Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1874-01-09
VOL. XIX.--NO. "a.

slumbcr, and the Colonel felt as terribly
on the alert as he had felt sometimes in
the Indian mutiny. Warren had quito
! got over his bad dreams and indisposi-
ton, and snorcd in tho most comfortable
manner
Suddenly some noise within tho house
made the Colonel start up in his bed and
listen attentively. Yes, there could be
no doubt about it; there was the sound
of a stealthy football upon the stairs. Ho
hastily lit his candle again, and his gaze
was turned toward tho door, which he
had locked, after it was settled that War
rem should remain. He saw the handle
move.
In fash Of thought he asked himself
what this could be I London thieves
would never dream of running the risk
of entering house in which there was
absolutely nothing to steal. To physical
fear Colonel Someryile was n stranger,
and SO he at once snatched up the short,
heavy poker from the fireplace and with
out waiting to arouse his servant, whom
he saw sleeping heavily, he went quietly
to the door, unlocked aud opened it sud-
denly, prepared to capture the intruder.
But the passage outside was vacant and
silent.
Being a man Of more than ordinary
strength. and thoroughly accustomed to
danger, he did not hesitate about con-
tinuing his search There were only two
other rooms upon this floor. These he
entered, and ms they were destitute of
furniture, glance was sufficient to show
him that there was no one there. Then
he went up stairs and carefully examined
Warren's room; then he went down stairs,
walked through tho drawing-room, din
ing-room, and study, then into tho Off
ccs, but he encountered nobody. Thou
he proceeded to examine the doors and
windows Of tho basement, and satisfied
himself that nobody could have entered
there. His examination Of the lowor part
of the house occupied him about quar-
ter Of an hour. and then he arrived at
tho conclusion that he had been the VIC
tim of his own imagination. Then he
yawned and began to think that he felt
really sleepy. SO he assembled from the
offices, thinking that he should get few
hours rest at last. Just as he put his
foot upon the first step Of tho stairs lead
ing from the hall something glittered
from the floor. Ho stopped down to 800 !.
what it was, and he picked up what ap-
pcared to be needle Of about four times
the ordinary length, with a tiny steel
button on one end. He examined it GU
riously, for he did not remember ever to
have seen such an implement before
The point, he remarked, appeared to be
slightly furnished. With this, the sole
result Of his search, he returned to his
bedroom. He entered, and locked tho
door after him, and was about to throw
off his dressing when. to his in
tense astonishment, no found that War.
rem. whom he had left sleeping soundly,
was gone
He opened the door again, and called
loudly. No answer. He hurried up stairs
to his servants room no trace Of him
there; indeed, no trace of him anywhere,
and Colonel Somerville never saw or
heard Of James Warren again. He had
no reason to suppose that there was any
motive for his mysterious disappearance,
for he had not robbed or defrauded his
master in any way whatever. The next
day the police examined the house thor
oughly, but nothing of Importance trans
pircd. Need | add that Colonel SomcrA
villo's new house was up for sale again
immediately
Three facts remain TO be recorded
first the strange looking needle which
the Colonel found, was subjected to che
mical inspection, and tho furnishes upon
the point we're pronounced to DO human
blood. Secondly, when the house had
been for sale about six weeks, Colonel
Somervillc received letter from the
agents, announcing that the house was
sold for the same amount that he gave
for it. The Colonel, being man Of
strict honor, thought himself bound TO
make the purchaser aware of all that had
occurred, and hurried up town to tho
agents for the purpose Of procuring the
name and address Of this person All
that the agents could inform him was
that the purchaser was gentleman ma
med Williams, and appeared TO DO an
American He gave check upon well
known bank for the amount, and it was
duly honored. The only popularity about
Mr.. Williams was that he had remark
ably pale face. Thirdly, the house has
never since been put up for sale, but it
remains, to all appearance, untcnanted,
though understand that tho deaf old
woman is still the carc-taker.
| To the lovers of mystery, / commend
this story.