Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1874-07-16

the time almost universal custom 10 burr
wood. In this room. however, was small
coal fire.. Ialluded to this as Hannah came
in with the scuttle.
\ Yes, sir, she said, Misses does burn
Goals. Her son is . clerk, or the like, Al
the new mines at Mauch ChSnk, and hi
sends it cheap TO her; but its nasty, dirty
smelling thing, and ! hate 1t. Now it,
built and lit twill warm up in fifteen
minutes. 1t takes longer than wood.'
She went out of the door and came back
in minute with little tray on which
stood teapot and a cup and saucer, also a
bowl and tiny pitcher, and something
in napkin:
"Miss sent q bite and SIP said she.
sTea rests us old folks. nightly. Good
night"
It was an innocent looking cup enough
Ian old fashioned affair covered with little
gilt sprigs. The tea was fragrant Hyson
but . suspicion had crept into my mind
that had tainted it. ! fancied curious
smell. pnt it from me and would not
have tasted it for q kingdom.
! had not intended to sleep, and / did
not undress myself. merely removed my
disguise, and sat down beside the table,
with my pistols beside me. That some at
tempt might be shortly made to murder me
Ifslt TO be possible. | thought Of all the
old tales that had heard oftrap doors, and
sliding panels, and secret entrances to
travellers rooms- was not coward, but
I felt strangely nervous; and singularly
enough for man in my perfect health, my
hands were growing cold, and my feet were
Jumps Of ice. while my head was burning
hot.
Fifteen minutes had passed, and the ERE
was kindled, but The room was not warm.
The blue flames struggled up among the
black GOALS, and flung forked tongues tip.
ped with yellow tints, into the room.-
There was nothing cheerful about the stove,
though il was Of that open style now called
Franklin. Yet drew chair towards it
from habit, and sat with my feet upon the
hearth. I do not know how long sat
there. Suddenly became aware that
was not myself. was losing my senses.
II unseen hands had been clasped about my
neck, and an unseen knee had been pressed
against my chest, my sensations could not
have been different.
A thought Of the evil spirit which INV
friend had suggested family struggled into
my mind. As / staggered to NV feet
noise like the roaring Of the sea was in my
ear. The flames Of the candle turned to
great yellow blue. barely retained
strength enough to stagser 10 the window
and fling it open. The fresh, cold winter
air rushed in at ii. It gave me intense
pain, but it relieved me. In moment
more was able to Chamber ont of it upon
the shed below.
There 4 remained until the day dawn.
With my returning senses the truth came
to me. That which had murdered the three
men who slept before me ia the blue cham
Der was nothing more or less than the coal
stove.
1t was provided with "damper,a con.
cerning the use Of which, as we'll as of the
poisonous proprieties Of coal gas, the girl
who made the fire was ignorant; and the
damper had Teen Iest closed, 50 THAT the
carbonic acid gas from the struggling slow
burning fire was forced out iuto the room
instead of passing up the pipe. Had l
thrown myself upon the bed, in all human
probability ! also would have been found
dead At daylight.
As for the TACT that neither doctor nor
coroner discovered the truth, have but to
say that they were not deeply scientific
men--that coal stoves were scarcely used
IN the place, and that it had not been men,
toned that the blue chamber was thus heat
ed.
OF course rejoiced the household by nv
discovery next morning, and equally oil
course, Madame Matteau was not only
freed from suspicion hut became the object
OF universal sympathy. She was always
grateful to me, aud she proved her gratitude
BY giving what Isoon asked for, the hand
OF her daughter Gabrielle in marriage.
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