Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-09-18
NO. ZIG.
Tales and Sketehes.
AN OLD LAWYERS STORY.
LCoNTINUED FROM YEsTERpAr.I

l 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 smothcred, that man was; so
were the other two. Men don't smother
themselves. We made it inscrutable
Providence tother time We make it mur-
der this time. That there watch, you
know"
Thus, without any new light went
home and formed my plans. There was
but one way in which to penetrate the
mystery. | must enter the house, must
penetrate to the room in which these men
had died so suddenly. and l must not be
known in my real character. That Mad
anne Matteau was innocent fully believed
but that some one beneath her root was
guilty, | made no doubt. 1t might be
the librarian, MIR. Bassford, whose key
fitted the dead mans door. 1t was possi-
ble-but no, | would not harbor mad
superstition. There could be no SUPER
natural power beneath which human be-
ings dropped and died. Death as it came
TO us was mystery enough. What had
been said to me by woman, who would
have been Spiritualist had she lived to-
day, was mere absurdity.
II believe that there is some horrible
unseen thing in the room," she had said,
some awful, shapeless spirit, and when
it is locked in with its victim, murders
him. Let others believe what they will,
| believe that"
The words haunted me, but l laughed
at them of course. Whatever 1t was,
would try TO know. had plan.
AT dusk, that day, went into my bed
room myself. l came out strange man.
l wore wig, pair of green goggles,
and an ovcrcoat, the tails of which reached
to my heels. had muller about my
throat, and little hunch on one of my
shoulders. l carried thick cane, and
stopped good deal as walked. In my
hand l carried a carpet-bag, and in my
bosom pair of pistols well loaded.
AS passed out into the street, the ear
~ moon was just rising; she lit me on my
way to the door of Madame Matteau's
house.
1t was opened for me, when knocked.
by old Hannah. Her eyes were red and
swollen. Then l told her that I was
stranger. and had received Madame Mat
teau's address from gentleman in New
York, and l desired to stay under her roof
all night. She shook her head.
81 don't think you can." she said, ''the
lady is away from home. Besides we are
in trouble here. l don't think Miss Ca
brielle would"
But here Miss Gabrielle herself ap-
peared.
II am an old man. Miss" said, "and.
as you see, quite infirm. l dread another
step. l should take it as kindness if
you would accommodate me, and will
pay you any price you ask"
Miss Gabrielle looked at Hannah.
1--WE have only one room," she said,
land that
l ended the question of my stay by beg
ging to be taken to it.
"You will have supper, sir?" asked the
girl.
But declared that l had eaten and
wanted rest.
Her reply was:-
Hannah, show the gentleman to the
blue room, and make fire."
l was in the room, the scene Of the
three sudden deaths, or murders. II was
small apartment. painted blue. 1t had
also blue window window curtains, and
blue silk cOverlet on the bed; a neat
striped carpet, a set of old mahogany furn-
ture, and very handsome ever and ba-
sin of costly China. lit was at the time al.
most 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. misses does
burn Goals. Her son is clerk, at the
new mines at Mauch Chunk. and he sends
it cheap to her; but it's 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 a pot and cup and saucer, also a
bow and tiny pitcher, and something in
a napkin.
Miss sent bit and sip," said she.
Tea rests us old folks nightly. Good
night"
"Good-night." II expect shall sleep
soon; must be up very early. though, for
have bills to pay. have some hun
dreds of dollars with me to pay out, to-
morrow, and it's in this bag"
She looked at me in queer sort of way,
md fingered beside me. At last she
spoke
Look ye, sir; think that old folks of
FOUR age do wrong to lock doors on them
selves. You might be i'll at night. and
who'd get into you?"
Was it this woman's practice to beg
travellers who stopped with her mistress
lot to lock the door Was there some
oaneful portion in the cup she had given
nee
1t was an innocent looking cup enough
an old-tashioned affair, covered with
little gilt sprigs. The tea was fragrant
Tyson; but the suspician that had crept
into my mind had tinted it. l fancied q
strange color, curious smell. l put 1t
from me, and would not have tasted it for
a kingdom.
l had not intended to sleep, and l did
not undress myself. l merely removed
my disguise, and sat down beside the
table, with my pistols beside me. That
some attempt might shortly be made to
murder me l felt to be possible. thought
OF all the old tales that had heard of
trap-doors and sliding pannels, and Sc
cret entrances to travellers rooms. Twas
not coward. but felt strangely ner-
vous, and singularly enough for q man in