Year: 1874

A few moments later the old hunter was
vending his way to the cottage in the
woods, and though he passed rapidly along
he kept a careful watch, feeling confident
that there was yet danger to be apprehend-
ed from the two men he had seen in the
boat His intention was to reach the cot
tage, secure the key and carefully search
the chest for the document he was sure
was secreted therein. He knew that the
chest contained secret recess, and was
confident that he could touch the spring
that would reveal the mystery.


CHAPTER VII.
IN WHICH NEW PLOT IS DEVELOPED.


Roswell Berkley had began to feel that
too much was known to make it safe to
bring Orlando to public trial and conse-
quently it was important to dispose of him
in some other way.


The jailor was n creature in his pay and
it was easily arranged to have him work on
the prisoners feelings so as to make him
anxious for an escape, and then when the
plans were properly completed, to be con-
veniently blind and deaf to any attempts
that should be made by Orlando to secure
his liberty.


But it was not part of Berkley's plan
to be troubled with young Chester after his
escape, as he knew him we'll enough to
know that he would with the help of Chi
ron, openly demand an investigation, which
was now what he was desirous of avoiding.
At this time there was vessel ready to
leave for England, which was in command
of man who could easily be purchased to
give him the required aid And to him
Berkley applied.


A bargain was made that if the young
man was placed on board his vessel he
would take good care of him, and see him
landed at some out of the way place from
where he could not return. In the mean
time it should be given out to the crew
that the young man was escaping from the
gallows to which he had been condemned.


One of the crew named Dick Nolan, was
also bribed to take two more of the crew
and aid in the escape and to convey Orlan-
do to the vessel.


When this was all arranged, Dick No
Ian was taken to the young mans cell and
in a confidential manner told him that
Chiron had laid plan for his escape, and
the attempt to liberate him would be made
that night.


"But why should L escape" said Or
lando, "when my examination will give me
liberty honorably?'


"You may be kept here weeks before
that time" said Nolan, "and in the mean
time your mother is unprotected. For
that reason Chiron thinks it best that you
are taken out at once. And he has not
forgotten the attempt made to poison you
the first night you were brought here
either"


Probably had not his enemies made use
of Chiron's name as the originator of the
plan proposed, Orlando would have turned
a deaf ear to all their proposals. But with
the utter helplessness of his mother placed
before him, and feeling sure that Chiron
had good reason for advising the course
proposed, he yielded reluctant consent to
the plan suggested, though he would much
rather have staid a short time longer and
then been legally discharged.


Accordingly about 10 o'clock that night
ladder was placed against the Jail under
the window of the cell occupied by Orlando
and the grating was carefully removed. II
was not without thought that he was
shrking an investigation of the charge
made against him, that young Chester left
the cell even though this course was to re-
store him to liberty and would relieve the
fears of his mother.


As he took his seat in the boat, however,
an indescribable feeling of having taken
wrong step, took poss session Of his mind,
and even the thought that he would soon
be at home again could not drive it from
him.





At about the same hour that Orlando
was escaping from his cell, Chiron, entirely
unconscious Of the danger that hung over
the young man, was removing the key from
the place where Mrs. Chester concealed it,
determined TO investigate the secret Of the
oalSen chest.


Having removed the contents until the
bottom OF the chest was exposed, he took
his knife and inserting 1t into crevice
that looked like crack nade by the dry
ing Of the wood, pressed down hard. The
point of the knife touched a spring. and