose.
If l had foreseen her persistence in
clinging to the tradition Of the i'll fated
Briton l should have taken the trouble
10 hide a few bones under the flooring
Miss Octavia had brought a stick from
the coal room and was humping the
floor with it even while Pepperton tried
to discourage her further investiga
tons. We were all ranged about bel
with our candles. and these, with the
others I had thrust into the corners
lighted the room well.
Pm afraid you've seen the whole OF
it, Miss HOLSTER" said Pepperton
"The old house was built after the
Revolution, l judge, but your British
soldier was probably left hanging to {
tree and never buried at ALL"
Miss Octavia had been over the floors
Of the two rooms twice and was about
to desist. She made her last stand in the
corner of the smaller room, and as W.
all stood holding our lights we were
conscious that the dull, monotonous
thump suddenly changed it's tone.
"Do you hear that, gentlemen?"
She subdued her qualification in the
rebuking glance she gave us. Calm
and unhurried, she rested a moment or
her stick. with the candles soft glow
about her, a smile ineffably sweet OF
her face.
1.-THE timbers may have rotted away
underneath. We didn't raise these
foors," said Pepperton, but we bott
dropped to our knees and brought al
the candle light to bear upon the floor
ing. Dust and mortar, shaken loose IL
the destruction of the house, filled the
cracks. Pepperton, deeply absorbed
continued to sound the corner with hi
knuckles.
1T really looks as though these
boards had been cut for some purpose
he said, whipping out his knife.
I ran to the kindling room and found
a Ratchet, and when 1 returned he hat
dug the dirt out Of the edges Of thu
floor planks. Silence held us all as
set to prying up the boards.
81 beg of you to exercise the great
est care, gentlemen. If bones are in
tered here we must do them no sacri
lege," warned Miss Octavia.
By this time we all, l think, began t,
believe that the flooring might reall!
have been cut in this corne Of the ole
room to permit the hiding of some
thing. The old planks chung stub
bornly to their joists, but after
had loosened one the others came W
quickly, and the smell of dry eartl
filled the room. Pepperton had, at Mis-
Octavia's direction, brought a chise
and crowbar from the toolroom in tn
cellar, and he stood ready with thes'
when l tore up the last board, disclos
ing an oblong space about five fee
long and slightly over three feet wide.
We were all excited now. The edg'
Of the bar struck repeatedly agains
something that resisted sharply. l
might have been a root, but when Pep
perton shifted the point of attack tn
same booming sound answered to tn
prodding. Pepperton now thought i