The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-09-28
A California Chest Story.

Once upon time there stood near
the village of S., in one ofour Cali
fornia mountain towns, a beautiful cot
tagc embowered in vines and fruit
trees. The proprietor's name was
William A.. He was carpenter
by trade. Having acquired a small
fortune by mining, and being a bache-
Tor, he thought that by building cot
tage he would soon find q young lady i
who would consent to be his wife, and
share his home and fortune.
But, alas, like many human hopes,
he was doomed to disappointment.
After finishing his building and spend
ing he rest Of his little fortune in fur
nishing the apartments, he tonnd him
se eie ;-;'..ttnout a0" ,iI and he was com
PEELED to let his abode to rich Colo.
mel, who. together with his wife aud
daughter, was visiting at that time in
the town of s. for the purpose of
recruiting his health.
am obliged to give short dosc,;p-
ton of the cottage, because it is neces.
sary to the sequel of this story. On
entering the cottage the visitor is struck
with the equisite taste with which the
carpenter had fitted up the interior. A
passage ran the entire length of the
cottage, dividing it into two compaH-
ments, the whole passage paneled ard
painted in imitation of oak and laurel.
At the farthest end of the passage was
an oval window of stained glass, ahont
five feet from the floor. The cottage
contained parlor, kitchen and dining
room, besides two bedrooms, a pantry
in fy ,.a Cta
was through the front door.
The Colonel, together with his fami-
ly and servant girl, were the onlv in
habitants of the cottage, and nothing
seemed to mar the qnietness of the
family. Regularly, night after night,
they went to bed about nine O'Clock.
| They had occupied the cottage about
four weeks, when, ut about one o'clock
at night, the Colonel thought he heard
a low creaking noise in the passage
Thinking it might be robbers, the Col
onel softly opened the bed room door.
He was a fearless man, believing FIJI
neither ghosts nor hobgoblins, and sof
| other enemies he had q revolver IN his
hand. ~
| Peering in the darkness of the pas
sage, he saw, by the faintIight through
the window, a black shadow seemingly
disappear through the wall. The same
creaking was heard, then everything
was quiet.
The next morning the Colonel exam
ined every nook and corner OF the cot
tage, but discovered no secret outlet.
He looked at and tried all the tasten-
ings of the doors and windows, but all
we're as secure as bolts aud bars could
make them.
The next night the inmates of the
f cottage were awakened by tho screams
of the servant girl.
On entering the passage the Colonel
found her living upon the floor in con-
vulsions. When becoming quiet the
girl stated that, as soon as she had put
r things all right in the kitchen, she lIaG
| sat down to read newspaper. Afte'
, reading while she felt very sleepy, 81
SHE lighted candle, extinguished thu
f lamp, and crossed the passage to he'
D bed room.
r She put her hand on the doorhandle
e but the door was locked.
: Not wishing to disturb the family
she was about turning back to TIT
u kitchen, when the light was blown GU
!, and the candle dashed from her hand
j, With scream she fell to the hoor ant
g lost all consciousness.
The Colonel found the key CT he
bedroom on the floor of the passage
IS Telling the girl not to say anything t
}, her neighbors about the affair, at ieas
j. not until the mystery was cleared ny
1T he sent his daughter to sleep with til
3 servant girl. 49,,
IF The rest of that night passed ~ithou
N any occurrence.
On the following morning the Colo
d mel went to the cabin of the carpente
d and told him about the mysteriou
noise and the fright of the servant CIR
W The carpenter said that he never sleI
e, in the cottage, and therefore he did NJ
b know anything about it.
,r The Colonel returned home. and
,e quiet the fears of the family, ne toi
, them that he had found out the caui
to of the noise-it was rats. -.
70 Several nights passed and nothiI
was seen nor heard, but on the MI
of night, near twelve o'clock, the san
g. creaking noise was repeated.
IN The Colonel took his revolver
of hand and approached his bed-roo
g. door, against which he put his ca
h. He distinctly heard a low shnffilr
, sound, as ifa person was moving t.
ar wards the door. He stepped back
II few PAGES and leveled his revolver
of the door, ready to fire.
re He heard a key turned in the loo
T. and soon the door opened, and CD Il
ot threshold stood the figure of man.
tn The Colonel took careful aim al
is fred.
his With groan the figure fell backwa
on the floor of the passage.
zee The screams of his wife and gil
rk Ewere fearful, but the Colonel with
it loud voice stopped the cutlery.
EN- Procuring light the Colonel we
" out into the passage. and, on removi
is mask from the face of the prostri
Is man, he recognized, to his astonis
nd ment, the features of the carpent
en-, William A., his landlord.
me On examination it wac found til
William was still alive. The bull
m had penetrated his arm, and, as was
i'd, forwards ascertained, breaking oi
be- one of the smaller bones.
cts AS soon as William was able
to speak, he confessed to the Colonel b
G. he had entered the house. He 8
of that the washstand in the kitchen hr
ced on two concealed hinges, and as
old back of the washstand was part OF
yis- actual outside Of the house, it took
a slight push and it would move fr