10 The Acorn until the soldiers are gone, then you can have some chance of escape. I will give you provisions to last three days, by that time things will be settled. Now you must go down, and I feel sure that all will be well." Glady's heart beat wildly; she had been an unwelcome listener to her Uncle's secret. At first she thought she would go to her Uncle and tell him; but on second thought she decided to keep the secret. Suddenly the clank, clank, of horses' hoofs was heard on the gravelled walks and soon the castle was filled with armed men. The fortress was searched, and the soldiers failing to find the Captain seized Sir Luthrage and amid the cries, and entreaties of Maud, made ready to carry him away. Gladys was the only one who appeared cool, even though she had more cause to worry than Maud. She stepped up to the Captain of the troops, and said, "Surely you will permit me to give my uncle a change of linen: because if he is in prison I know he will wish to be clean." She then held up two ruffled shirts, and asked her Uncle which he preferred. Cunningly concealed in the ruffles was a slip of paper, on which she had written this message, "I know your secret, you can trust me." As he kissed her good-bye, he whispered, "Attempt nothing until all is quiet" A guard of soldiers was left at the castle, to make sure that Captain Wentworth was not there. Gladys was worried so much she could hardly keep up; but she laughed and talked to try and cheer up Maud, who was nearly prostrate with grief. Six long days, the soldiers remained and Gladys knew that Captain Wentworth was in the well now without provisions. If he weren't dead already, he would be if they stayed any longer. One morning she arose and clapping her hands shouted "Maud' the soldiers are leaving. Oh Maud just get up, and see." "Well, what if they are?" sleepily replied Maud. "But Maud, aren't you glad they are leaving?" "Well of course I am glad, they eat a great deal, and make free use of the stables, but other than that, I don't see what harm they do. Neither do I see, why you should be so delighted." Gladys watched the soldiers until the last horse disappeared, then she sprang out of bed, and locked the door. "Now Maud," she cried excitedly, "I have a secret to tell you, but you must promise to keep my confidence." "Well, since you seem to be mistress of the castle, I suppose I shall." "You know that Captain Wentworth has been in the secret Chamber to the old well since Christmas day. Now all you have to do is to wait until night and go down the well to rescue your lover." "Gladys Marvinrare you crazy?" "Hardly Maud, but Captain Wentworth's life is at stake." The Acorn 11 "I don't care if it is, I wouldn't go down that old well to save fifty men's lives." "But I heard you tell him with your own lips that you didn't beleive that superstition." "I don't beieive it, but I wouldn't enter the court yard at night, much less the old well, and now if you will be so kind as to unlock my door I will go down to breakfast. Gladys' heart beat fast, how could Maud treat the affair so cooly? "Promise me first Maud, that you will at least keep my secret," commanded Gladys. Maud, awed by her cousins manner consented. Gladys then unlocked the door, and asked Maud to send Michael, the old butler to her. Michael was surprised at this unusual call from Gladys so early in the morning, and he hurried up to her room. She was standing pale and still by the window. "Michael," she began, "can you keep a secret?" "Sure and I can, 'specially if the secret's Mistress Gladys." Assured by this, Gladys told her story and th faithful butler promised to meet her in the court yard at nightfall. True to his word Michael met Gladys at the old well and explaied to her how to find the spring on the side of the wall that opened the door to the secret chamber. He then gave her a bottle af wine and a piece of bread, tied a cord around her waist and holding one end, he told her to pull the other when she was ready to come up. She then steppd into the old, decaying bucket. It creaked and groaned as it slowly descended into the well. Gladys trembling with fear cautiously felt along the shinny old wall for the spring, and as her finger touched it, the door flew open. Captain Wentworth supposed, of course, that this was Maud, but secretly wished that it might be Gladys. His rescuer, overcome with fear, hardly made a move and said nothing. Not until both were safe on the ground once more did Captain Wentworth find out which of these girls was most frightened of the haunted well. JOSEPHINE BINGHAM '09