Port Royal commercial and Beaufort County Republican. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1873-1874, 1874-02-12
PORT ROYAL. S. c.. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY IL, 1874

that when it is locked in with its vic
tim, murders him. Let others believe
what they will, believe that"
The words haunted me, but 1 laughed
at them, of course. Whatever it was, ]
would try to know. I had plan.
At dusk that day I went into my
bedroom myself. I came out a changed
man. wore white wig, q pair oil
great green goggles, and an overcoat,
the tails of which reached my heels. ]
had a mufler about my throat, and Q
little hunch on one of my shoulders.
carried a thick cane and stopped Q
great deal as I walked. In my hand ]
carried carpet bag, and in my bosom
a pair of pistols, we'll loaded.
AS I passed out into the street the
early moon was just rising she Lit me
on my way to the door of Madame Mat
teau's house.
Itwas opened for me, whenI knocked,
by old Hannah. Her eyes were red and
swollen. Then I told her that I was
stranger and had received Madame
Matteau's address from gentleman in
New York, and desired to stay under
her roof all night. She shook he,
head.
"I don't think you can," she said.
"The lady is away from home. Be-
sides, we are in trouble here. don't
think Miss Gabrielle would"
But here Miss Gabrielle herself ap.
peared.
az am an old man, Miss" said,
"and, as you see, quite infrm. Idread
another step. I should take it as a
kindness if you would accommodate
me, and T will pay any price you ask. "
Miss Gabrielle looked at Hannah.
"We have only one room," she said,
"and that"
I ended the question of my stay by
begging to be taken to it.
"You will have supper, sir ?" asked
the girl.
But I declared that I had eaten and
only wanted rest.
Her reply was
Hannah, show the gentleman to the
blue room, and make him fire."
I was in the blue room, the scene OF
the three sudden deaths or murders. 1t
was small apartment, painted blue.
It had also blue window-curtains, and q
blue silk coverlet on the bed neat,
striped carpet, set of old mahogany
furniture, and very handsome ever and
basin of costly china. It was at the
time almost universal custom to burn
wood. In this room, however, was a
small coal stove. / alluded to this as
Hannah came in with the scuttle.
eyes, sir" she said. "Missus does
burn Goals. Her son is clerk, or the
like, at them new mines in Mauch
Chunk, and he sends it cheap to her;
but it's dirty, nasty smelling thing and
hate it. Now it's built and lit and
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 little bowl and tiny pitcher, and
something in napkin. -
"Miss sent a bite and a sip," said
she. "Tea rests US old folks nightly.
Good night"
"Good night" said. ct expect I
shall sleep soon; I must be up early,
though, for I have bills to pay. have
some hundreds of dollars with me to
pay out tomorrow, and it's in this
bag"
She looked at nae in q queer sort OF
way, and fingered beside me. At last
she spoke: "Look ye, sir" she said,
"I think that folks of your age do
wrong to lock doors on themselves.
You might be i'll at night, and who'd
get in to you? Leave your door un-
locked"
The moment she was gone turned
the key.
Was it this woman's practice to beg
travellers who stopped with her mistress
not to lock their doors? Was there
some baleful potion in the cup she lad
given me?
II was an innocent looking cup
enough-an old-fashioned affair covered
with little gilt srrigs. The tea was fra
grant hyson; but the suspicion that had
crept into my mind tainted it. fancied
strange color, a curious smell. I put
it from me and would not have tasted it
for kingdom.
I had not intended to sleep, and I
did not undress myself. I merely re-
moved my disguise, and sat down be-
side the table, with my pis @ Is beside
me. That some attempt might be
shortly made to murder me felt to be
possible. I thought Of all the old
tales that 1 had heard OF trap-doors,
and sliding panels, and secret entrances
to travellers rooms. I was not a cow
ard, but I felt strangely nervous and
singularly enough for a man of my
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 kindled. but the room was not
warm. The blue flames struggled
among the black Goals, and flung
forked tongues tipped with yellow into
the room. There was nothing cheerful
about the stove, though it was of that
open style now called the Franklin.
Yet, I drew chair toward it from
habit, and sat with my feet upon the
hearth. l do not know how long sat
there.
Suddenly became aware that I was
not myself. I was losing my senses.
If unseen hands had been clasped
about my neck, and an unseen knee
had been pressed against my chest,
my sensations could have been no diff
ferent.
A thought of the evil spirit which my
friend had suggested, family struggled
into my mind. AS l staggered to my
feet, noise like the roaring OF the sea