Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1870-12-01
A Strange Visitor-The
Doctors Bill.

pick up stray cases One night
in the small hours the night bell
rang family over my head. |
wanted work in those days. and
It's clamor was not quite so alto.
gcther horrible as it became in
after years; so | jumped up, and
putting on a wrapper. opened the
window and called aloud to know
who wanted me. Hearing no an.
swer, and the night being utterly
dark. | slipped on my clothes and
went down to the door. TO my
surprise there was no one visible,
and the street was black and 81
lent. Annoyed at the impatience
of my visitor. went sullenly batk
to bed The next night. at the
same hour of two o'clock. the bell
rang again, and as b fore. fainrl
like the ring of a child. The
night was clOudless and the moon
brilliant, but no one was on the
steps or near them, Instantly |
was possessed with a strange i'm
preston nf terror as | closed the
window and stood a moment
thoughtful before going back to
bed. / had scarcely fallen asleep
when the hell rang once more.
On this OCCASION / dressed instant
ly and went down to the door. As
before there was no one in sight.
Still in doubt, | went out and
explored in vain the dark side
of the street and the nearer shad-
ows. You may laugh, Colonel,
but the thing wasn't pleasant.
The next night | resolved to sit
up and catch the disturber. Pro-
viding myself. therefore, with a
goud stick, l left the street door un.
locked, So as to be easily opened.
and then lit Il cigar and settled
down to read in my Office. Pre-.
ciSely as the clock struck two the
door bell rang. In moment |
had opened it, eXclaiming. 80
I've got you at last !" Then l
paused i'll my wrath. On the top
step was wee little figure of II
child about nine years old. as l
judged. barefooted, although the
night was cold, and muffled up in
something like the torn halt of q
ragged coverlet.
Come in out of the cold, I said, !
sand tell Inc what you want"
Without saying a word, the /.
child walked into my office. As
i faced the light saw the wanest
and weariest little vi>age, vi h
great brown eyes, long tangled
yellow hair, and white lips, which /
said, feebly:
NANNY is dying. You come
along quick, sir"
| put on my overcoat and went
out with her, saying:
Good heavens. child +! who sent
you out in this dress T. For the
little thing seemed to be in short
whi,e petucoat and without a
gown.
She made no reply, except to
"Come quick, sir Out we
went. /
What's your name 2" said l. !
"Susey."
"Aren't you cold 2"
mo" . - !
"Were you here last night" |
said. on Il sudden. A
"Yes." /
"Who sent yon q
'.Don't know"
"Why did you run away ?"
"Don't know"
Meanwhile the little naked feet
trotted OF in front of me swiftly,
and suddenly turning into Crosby
street, dived into a dark couri.
Here she opened a door, aud |
followed her up stairs. We climb
ed three stories of mean, ill.smell-
ing staircases, till she suddenly
stopped before door in the attic,
which she opened in turn, so that
we went together in Il wretched
garret. The room was decidedly
cold, aud | saw by a Pickering
talluw candle a freless stove,
bare floor and walls, and every
sign of the deepest misery. On a
straw mattress lay a woman with
features pinched and haggard, her
feet bare, because she had drawn
the scanty covering about her
chest.
"What can 1 do for your l
said, arousing her with d fficulty.
"Noihing," said weak voice,
husky and broken, Il am starved
that's all" Then rplapsing In
to a delirium for which my
words had called her from Il mo-
roaut che hooou IN oodar arow