Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1874-08-08

nasty, dirty-smelling thing, and hat
1t. Now it's built and lit, twill war;
up in fifteen minutes. 1t takes Ionpe
than wood"
She went out OF the door and cam
back in a minute with a title tray o.
which stood pot and cup and saucer
also a bowl and a tiny pitcher, and some
thing in napkin.
!" Miss sent bit and a sip, said she
Tea rests us old folks nightly. Goo,
night"
"Good night" ! said, 81 expect
shall sleep soon; | must be up yer,
early, though, for | have bills to nav
l have some hundreds Of dollars will
me to pay out tomorrow, and its IN thi.
bag"
She looked at me in a queer sort of 8
way and fingered beside me. At last
she spoke.
" Look ye, sir; I think that old folk.
OF your age do wrong to lock doors on
themselves. You might be i'll at night,
AMI who'd get into you? Leave your
door unlocked"
Was it this woman's practice to beg
travellers who stopped with her mistress
not to look the doors? Was there some
baneiul portion in the cup she had
given me?
1t was an innocent-looking cup
enough-an Old-fashioned afflir GOV.
cred with little gilt springs. The tea
was fragrant Hyson but the suspicion
that had crept into my mind had tainted
1t. fancied strange color, curious
smell. Iput it from me and would not
have tasted it for kingdom.
| had not intended to sleep, and ] did
not undress myself. I merely removed
my disguise, and sat down beside the
table with my pistols beside me. That
some attempt might be shortly made to
murder me | felt to be possible. /
thought Of all the old tales had heard
OF trap doors, and sliding panels, and
secret entrances to travellers rooms. I
was not a coward, but felt strangely
nervous, and singularly enough for a
man in my perfect health my hands
were growing cold, and my feet were
Jumps Of ice, while my head was burn
ing hot.
Fifteen minutes had passed and the
fce was kindled, but the room was not
warm. The blue flames struggled
among the black Goals, and flung forked
tongues tipped with yellowish tints,
into the room. There was nothing
cheerful about the stove, though it was
Of that open style now called franklin.
Yet ] drew q chair toward it from
habit, and sat with my feet upon the
hearth. ! do not know how long | sat
there. Suddenly / became aware that
was not myself, | was losing my
senses, II unseen hands had been
2lasped about my neck, and an IN
seen knee been pressed against my
chest, my sensations could not have
)een different.
A thought of the evil spirit which my
riend had suggested family struggled .
nto my mind. As l staggered to my
eet a noise like the roaring of sea
gas in my ear. The flames Of z candle .
urncd to a great yellow blue, Ibarely .
'etained strength enough to staeger to .
he window and fling it open. The fresh. .
old winter air rushed in at it. 1t gave .
ne intense p in, but it relieved me. In .
. moment more was able to Chamber
nut OF it upon the shed below.
There remained until the day dawn.
With my returning senses the truth
anne to NE. That which had murdered
he three men who slept before me in
he blue chamber was nothing more or
ess than the coal stove.
1t was provided with wha' is called a
.amper, and this being caught in a man
er which closed it sent the poisonous
ir into the room. 1t had been kindled
IS a wood.fre would have been at the
our Of retiring, by one quite jgnoraut
f the danger possible from coal gas,
nd they had slept never TO awaken.
lad thrown myself upon the bed, l
lso should have been found dead at
aylight, in all probability,
As for the fact that neither doctor nor
orouer discovered the truth, l have but .
D say that they were not deeply scien,
Ifc men.
OF course | rejoicad the household
y my discovery next morning, and
qually, of course, Nine. Matteau, who
as not only freed from suspicion, but
ecame the object OF universal sympa-
ny. She was always grateful to me,
nd she proved her gratitude by giving
hat I soon asked for, the hand Of her
aughter Gabrielle in marriage.