Ellsworth American., 1916-05-31
THE DESERTED CRYPT.


OF wax from his pocket, he took an inn
preston Of the key. hole. Then he went
away.
In one Of the upper stories of a New
YORK skyscraper sat q beautiful girl.
There was no way OF escape. She had
tried every means that occur ed to her.
but In vain. Finally she gave up her
attempt and sat there, silently. The
events Of the last few days whirled in her
brain. Her guardian had taken her from
school and brought her here to this
horrible place in the great metropolis,
where be had locked her up and gone OF.
Night came. Marie Cortlandt, for that
wss the name OF the unhappy girl, was
tired and hungry. A key turned in the
lock, and David Montague came In. Marie
did not speak to her guardian. He grunted
out, hungry" "Yes," said Marie, simply.
He went out, again locking the door.
Surprise mingled with fear filled the
mind OF Marie Cortlandt. "What il he 90
ing to do with met" she asked herself.
Presently be came in, followed by Q ser
want, who brought in the dinner. When
they had finished, Montague bade her
putt on her coat and hs.. She did 80,
and he led her to the elevator. They got
out at the ground floor. Outside q taxi
cab was awaiting them. The chauffeur
opened the door and roughly pushed her
inside, and jumped in himself, slamming
the door. "Mercy," gssped Marie. shut
mp" was the consoling answer he gave
her.
The cab rushed onward through the city
streets and out into the country, speeding
up and down the hills. Marie Cortlandt
vas rendered spelibound by this strange
proceeding. Her guardian did not speak,
AID the two sat quietly In the darkness.
Marie grew sleepy and learned back
against the cushions. Presently she fell
asleep. The guardian took a small bottle
from bis pocket and saturated q handker-
chief with It's contents. Under the effects
OF the chlorotorm Marie slept heavily.
"weIl, we're here" said the chauffeur.
''she Is asleep" said Montague, "help me
take her out" Montague, assisted by the
chauffeur, gently lifted Marie out and
placed her in boat. Montague paid the
chauffeur and he went away in the cab.
Satisfying himself that the cab was out OF
sight. the guardian got into the boat and
ro~ed II away with It's sleeping burden.
Where Was be going in the late hours OF
the nigh, with his chloroformed ward?
A man bent over the door OF the old
cathedral. He unlocked 1t, and pushed 1t
open. As II in protest, the old door gave
weird squeak. The man went down the
old, crumbling steps into the crypt.
Switching on q small pocket light, he
made a careful observation CT the place.
Then he went out, leaving the door open
little way.
In . boat tied to pier OF a wharf was
Marie Courtisndt. The drug had left her
unconscious. Montague came down to
the boat, took her in his arms and started
of with her, guided by the piercing ray
OF = fisshiight. He carried this strange
burden to the gloomy cathedral and down
the stairs into the crypt. Laying her
down on the floor, he hurried upth stairs
and locked the door.
Montague came into New York the next
morning st lo.i5. He came on a train
from Camden. When he arrived at his
dusky rooms, his first act Was to go to a
desk and take from an envelope this ad-
vertisement:
WASTED News Of Stephen Cortlandts
heirs. CortiAndt formerly lived in La
Rouche, France. II will be to the interest OF
his relations to notify boz iis. La Rouche.
France.
Marie Cortlandt's father was John, son
OF Stephen Cortlsndt. Because he would
not marry q girl OF his fathers choice, he
was disinherited. MArie's mother had
died when her daughter was only seven
years old, and her father, distracted with
grief, sent her to boarding school. Two
years ago John Cortlandt died and left his
only cousin, David Montague, as Mares
guardian. With Marine out OF the way
Montague would inherit the fortune that
her grandfather had accumulated.
Back in the absndoned cathedral the girl
Was Just regaining consciousness. The
crypt wss place where darkness reigned
untroubl gloom and terrible silence
prevailed. Marie could not remember
anything. The questions pressed her
trou bled brain? Where? Ho~f and Whyf
Finally her scattered thoughts collected
themselves, and she traced herself to the
time when she was riding in the taxicab.
The foul air choked her. She Was faint,
weary and cramped.
strolling through the village, look ing
about for something OF interest, q young
man OF hne appesraDce came upon the old
cathedral. He was standing on the steps
when he thought he heard faint, weird
cry from within the cruwbling walls. A
determination to find out what uttered
that cry siezed him.
George Cane then hsstened to the viii
lage, and finally, BY much inquiring,
found the man who held the key OF the
old cathedral, and prevailed upon him to
accompany him to the place. Entering
they found, lying on the hoor in swoon,