Year: 1870

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apartment, closing the door behind them
leaving me in darkness more profound than
before.


Thrice was this repeated, and l had seen
ten men enter the secret chamber. Then
came a long interval, which convinced me
at last, that they had all arrived who would
be there that night. reflected upon what
should be my next move.


To attempt to pry any further into their
mysteries that night, l thought. would
avail me nothing and it might get me into
difficulties. l had learned enough already
to forever lay the ghost in the haunted
house, and to bring pack of Williams to
justice. That they were gang of base
coiners and counterfeiters, l had not the
least doubt, and felt that it would be my
duty to unearth them to the authorities.


felt considerable interest in the discov-
cries l had made, and I knew that should
be the lion of Wicklow for the next seven
days at least. People would say to one an
other:


SOCo lltll WIZ ullC
ghost" and should be an object of inter
est to the young ladies in the church the
next Sabbath. At that moment | felt my
self quite hero, but it suddenly occurred
to me that should remember the old ad-
adge, "not to crow until you are out of
the woods.' / had forgotten that.


now came back to my immediate sur
roundings, and reflected on what l should
do next. Should 1 remain where / was,
and see them emerge from their den and
take their departure, or should L leave at
once, and return to Toms mother, while
the coast was clear?


decided upon the latter, and was about
to crawl out from my hiding place, when 1
heard footsteps again in the kitchen. More
of them were coming, so ] shrank back in
to my corner to witness their descent.


The foot steps went round the room and
at last came to the cellar door, where they
paused for moment, while a light as from
a lantern flashed down the stairs. Then
the footsteps began slowly to descend. /
counted them one by one until they reach
ed the bottom, and the newcomer stood
close to- but with his back towarks me-
In one hand he carried common lantern,
and as he moved away from the foot of the
stairs, thought that his figure looked very
familiar.


He held the lantern up as he went round,
and from his motions | could not help deci-
ding that he was a stranger to the spot and
not a member of the gang beyond the wall.
At last his steps brought him close to door,
through which l had seen the members of
the gang pass, and at this instant his face
was turned by chance for moment toward
me, and plainly saw his features. 1t was
my friend Tom Jones.


hardly checked myself in time to pre-
vent giving utterance to an exclamation of
surprise at beholding him, for had not
supposed that he had returned. But here
he was in the flesh, and / knew his errand
at once. His mother had told him where /
had gone, and he had come in search of
me.


was about to call out to him in low
tone, but before could do so he had seen
the door, and, evidently with the intention
of entering, he placed his hand upon the
latch and finding it fastened gave it vio-
lent shake. 1t produced no result, so he
gave it another, and the next moment it
flew open, revealing nothing but dark
void beyond.


Taking step forward, despite the low
warning gave him, he held his lantern
out, that its light might show his way, but
in moment more it was dashed from his
hands and all was total darkness.


"Villains, unhand me-" heard Tom
cry then there was short struggle, fol-
lowed by blow and heavy fall, and then
all was still.


Poor Tom Had they taken his life |?
and close by, without lifting hand to
prevent it? heard the door shut with a
clang and then all was STILL