Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-08-08

green goggles, and an OvercOat, the
tail OF which reached to my heels.
had muller about my throat, and {
little haunch on my shoulders. I car
ried thick cane, and stopped grea,
deal AZ I walked. In my hand 1 car.
ried a carget-bag, and in my bosom Q
pair of pistols well 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.
1t was opened for me, when
knocked, by old Hannah. Her eyes
were red and swollen. Then T told
her that was a stranger, and had re.
ceived Madame Matteau's address from
a agentleman in New York, and desired
to stay under her roof all night.
She shook her head. "I don't think
you can," she said. "The lady is
away from home. Besides we are in
trouble here I don't think Miss Ga.
brielle would"
But here Miss Gabrielle herself ap.
peared.
II am an old man, MISS" I said,
"and as you see, quite infirm. 1 dread
another step. l should take it as O
kindness if you would accommodate
me, and 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 that.
"You will have supper, sir ?" asked
the girl.
But I declared that had eaten, and
only wanted rest.
Her reply was:
Hannah, show the gentleman to
the blue room, and make 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 blue silk coverlet on the bed; a
neat striped carpet, set of old mahog-
ony furniture, and a very handsome
ever and q basin of costly China. 1t
was at the time almost universal GUS
tom to burn wood. In this room, how
ever, was small coal fire. 1 alluded
to this as Hannah came in with the
scuttle.
Yes, sir" she said, "missus does
burn Goals. Her son is clerk or the
like, at the new mines at Mauch Chunk,
and he sends it cheap to her; but it S
q nasty, dirty smelling thing, and I
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 minute with little tray on
which stood pot and cup and sau-
Ger, also bowl 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" I said. 81 expect I
shall sleep soon; I must be up very
early, though, for have bills to pay.
I have some hundreds of dollars with
me to pay out tomorrow, and it's in
this bag"
She looked at me in a queer sort of
a way, and fingered beside me. Bnt last
she spoke:
"Look ye, sir; I think that old 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 unlocked"
Was it this woman's practice to beg
travellers who stopped with her mis-
tress not to lock the door? Was there
some baneful potion in the cup she had
given me?
It was an innocent-looking cup
enough--an old-fashioned affair, COW
cred with little gilt sprigs. The tea
was fragrant Hyson; but the suspicion
that had crept into my mind had taint-
ed it. fancied strange color, q Gu
rious smell. I put it from me, and
would not have tasted it for a kingdom.
I had not intended to sleep, and I
did not undress myself. merely re-
moved my disguise, and sat down by
the table, with my pistols beside me.
That some attempt might be shortly
made to murder me I felt to be posi-
BILE. I thought of all the old tales I
had heard of trap-doors and sliding
panels, and secret entrances to travel
ers' rooms. I was not coward, but I
felt strangely nervous; and singularly
enough for man in 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 with
the black Goals. and flung forked
tongues tipped with yellow tints, into
the room. There was nothing cheerful
about the stove, which was Of that open
style now called Franklin. Yet drew
chair toward it from habit, and sat
with my feet upon the hearth. l do
uot know how long sat there. Sud-
denly I became aware that I was not
myself. was losing my senses. If
unseen hands had been clasped about
my neck, and an unseen knee had been
nresSed aoainst nv chest nv senSa-