The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1917-04-30

IOCkcU, Ms IdrT duO 10ICl0 uAO AOuuU
it. by the first japanese. And when
Ripley, emerging from the secret pas
sage-nO doubt even then fatally
wOunded-had called Patria in New
port by long distance-the second
japanese had shot to kill and had sue
ceeded If at cost of his own life. {.
Asking Patria to turn aside while he
with Martins aid carried up the dead
japanese and placed him with the 9th
ers in the drawing-room, Parr left Mar
tin on guard, and conducted the girl be-
low to the treasure vault.
II any traces of incredulity had thus
far colored his thoughts, they were
promptly dissipated.
The vault was not large-perhaps
twice the size of it's northumberland
was so wcll-filled with boxes, bales and
bundles that it afforded scant space in
which to move about. Aside from the
entrance, three walls We're hidden by
packing-cases. The fourth, the farth-
est from the entrance, boosted racks
Of pigeonhOles in which were filed and
docketed packet upon packet Of papers,
and in addition a richly framed oil pOr-
trait of gentleman in continental mi
form, Boosting brass plate with this
legend:
JOHN CLAIMING. Esq.
(E. 1757-D. 1867
Patriot. Statesman. Soldier.
Founder of the Claiming Secret De-
Tense Fund.
Ignoring all else in the vault. the girl
Patria fingered for many minutes be-
fore this portrait of the ancestor whose
clear foresight and love of country had
created that trust whose burden had
now fallen upon her slender, pretty
shoulders.
Kapt beyond utterance. she signified
her wish to confirm her deceased guar
dian's report as to the treasure.
Parr selected one from the nearest
stack Of wooden boxes. and essayed to
transfer 1t to the table. But it proved
heavier than he had anticipated, AMI
slipped through fingers unprepared for
its weight. There was crash: the
box lay shattered ut their feet, its con-
tents spilled-stack upon stack of gold
en- double-eagles scattered upon the
floor.
There was q pause.
Patria sank into a chair and rested
forearms upon the table. In her hands
she held Peter Ripley's letter.
After q little, shufFling the sheets.
she brought that one uppermOst which
showed the words
"Wisely employed, this treasure may
prove the salvation Of your country In
this its hour of direct need"
God make me wise," she said-and
! faltered-"God make me wise to adj
minister this sacred trust!"
Without wholly approaching what he
did, transported beyond himself, Parr
closed his fingers over hers.
"Amen to that!" said he.
On the echo Of his words dull graf.
ing noise sounded above their heads.
HOLOCAUST.
In the twinkling of an eyelash both
appreciated what had happened: the
door to the secret passage had swung
shut for whatever reason. Martin pre-.
sumably had seen fit to close it.
Without hesitation Parr swung
about, out Of the vault and up the con-
stricted stairway.
At the top he found only the smooth
surface of the closed door. His fingers
CROPPED vainly over it and round it,
edges; If any means there were Of
opening 1t from the inside. 1t was too
cunnlngiy concealed for his ingenuity
But IL closed. the door was not alto
gether tight. Lights from the librar,
cleaned round three Of its edges. Par
could not contrive to get an eye to I
crack, but he could not avoid hearing
What he heard was, however, difficult
10 interpret. Several voices wert
audible from beyond the barrier. al
ehattering rapidly: ana though Par
had q fair working knowledge Of tn
japanese tongue he lacked ~ yet tn
ability to translate the vernaculol
saea sulekly spoksn