The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-06-18
3.

| "And Hannah was there alFo?"
"All my married life Hannah has lived
with me-"
Your daughter oversees your honse-
hold in your absenee?"
"Yes, poor child, with Hannah s
help"
| 1 thought little while.
Madame" I said, "there is some
strange mystery in this affair. l do not
despair of proving to all the world yonr
entire innocence. Meantime be as calm
as possible, and endeavor to remember
everything connected with the sudden
deaths that have occurred in your house.
The incident that seems the least i'm
portant may really be of the most i'm
mense value"
So left and went home. Strange en-
ough on the way met the doctor, who
had been called in. He was a dull,
heavy sort of a person, considerably Civ
en- to beer drinking, and my opinion of
his ability was not very great. Howev-
er, questioned him on the subject, and
he replied:
"Well, you see don't say the old wO-
man murdered him. If she did, | should
say by sitting on him or smothering him
with the holsters. / suppose the cause
of his death was asphyxia. Well, then,
what is asphyxia? Why, too little breath
to keep one living. He died because he
was short of breath. l wash my hand
on that matter Only there's the watch;
that looks dark"
had learned nothing from the doctor.
The coroner lived near me. HIS jury
had been twelve of the most ignorant
men in the town. This is all he told me:
HE was smothered, that man was; so
we're the other two. Men don't smother
themselves. We made it inscrutable
Providence t'other time. We make it n
murder this time. That watch, you
know"
Thus, without any new light, | went
home.
At dusk that day l went into my bed
room myself ! came out strange man.
l wore white wig, pair of green gog-
giles and an overcoat, the tails of which
reached to my heels. I had muff1er
about my throat, and little hunch on
one of my shoulders. carried thick
cane, and stopped good deal as walk
ed. In my hand l carried a carpet-bag,
and in my bosom pair of pistols well
loaded.
AS passed out into the street the ear
ly moon was just rising; she lit me on
my way to Madame Matteau's house.
it was opened for me, when / knocked
by old Hannah. Her eyes were red and
swollen. Then told her that / was
stranger, and had received Madame
Matteau's address from a gentleman in
New York, and desired to stay under
her roof all night. She shook her head.
81 don't think you cam" she said; "the
lady is away from hopse. Besides, we
are in trouble here. don'tshir k Miss
Gabrielle would"
But here Miss Gabrielle herself ap
peared.
al am an olG man. Miss" / said, "and
as you see, quite infirm. dread anoth-
er step. / should take it as kindness il
you would accommodate me, and will
pay you any price you ask"
Miss Gabrielle looked at Hannah.
1--WE have only one room," she'said,
land that"
I ended the question of my stay by
begging to be taken to it.
"You will have supper, sir?" asked
the girl.
But declared that had eaten, and
wanted rest.
Her reply was: Hannah, show the
gentleman to the blue room, and make a
fire." I was in the room, the scene of
the three sudden deaths or murders. 1t
was a small apartment, painted blue. 1t
blue silk coverlet on the bed; neat
striped carpet, a set OF old mahogany
furniture. and very handsome ever,
and basin of costly china. 1t was at
the time almost a universal custom to
burn wood. In this room, however, was
a small coal fire. / alluded to this as
Hannah came in with the scuttle.
eyes, yes" she said, "Misses does
burn Goals. Her son is a clerk, or the
like, at the new mines at Mauch Chunk,
and he sends it cheap to her, but it's
nasty, dirty smelling thing, and l hate
it. Now it's built and lit; twill warm
up in fifteen minutes It takes longer
than wood"
She went out of the door and came in
in minute with a little tray, on which
stood a pot, and a cup and a saucer, also
a bowl and a tiny pitcher with something
in napkin.
"Misses sent bit and SIP" said she.
"Tea rests US old folks nightly. Coed
night"
"Good night" I said. 81 expect /
shall sleep soon; must be up very ear
ly, 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 a
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 i'll at night,
and who'd get in to see to you"
Was it this woman's practice to beg
travellers who stopped with her mistress
not to lock the door? Was there some
baneful potion in the cup she had given
me?
1t was an innocent-looking cup enough
an old-fashioned affair, covered with
little gilt springs. The tea was fragrant
Hyson, but the suspicion that had crept
into my mind had tainted it. fancied
a strange color, curious smell. put
it from me and would not have tasted it
t. n l>;nndonn