New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-09-16
THE MYSTERIOUS LoDGER.


all communication with his fellow dodgers, and
with Chadwick herself-who by the way was
Mrs, very agreeable, good-looking widow Of
forty, possessed of remarkable conversational
powers, and an inquiring mind. She was
shrewd, too; but all her innocent arts failed to
establish confidential friendship between her
and her new lodger. X
His name was Dimple, and his age about
thirty-a fne-looking, tall, dashing fellow he
was, too, with Roman nose, a keen eye and
prodigious swagger. When Mrs Chad wick met
him in the hail. or on the stairs by accident, Of
course, she could not avoid speaking to him.
such was her interest in her mysterious lodger
e. fine day, Mr.. Dimple.'. ~ -,
every fne!" 4
81 hope you are well this morning"
Very well, ma am, thank you"
| Mr. Dimple's answers were polite, but brief !;
and he would pass on with slight bow, as il
totally ayerse to holding further conversation
! Sometimes Mrs Chadwick would go up to
the attic, knock gently on the new dodgers
door--Which was always locked when he was
inland kindly inquire if he wanted his pitcher
filled, his towel changed, or his furniture dust.
ed. On such occasions, Mr.. Dimples replies
were very short; nor would he ever condescend
even to unlock the door.
| Who could he be, and what could he be doing
1 in his room, hours together, with bis door
lockeds -.
| Mrs Chadwick was puzzled. But Mrs. Chad
wlck--the good woman-was never without an
opinion; and her opinion of Mr.. Dimple was
that-she shuddered to think it !--he was d
highwayman or connterfeiter! 7ass
| Mrs Chadwick formed her opinion from cir
circumstances; and circumstances were GER
tainly against Mr. Dimple. His landlady with
singular interest in his welfare, took every op-
| portunity of his absence, to enter his room and
| that tho M nhor .uirl had mt oliubt cd ho,
work; and of course Mrs. Chadwick could NOT
help seeing the wine glasses, champagne bot.
ties and well-hlled decanters with which he was
provided; the rapier, the foils, the broad
sword, the sword -cane the pistols and other inn
plements Of death, with which he had fortified
his lodgings; the black trunks and the myste.
rious bureau, which contained. she could not
guess what, implements of wickedness, as they
were scrupulously locked.
However. Mrs Chadwick never neglected to
try all the bureau drawers, whenever she
entered the room; and once, to her infinite joy
| and wonder, she found one unlocked. She
opened it with nervous haste, after listening an
instant, to see if Mr.. Dimple was coming, and
gazed earnestly at its contents
There!" exclaimed the good woman, her
eyes sparkling, and her cheek flushed with ex.
citement, 81 knew he was a villain of some
kind ~
|
strange outlandish fashion, such as nobody
could ever think Of wearing except for purposes
of disguise; two masks and box. The mask
perhaps were alone sufficient to convince Mrs
Chadwick Of her lodger's villainy; but wher
with trembling hands she opened the box, shs
had no longer q shadow of doubt. -
The box contained two wigs and an assort
ment of false whiskers, of most startling char,
acter 9S8s '' se
Mrs Chadwick hastily closed the box, shut
the drawer, and left the room, with her orgar
of maryelousness fearfully excited
Other circumstances were against the new
lodger. Every evening, wrapped in o capacou
cloak, he went out, and came home nobody evel
knew at what hour in the night. Half a dozer
times Mrs. Chadwick resolved to sit up and wal
for his return, in order to see how he looked
after his yillainous midnight business was over
but she was of sleepy nature, and, lively a.
was her curiosity, she could not keep awak
later than twelve or one clock. So it was i'm
possible for her to ascertain the hour OF tn
manner of his return, and she was obliget
to content herself with looking for bloo'
on his towels or in his washbowl, every morn
ing. H6G @
Then the company Mr.. Dimple kept was yer,
much against him. Gay young men, of reckles
appearance, came to see him sometimes before b
was up, for he never rose until late; and he hel
| lohS dhu HyblcFlUuS COHleTeuCG5 WIFI IuPS
wicked companions, drinking great deal q
brandy, as Mrs Chadwick knew by subsequen
examination Of the decanters.
But the greatest mystery of all wss tn
; strange sounds which proceeded from Mr. Dim
ple's room Even when he was alone, he nigh
be heard talking in deep voice, as if holdin
conversation with demons. Mr.. smith, who oc
, cupied the adjoining chamber, gave it as hi
firm opinion that the man was insane
4
hear these mysterious sounds, and many
time she might have been seen lowering abou
) the door of Mr.. Dimpie's room, like a witc
looking for o passage through the key -hol
Occasionally the deep silence Of her lodger
room would be suddenly broken by o shout,
groan, or q muttered curse; and once the goo
woman was terribly frightened, when she ws
holding her ear to the key-hoe. Mr.. Dimp
: dashed suddenly across the room e1claiming fl
: riously:
' AWAY Away! incarnate fend Vex nj
my soul Away!'' sls5 D
Mrs. Chadwick few from the door, as if in
PEELED by the explosion Of a barrel of gunpov
der; and when having recovered her sense
: and her balance, both which she had lost in tt
terror of the moment, she bent her ear again
listen, the sounds had ceased, and an awful s
/ lenee pervaded the square attic.
One afternoon Mr. Smith came running dow
- stalfS III nlgn state Oh excitement, ana IN
agitated voice inquired for Mrs Chadwick
g Here LAM" said the landlady. emergir
from the kitchen, with wonder iu her count
nance and peck of onions in her apron. "Wh,
is the matter' %
"I-I don't know" stammered Mr. Smit
= &c 1t isn't all right up there, am sure!''
"Up where up where, Mr.. Smith Dor
keep me in suspense - -i
cup there" E.5-zL r..
v Sc In his room? ~
ssYes; never heard such noises. He
Ia raving.'' z.z. sl.wz=.r z=yw
- ssDo tell!"
J., Mrs. Chadwick let go her apron The onio
10 few down stairs while she flew up. In an i
: slant her eur was at Mr.. Dimples key-hole.
II The mysterious lodger was raving like ma
: man; but his landlady, whose soul drank
j. the horrors of his language, felt that there WI
a reason for his madness
sRemorse remorse!" muttered Mr., Dimp
j. in hoarse voice Z" 1t burns my souli o
9 death here is thy sting My guilty SO
r already feels the pangs of the fiery pitt" 80
Here there was a long pause, interrupted on
. by gasps and heavy, abrupt footsteps Nh
I'd Chadwick looked through the key hole, al
caught glimpse of the Rretched man stagge
. ing across the room, tearing his hair
70 aOh, cursed day!a he exclaimed, strikil
his breast; I" oh, cursed hour, when first
!, stained my soul with guilt!n
IL s'What is it ;" whispered Mr.. Smith.
"Sh-!" breathed Mrs. Chadwick, with