Year: 1879

new domain, as his master had requested, h
found large iron door that he had no ke,.
for. He sought his master and asked abou
it, when he was told there was no key, ant
they had been unable to secure one.


Apparently satisfied, he returned to his du
ties, and at dinner time was called into th
servants hall, where he saw a large, clear
room, containing the table and sideboard
both loaded with everything heart could de
sire to eat and drink. Thinking he was ou
of place, he inquired what was wanted, anc
was told to sit down at the head of the tabl'
and preside over the servants dinner.


All the servants who were not otherwise
engaged sat down, and when Lang expressed
surprise at his masters generosity, the cool
said the dinner for both master and servan
was prepared at the same time and one farce
as we'll as another.


All were loud in their praise, and seemed
we'll satisfied and indeed the new butlel
himself almost doubted the possibility of s
secret.


As luck would have it, that evening Mr.
Lawlor directed Lang to prepare boque
and walk over to Mr.. Merritt's, and present
it to Miss Rachel with Mr.. Lawlor's compli
ments, and say he would be pleased to cal
the following day at three o'clock, and take
her out for ride.


The butler started on his errand with 6
light heart, and, after delivering the message
and flowers, went to keep his tryst with June
He found her at the appointed place, and
greeting her with kiss, told her Of his sue
cess, and all he knew and suspected regarding
the old rusty door to which there was no key
She then directed him to find whether or moi
there was any entrance to that part of the
cellar that was concealed by the iron door
and, if possible, to gain an entrance.


After another kiss he went on his way tc
Vineland with very strong suspicion that his
quiet little sweetheart was deeper minded
woman than any one had given her credit fol
being.


All went along smoothly, and the next NOR
ming John Lawlor sent for his butler to give
him directions about marketing, and during
the course of their consultation saw fit to
change the list, and directed Lang to take
the pencil and do so, first asking him if he
could write. Judge of his surprise when he
found the change made in beautiful specl'
men of that unique penmanship called back
hand.


An idea at once seemed to strike him, and
he asked Lang if he had the time to spare
from his other duties to do some writing for
him that evening, as his engagement with Miss
Merritt would prevent his doing it himself
Lang said he could, and was installed imme'
diately after dinner in Mr.. Lawlors private
Office, engaged in copying play that was to
be rendered at the approaching school com,
of which Mr.. Lawlor had the
honorary charge.


At halfpast two precisely Mr.. Lawlor left
the house in his carriage, giving strict orders
that his butler should not be disturbed at his
writing unless it was absolutely necessary.


Lang wrote busily until his master was
gone, when he left the desk and began to pace
the room, thinking of some plan to dive into
the secret, as he now occupied room directly
over the unused or isolated part of the cellar,
and in the very position to prospect.


After walking across the room few times,
he locked the door, and turned over every
rug and mat to find trap door, if such a
thing existed but no trap door appeared
Then he began to move the furniture, but
found nothing suspicious until he came to
large walnut chest, set and fastened against
the wall, and secured by two heavy pad
locks.


1t would not do to destroy these locks, and
thereby ruin his plans in the very start, per.
haps, so he concluded to await his time, and
possess the keys. In order to prolong his lit.
erary work he rang for the chamber-maid and
her to prepare his bed, as he was i'll,
and if Mr.. Lawlor came in to inform him
and he retired to his room, apparently with
the ague.


The next day, as soon as his garden and
household duties were attended to, he present
ed himself at Mr.. Lawlor's Office, and said he
was ready to finish the copy Of the play. Mr.
Lawlor gave him pen, and he began.


While apparently busy he glanced toward
the suspicious Chest and saw that it was still
doubly locked. But his time came sooner
than he expected. Mr.. Lawlor had just fin
ished letter, and, unlocking a drawer, got
some postage stamps and left his keys lying on
the desk, whileshe went to see if his sister had
any message to send.


Manfred Lang recognized this as his oppor.
tunity, and seizing the ring, had soon released
the heavy locks, and left them hanging appa'
rently as before.


Mr.. Lawlor came back, and, adding post.
script to his letter, sealed and directed it, and
taking his keys, left the room, ordered his car.
riage, and said he was going to the post-ofice
and from there to Mr.. Merritt's, again giving
orders that his butler should not be disturbed
in the private Office


Hardly had he left before Manfred Lang
arose, locked the door, and, taking off his
diguise, stood up once more as Godfrey Lowe
and stepping to the chest, detached the locks
and raised the lid, only to see heap of nice
ly laundered linen. He was disappointed fol-
an instant, but soon his disappointment turn
ed to delight, for he saw two handles appar'
emily attached to the bottom of the chest
and, sezing them, sure enough, out came the
bottom in the form of a tray, revealing a
stout iron grating fastened by very ingen.
ious contrivance, which he soon loosened, and
lifted the granting to see revealed stairway
leading directly into the cellar. He removed
his boots and stepped into the chest, but found
then that would have been no impeachment
as the stairway and walls were padded. with
cotton and coarse velvet cloth.


He slowly descended, and was amply re-
warded, for, once in the cellar, he found him
self in dark passage, separated from the
other part of the cellar by recently con
structed stone wall, ventilated with grating
here and there. Peering through one Of these
his eyes found a sight that almost chilled his
blood. A white man and negro were there
entirely nude, and working press, making
counterfeit money. The walls we're padded,
and against the opposite wall could be seer
an iron bedstead, and chairs fastened to the