THE MYSTERY OF GARRE CASTLE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 144, 21 June 1930, Page 18

THE MYSTERY OF GARRE CASTLE

ND as the story-goes, the trea- ..- sure is lying there still." Old **" Sob finished his tale, gavo the ■titq interested boys a hearty slap, then anil'"..hl off.' The afternoon sun broke-through the "white fleecy clouds, as the boys strode homewards. .. .. . , Victor Calson and Alfred Daigh were greafrchums, and the story told them by the aged> veteran had awakened in them the. longing for/ adventure. It was Aiired ; wW "broke" tho' silence. ""Vicj:'what about to-night, it's only half ■an-hour'<s walk to the ruins?" , The-.elder; boy considered tho question .thoughtfully, then said, "We don't' know the country, Al, but if you're keen, then I'm with you." As the moon hung like a silver ball in the cloudless sky : and a gentlo wind rustled-the, leaves of tho tall. poplars, two figures were seen climbing down the ivy of the Manor Hoo'se. The road Btretehed out white and winding like »! ribbon over, the moors. ' , .Garre Castle reared its lofty towers to'the moonlit sky. There it had stood ' for years, grim and untenanted. Bumoiirs had been woven around those bleak grey walls, and it had become the homo of the birds. As they drew nearer, Vic'a mind flashed back ,to what Old Rob bad said. A marsh'had been spoken about, he "was certain; but they had forgotten it in their eagerness to have an adventure. '■'..'■ .As suddenly as the thought had come, ii went,'for'out of the silence came a . -nreird cry. Then a musty-smelling, leathety'thing flapped' against hi 3 f&ce. Vie. flaahea his torch. ''" ! V ' "Bats!" ho said,' and laughed softly. Suddenly Alfred'tripped over something in the path! ■■■*-■ ■ i •■ ■•' !An iron ring set in a hugo stone |

rt.l. slab was the cause of his downfall. "It might bo a cellar, or an entrance to tho castle!" exclaimed Alfred excitedly. : i The boys tugged and pulled at yie iron ring, but in vain, and at length decided to keep on their way. • They stumbled up tho stono steps to the great oak door, beside which were two stone 'dogs, over which was tho inscription:— "Press ye rite frontc foote, of ye left stone bound. Entro thro' slab, on which a ring is found." • ■ As Alfred pressed the foot, it moved slowly bade like a lover. Then the atorio with tho ring over which he had tripped swung slowly open. i The boys scrambled down a rickety Old ladder to the floor, then slowly crept towards a heavy oaken door that creaked rustily onits hinges when they dpened it. • ■ Vie. flashed his torch over the room, and what a sight met their eyes. ' Dust lay thick everywhere, but apart from this it seemed as though they had suddenly stepped back into the olden times. Armoured figures were on both sides of the hall, and at the end was a great open fireplace. Heavy oaken chairs were round a long dining table. Great pictures hung upon the walls, and thick velvet curtains were draped about the room. i Tho boys stole through a door into a panelled passage. Vie's shoe struck a wooden knob, and he stumbled and fell sideways against a panel. There was a soft click and he disappeared from sight. : ' ■ ■'»- (To be concluded.) '<■-. "KOBY O'HOOEE." I Island Bay. >' .