Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-09-04
,TAUNToN, VIRGINIA. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1874.
1 was in the blue room, the scene Of the

was in the blue room, the scene OF tn
three sudden deaths OF murders. 1t wa
a small apartment, painted blue. 1t hat
also blue window curtains, and blue sill
coverlet on the bed; neat striped carpet
a set Of old mahogany furniture, and
very handsome ever and basin of costly
china It was at the time almost a uni
versal custom.to burn wood. In this room
however, was small coal of fire. I allud-
ed to this as Hannah came in with the
scuttle.
Yes SIR she said. Misses does burn
Goals. Her son is clerk, or the like, at
the new mines at Mauch Chunk, and he
sends it cheap to her; but it's a nasty,
dirty smelling thing, and hate it. Now
it's built and lit twill warm up in fifteen
minutes. 1t takes longer than wood
She went out of the door and came back
in a minute with little tray, on which
stood pot and a cup and saucer. also a
bowl and tiny pitcher, and something in
napkin.
s'Miss sent bit and sup. said she. ssTea
rests us old folks nightly "Good
night"
Good night" I said. ''Iexpect shall |
sleep soon; l must be up very early,
though, for I have bills to pay. 1 have
some hundreds Of dollars with me to pay
out tomorrow, and it's in this bag.'
She looked at me in a queer sort of a
way, and fingered beside me. At last she
spoke:
''Look ye, sir; think that old folks of
your age do wrong to lock doors on them
selves. You might be i'll at night; and
who'd get in to you? Leave your door
Was it this woman's practice to beg
travellers who stopped with her mistress
not to lock the doors Was there some
baneful portion in the cup she had given
me?
1t was an innocent looking cup enough
an old fashioned affair covered with lit
tie gilt sprigs. The tea was fragrant Hy-
son but the suspicion that had crept into
my mind had tainted it. l fancied a
strange color, curious smell. [ put it
from me, and woald not have tasted it for
a kingdom.
had not intended to sleep, and [ did
not undress myself. [ merely removed
Ely disguise, and sat down beside the ia
BILE, with my pistols beside me. That some
attempt might be shortly made. to murder
me 1 felt to be possible. 1 thought of all
the old tales that [ had heard of trap
doors, and sliding panels, and secret en-
frances to travellers rooms. [ was not a
coward, but [ felt strangely nervous ond
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 fire
was kindled, but the room was not warm.
The blue flames struggled among the black
Goals, and flung forked tongues tipped with
yellow tints, into tie room. There was
nothing cheerful about the stove, though
it was Of that open style now called Frank
lin. Yet [ drew a chair toward 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. 1 was losing my senses.
If unseen hands had been clasped about
my neck an unseen knee had been press
ed againstm my chest, my sensations could
not have been different.
A thought of the evil spirit which my
friend lad suggested family struggled in
to my mind. AS | staggered to my feet a
noise like the roaring of the sea was in
my ear. The flames of the candle turned
to great yellow blue. I barely retained
strength enough to stagger to the window
and flung it open. The fresh, cold winter
air rushed in at it. 1t gave me intense
pain, but it reli eyed me. In moment
more I was able to Chamber out of it upon
the shed below.
There [ 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 in the blue
chamber was nothing more OIL less than the
coal stove.
1t was provided with what is called a
ner which closed it, sent the poisonous gas
into the room. 1t had been kindled as a
wood fire would have been at the hour of
retiring, by one quite ignorant of the dan
ger possible from coal gas, and they had
slept never to awaken. Had thrown my
self upon the bed, | also should have been
found dead at daylight, in all human prob
ability.
AS for the fact 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
heated,
Of course [ rejoiced the household by my
discovery next morning, and equally, Of
course, Madame Matteau, who not only
freed from suspicion, but became the OBJ
ject Of universal sympathy. She was al
ways grateful to me, and she proved her
gratitude by giving what soon asked for,
the hand of her daughter Gabrielle in
marriage.
A ROMANCE IN HIGH LIFE.-At the
gaming table the Duke of Richmond in
CURED debt of honor to Lord Cadogan
which he was unable to pay, and it was
agreed that his son, a lad of fifteen, who
bore the title of Earl of March, should
marry the still younger daughter of Lord
NoIn