Smyrna times., 1874-06-24

new mines at Mauch Chunk, and he sends 1t
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 cup and saucer, also bowl and tiny
pitcher, and something in a napkin.
Miss sent bit and SIP" said she
Tea rests US old folks nightly. Goodnight"
" Goodnight" [ said. " [ expect shall
sleep soon | must be up very early, though,
for | have bills to pay. have some hundreds
OF dollars with me to pay out tomorrow, and
it's in this bag"
She looked at me in queer sort of 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 themselves
You might be ill at night, and who get in to
you? Leave your door unlocked"
Was it this woman's practice to beg travel
lers who stopped with her mistress not to lock
the doors? Was there some banoful potion in
the cup she had given me ?
| 1t was an innocent looking cup enough an
old-fashioned affair covered with little gilt
sprigs. The tea was fragrant Hyson; but the
suspicion that had crept into my mind had
tainted it. fancied strange color, a curious
smell. pat it from me, and would not have
tasted it for kingdom.
had not intended to sleep, and did not
undress myself, | merely removed my dis
guise, and sat down beside the table, with my
pistols beside me. That some ATTEMPT might
be shortly made to murder me felt to be pos
sible, thought of all the old tales that had
heard OF trap doors, and sliding panels, and
secret entrances to travellers rooms. [ was
not coward, but felt strangely nervous and
slngularly enoug b for man of nv 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
klndled, but the room was not warm. The
blue t1ames struggled among the black Goals
, and flung t0rked tongues tipped with yellow
tints into the room. There was nothing cheer
tul abont the stove, though it was of that oper
style now called Franklin. Yet drew chai
toward 1t from habit, and sat with my fee
upon the hearth. do not know how long
sat there.
| Suddenly | became aware that was no
myself: was losing my senses. If unseel
hands had been clasped about nay neck, an,
an unseen knee had been pressed against m
, chest, my sensations could not have been diff
I terent.
A thought Of the evil spirit which my frien
h had suggested family struggled into my mind
? As | staggered to my feet a noise like tn
e roaring OF the sea was in my ear. The fame
h Of the candle turned to great yellow blue.
c barely retained strength enough to stagger
the window and fling it open. The fresh, col
C winter air rushed in at it. 1t gave me intens
n pain, bat it revived me. In q moment more
was able to Chamber cut Of it upon the she
below,
e There remained until the day-dawn. Wit
:. my returning senses the truth came to m,
% That which had murdered the three men wh
Z. had slept before me in the blue chamber W;
nothing more OF less than the coal stove.
10 1t was provided with what is called a dam
" er, and this being caught in a manner whiC
Il closed it sent the poisonous gas into the room
.: 1t haG been kinlled as wood fire would ha,
so been at the hOur Of retiring, by one quite i
be norant of the danger possible from coal ga
,e and they had slept never to awaken. Had
nj thrown myself upon the bed, [ also shou
I have been found dead at daylight, in all u
n man probability,
"a As for the fact that neither doctor nor cor
NJ ner discovered the truth, | have but to 8
40 that they were not deeply scientific men-th
o. coal stoves were scarcely used iE the place, q
to that it had not been mentioned that the bl
on chamber was thus heated
an OF course | rejoiced the household by I
re discovery next morning, and equally, of cOur,
Madame Matteau, who was not only freed frC
IN. all suspicion, but became the object of univ
ne sal sympathy She was always grateful to n
od and she proved her gratitude by giving
srs what [ soon asked for. the hand of her daug
ter Gabrielle in marriage