Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-07-16

Yes; at least it was key that would
open it. It was the key to Mr.. Bassford's
| door. She knocked the other out with a
stick and put that in"
The people who were there on that
| night were Your boarders when the other
I men were found dead?" [ asked
Oh, yes!'
And Hannah was there also?"
| All nv married life Hannah has
| lived with me"
Your daughter oversees the house
hold in your absence?'
Yes. poor child, with Hannah's help
| Thought little while.
Nadine" | said, there is some
strange mystery in this affair. | do not
/ desDair of proving to all the world yOur
/ entire Innocence Meanwhile, be as calm
| as DOssibIe. and endeavor to remember
! everything connected with the sudden
/ deaths that have occurred in your house.
/ The incident that seems the least impor-
/ tant may really be Of the most immense
/ value"
So I left and went home. Strange
enough, on the way | met the doctor who
/ had been called in. He was a dull, heavy
| sort Of person, considerably given to
/ beer-drinking, and my opinion of his
| ability was not very great. However.
questioned him on the subject, and he re-
| piled:
We'll, you see, | don't say the old
woman murdered him. II she did, should
! say it was bv sitting on him, or smother
| ing him with the holsters. suppose the
/ cause of his death was asphyxia Well
| then, what is asphyxia? Why, too little
| breath to keep one living. He died be
cause he was short Of breath. [ wash nv
hands on that matter. Only there's the
watch that looks dark
| had learned nothing from the doctor.
| The Coroner lived near me. His jury had
been twelve Of the most ignorant men in
| town.
This is all he told me:
! He was smothered-that man was; so
were the other two. Men don't smother
! themselves. We made it inscrutabIe
| Providence t'other time. We make it
murder this time. That there watch, you
| know"
Thus, without any new light, I went
| home and formed my plans. There was
but one way in which to penetrate the
mystery. | must enter the house; Unjust
| see the people there; | must penetrate to
| the room in which these men had died so
suddenly, and | must not be known in nv
real character That Madame Matteau
was innocent | fully believed; but that
| some one beneath her roof was guilty [
made no doubt Itmight be the librarian.
| Mr. Bassford, whose key fitted the dead
mans door. 1t was pOssible-but no, |
would not harbOr a mad superstition
| There could be no supernatural power be
meath which human beings dropped and
| died Death as it came to US all was
mystery enough. What had been said to
me by a woman, who would have been a
| Spiritualist had she lived to-day, was
mere absurdity
| q believe that there is some horrible
unseen thing in the room, " she had said;
some awful, shapeless spirit, that when
| it is locked in with its victim murders him.
Let others believe what they WILL believe
that
! The words haunted me, but I laughed
| at them, Of course Whatever it was [
| would try to know [ had a plan
Al dusk that day | went into my bed
room myself | came out a strange man.
| | wore white wig pair of green COG
| Giles, and an overcoat, the tails of which
reached to my heels. / had muller
about my throat and little bunch on
| one of my shoulders | carried a thick
cane and stopped a good deal as |
| walked. In my hand | carried a carpet
| bag, and in my bosom a pair of pistols
well loaded.
| As ! passed out into the street the
| early moon was just rising; she lit me on
my way to the door of Madame lIatteaus
| house.
1t was opened for me, when I knocked,
! by old Hannah Her eyes were red and
swollen. Then told her that | was
| stranger and had received Madame Mat
| teau's address from gentleman in New
| York, and desired to stay under her roof
/ all night. She shook her head
| don't think YOU can" she said.
The lady is away from home. Besides,
Gabrielle would"
But here Miss Gabrielle herself APP
peared
am an old man, miss" I said, and,
as you see, quite intirm. | dread another
step. | should take it as kindness if
you would accommodate me, and | will
pay any price you ask"
Miss Gabrielle looked at Hannah.
We have enly one room," she said
and that
l ended the question Of my stay by beg
ging to be taken to it.
girl
But | declared that | had eaten and
only wanted rest
Her reply was:
Hannah, show the gentleman to the
blue room. and make a fire"
| was in the blue room, the scene of
| the three sudden deaths or murders. 1t
was small apartment, painted blue. 1t
| had also blue window curtains and blue
| SILK coverlet on the bed; neat striped
carpet, set Of old mahogany furniture,
and very handsome ever and a basin of
| costly china. 1t was at the time almost
a universal custom to burn wood In this
room, however, was a small coal fire. /
alluded to this as Hannah came in with
the scuttle
: Yes, sir" she said. "Missus does
burn Goals. Her son is clerk, or the
like, ut them new mines at Mauch Chunk,
and he sends it cheap to her; but its 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 4 minute with little tray, on
which stood 4 pot and cup and saucer,
also bowl and a tiny pitcher and some
thing in napkin
-" Miss sent bit and sip" said she.
" .Tea rests us old folks nightly. Good
night
: Goodnight" I said. 4 expect l
shall sleep soon; | must be up very
early, though, for | have bills to pay. |