Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1874-08-08

night. ''''N 6o'N
After he had gone we found that he
mad lett his watch on the table. He
wore II onl y with bunch of seals
and he had been setting it by the clock,
and showing it to us as sometbipg
very handsome. / knocked at his door
TO restore it to him. He had not laft
us out fifteen minutes before; but he
must have been asleep already, for he
made no answer. So | kept it for the
night, and wore it down to breakfast
next morning. As | came down met a
gentleman IN the hall. He inquired
Tor Mr.. Glen. That was the new
comel's name. / sent Hannah to wake
hIm. She had key that would oDep
the door, and used it. The next thine
knew we were all in the room and the
windows were wide open, and the doc.
tor had been sent for; and the Young
man who had called was screaming that
his brother had been choked to death
ana there was the inquest, and they ar
rested me. The brother said the first
thing to be noticed was that | wore Mr..
Glen's watch and seals. | had forgot.
ten it in my terror.
so Hannah had key to the room ?"
l said.
Z" Yes; at least it was kew that
would open it. II was the key to Mr.
Basstord's door. She knocked the
other out with a stick and put that in.
The people who were there on that
night were your boarders when the 9th.
er men were found dead, asked.
ooh, yes /"
And Hannah was there also 2"
"AIl my married life Hannah has
lived with me-"
"Yonr daughter oversees your house
hold in your absence?"
Eyes, poor child, with Hannaha
help"
/ / Thought little while.
" Madame" l said, "there is some
strange mystery in the affair. do not
despair Of proving your entire limo.
cenca, Meanwhile, be as calm as DOS.
sible, and endeavor to remember eyerv-
thing connected with the sudden deaths
that have occurred in your house. The
incident that seems the least important
may really be Of the most immense
value"
So | left and went home. Strange
enough, on the way I met the doctor
who had been called in. He was a dull, /
heavy sort Of a person, considerably
given to beer drinking, and my opinion
OF his ability was not very great. How .
ever, questioned him on the subject. /.
and he replied
"Well, you see, don't say the old /
woman murdered him. If she did, I /
should say it was by sitting on him, or
smotheriug him with the holsters. l
suppose the cause Of his death was as.
phyxia. Well, then, what is asphyxia
Why, too little breath to keep one liy.
ing. He died because be was short of
breath. wash my hands on that mat
ter, Only there's the watch that looks
dark"
| had learned nothing from the doc
tor. The coroner lived near me. HIS
Jury had been twelve Of the most ignor-
ant men in town.
This is all he told me.
:" He was smothercd, that man was,
80 were the other two. Men don't
smother themselves. We made it in
scrutable Providence t'other time. We
make 1t murder this time That there
watch, you know
Thus, without any new light, l went
home and formed my plans. There
was but one way in which to penetrate
the mystery. must enter the house;
| must see the people there; l mus
penetrate to the room in which these {
men had died so suddenly, and l must {
not be know in my real character. That
Nine. Matteau was innocent | fully be- {
lieved, but that some one was guilty | {
made no doubt It might be the libra.
rian, Mr. Bassford, whose key fitted {
the dead mans door. 1t was possible;
but no, I would not harbor mad su.
perstihon. There could be no super.
natural power beneath which human !
being dropped and died Death as it
came to rs all was mysterious enough.
What had been said to me by a woman,
who would have been a spiritualist had I
she lived to-day, was mere absudity. 6
81 believe that there is some horrible '
unseen thing in the room," she said, {
some awful shapeless spirit, that when
it is locked in with the victim murders
him. Let others believe what they will,
| believe that.
The words haunted me, but l laughed I
1t them, of course. Whatever it was l l
would try TO know. had a plan. I
At dusk l went into my bedroom my c
,elf. came out strange man. I '
wore a white wig, pair of green Cog I
yles and an overcoat, the tails of which T
'eached to my heels. Ihad muller
lbout my throat, and little hunch on !
)ne of my shoulders. carried thick l
'ane, and stopped great deal as l
walked. In my hands I carried a car l
)et.bag, and in my bosom pair Of pis,
OILS, well loaded.
AS | passed out into the street the l
'arly moon was just rising she lit me !
IN my way to the door of Nine. Mat Z
eau's house. '
1t was opened for me when l knocked, l
~ old Hannah. Her eyes were red and d
NOll- IL Iueu tolu uGE lllAb WAS !,
tranger. and had received Nine. Mat /
eau's address from gentleman in New 5
FORK, and desired to stay all night under /
er roof. She shook her head.
81 don't think you can." she said. a
The lady is away from home. Besides i
re are in trouble here. Pdon't think i
Iiss Gabriella would" a
But here Miss Gabrielle herself APP
cared. y
81 am an old man, MISS" l said, I
and as you see, quite infrm. dread s
mother step. l should take it as "
indness if you would accommodate a
lie, and | will pay you any price you Y
SIX. u
Miss Gabrielle looked at Hannah.
"We have only one room," she said,
and that" =
ended the question of my stay by c
egging to be taken to it. Il
"You will have supper, sir ?" asked o
le girl. Fl
But declared that / had eaten, and il
My wanted rest. o
Her reply was IL
Hannah, show the gentleman to the a
lue room and make fire. Il
= IL ] -