The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-09-12

~ w ~ "S SoS"b 'Siy hahuSouc'
knocked at his door to restore it to him.
He had not left us but fifteen minutes be.
fore but he must have been asleep already
for he made no answer. So | kept it for
the night, and wore ii down to breakfast
next morning. As came down / met a
gentleman in the hall. He inquired for
Mr.. Glen. That was the newcomer name.
/ sent Hannah to wake him. She could
not do so, and grew alarmed She had a
key that would open the door, and used it.
The next thing knew we were all in the
room and the windows were wide open,
and the doctor had been sent for; and the
young man who had called was screaming
that his brother had been choked to death
and then there was an inquest, and they
arrested Inc. The brother said the first
thing he noticed was that | wore Mr..
Glen'S watch and seals. | had forgotten
it in my terror.
$50 Hannah had key to the room p
| said.
Yes; at least it was key that would
open it. 1t was the key to Bassford' 3
door She knocked the other out with a
stick aud put that in.
The people who were there on that
night were your boarders when the other
men were found dead ?" asked
Oh, yesl'
Aunt Hannah was there also ?"
All my married life Hannah has lived
with me-
Your daughter oversees your house.
hold in your absence ?''
Yes, poor child, with Hannahs help. "
thought little while.
Madame | said, there is some
strange mystery in this affair. | do not
despair of proving to all the world your
entire innocence Meanwhile, be as calm
as possible, and cndcavor 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 value"
So | 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, | ques-
toned him on the subject, and he replied {:
" Well, you see, | don't say the old wo-
man murdered him. If she did, should
say it was by 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 my
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 ii inscrutable Prov
idence tother time. We make it murder
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 l must
see the people there /; | must penetrate to
the rooms in which these men had died so
suddenly, and must not be known in my
real character. That Madame Matteau
was innocent | fully believed, but that
some one beneath her roof was guilty
made no doubt. II might 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
beneath which human beings dropped aud
died. Death as it came to us was all
mystery enough. What had been said to
me by woman, who would have been
spiritualist had she lived to-day, was
mere absurdity.
al believe that there is some horrible
unseen thing in the room, she said, ''some
awful, shapelcss 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 | laughed at
them, of curse. Whatever il was,
would try to know. had plan.
At dusk that day went into my bed
room myself came out strange man.
wore white wig, pair of green cog
giles, and an overcoat, the tails of which
reached to my heels. | had muffler
about my throat, aud little hunch on one
Of my shoulders. l carried thick cane,
aud stopped great deal as walked In
my hand | carried carpetbag, aud in my
bosom pair of pistols well loaded.
As Ipassed out into tho street the early
moon was just rising; she lit mo on my
way 70 the door Of Madame Matteau's
house.