Washington telegraph., 1854-11-08
Ehe Mysterious E0dger.

lodGers, and with Chadwick herseif-who,
by the way, was Mrs. K, very agreeable.
good-lookiug widow of 10, possessed of re-
markable conversational powers, and an in
curing mind. She was shrewd too but
all her innocent arts failed to establish a
confidential friendship between her and her
new lodger.
His name was Dimple, and his age about
3O--a fne-looking, tall, dashing fellow he
was too with Roman nose, keen eye and
prodigious swagger When Mrs. Chad
wick met him in the hall, or on the stairs,
by accident of course, she could not avoid
speaking to him, such was her interest in
her mysterious lodger.
"a fine day, Mr. Dimple"
'Yery fine"
81 hope you are well this morning"
''Very well, ina'am, thank you"
Mr.. Dimple's answers were polite, but
brief; and he would pass on with slight
bow, as if totally averse to holding further
conversation.
Sometimes Mrs. Chadwick would 90 up
to the attic knock gently at the new lodg-
ers door-which was always locked when
he was in-and kindly inquire if he wanted
his pitcher filed his towel changed, or his
furniture busted. On such occasions, Mr.
Dimpie's replies were very short; nor would
he ever condescend even to unlock the
door.
Who could he be, and what could he be
doing in his room, hours together, with his
door locked
Mrs. Chadwick was puzzled But Mrs
Chadwick-the good woman-was never
without an opinion and her opinion of Mr.
Dimple was that-she shuddered to think
it he was a higLwayman, or counter
feiter,
Mrs. Chadwick formed her opinion from
circumstances and circumstances were GER
tainly against Mr. Dimple. His landlady,
with singular interest in his welfare, took
every opportunity of his absence, to enter
his room and see that the chamber girl had
not slighted her work and of course Mrs
Chadwick could not help seeing the wine
glasses, champagne bottles. and well-flled
decanters with which he was provided the
Sapier, the foils, the broad-sword, the sword
cane, the pistols and other implements of
death. with which he had fortified his lodg-
ings the black trunks and the mysterious
bureau, which contained, she could not guess
what, implements of wichedness, as they
were scrupulously locked.
However, Mrs Chadwick never neglect
ed to try all the bureau drawers, whenever
she entered the room and once, to her in
finite Joy and wonder, she found one unlock
ed. She opened it with nervous haste, af-
ter listening an instant, to see if Mr. Dim
pie was coming, and gazed earnestly at its
contents
There exclaimed the good woman,
her eyes sparkling. and her cheek flushed
with excitement, Il knew he was villain
of some kind
The drawer contained suit of clothes of
a strange, outlandish fashion, such as no.
body could ever think of wearing except
for purposes of disguise: two masks and a
box The masks were alone sufficient to
convince Mrs Chadwick of her lodeer's vii
lainy but when, with trembling bands. she
opened the box, she had 10 longer shad-
ow of doubt
The box contained two wigs and an as
sortment Of false whiskers of most start
ling character.
Mrs. Chadwick hastily closed the box,
shut the drawer, and left the room with
her organ of marvellousness feartully ex-
cited
Other circumstances were against the
new lodger. Every evening, wrapped in a
capacious cloak, he went out, and came
home nobody ever knew at what hour in
the night Half dozen times Mrs. Chad
wick resolved to sit up and wait for his re-
turn, in order to see how he looked after his
rillainous midnight business was over; but
she was of a sleepy nature, and, lively as was
her curiosity, she could not keep awake Ia
ter than Il or | o'clock So it was impos-
sible for her to ascertain the hour or man.
ner of his return, and she was obliged to
content herself with looking for blood on
his towels or in his washbowl, every morn
ing
Then the company Mr.. Dimple kept was
very much against him. Gay young men,
of reckless appearance, came to see him
sometimes before he was up, for he never
rose until late and he held long and mys-
terious conferences with these wicked COM
panions, drinking a great deal of brandy, as
Mrs Chadwick knew by subsequent exam
ination of the decanters.
But the greatest mystery of all was the
strange sounds which proceeded from Mr.
Dimple's ROOM Even when he was alone,
he might be heard talking in deep voice, as
if holding conversation with demons. Mr.
Smith, who occupied the adjoining chamber,
gave it as his firm opinion that the man was
insane
Mrs. Chadwick had burning curiosity
to hear these mysterious sounds, and many
time she might have heen seen lowering
about the door of Mr.. Dimples room. like