Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-10-07
fconcluded from first page

INV key, was persuaded to accompany
him. We called upon my friend, who,
. being rather gay young fellow. and fond
OF wine, made no objection to a bottle !;
and so we accompanied the old gentleman
home in coach which he hired. TO his
house. full oil lie aud merriment all 'he
The I'D genieman's house hardly cor
responded in appearance WIN ,he ena .,,
acter of its owner. 1t was decidedly DARK
and gloomy. in low. lying neighborhooa;;
anne where near the river. But the ora
gentleman had boosted so much OF ms
Cellar and given US in his conversation
sncb yjimpses of his hospitable ways o,
life that we did not doubt we should be
we'll entertained. Notwithstanding the I'M
promising look of his abode.
Nov, my boys he cried, pushing us
in before him, first door to the right. And
I'm away to the cellar to get bottle OF
my yerv best. In the meantime refresh
yourselves with pinch of snuff He gave
us candle and his snuff-boN, the identi.
cal little box l now hold in my hand and
left us in low-roofed, Misunderstanding
chamber, its walls black with the DIRT
of years, festooued with cobwebs, ana
furnished with only few broken chairs
and table.
..An eccentric, evidently. sad my
friend: when the old gentleman had lett
us alone: rich, too, I'll be bound. Per
hans as he seems to have taken fancy to
MS. the old fellow will make us heirs.
..He kept us waiting SO long that we
began to he uneasy-late at night IN Il
strange place, the aspects OF which was
not reassuring; and yet we could not
doubt the responsibility of the little Old
gentleman. Presently we heard his voice
as he sung and shouted merriy, and he
returned, carrying in one hand bottle,
and in the other swinging on his finger
nv kew. As he entered, we noticed for
the first time, tremendous scar below
his right eve, the result. as it seemed, oil
some old wound.
Nov, my lads, 1 won't leave yon in
this old lumber room any longer; come
into my own little snug, and We'll crack a
shoslle, and make a merry night OF it.
We've got the key, we've got the key
And we won't 60 home till morning
shouted the old gentleman, in the most
hilarious voice, snatching up the candle,
and leading the way through door at the
further end of the room that opened into a
narrow passage. just as he entered tue
passage. the Old gentlemen, as if by acct
dent. dropped the candle, so that every
thing was in profound darkness.
.'Come along, come along; we shall find
. light at the other end" called the Old
gentleman, merrily. Give me your arm
y Young sir, give me your arm"
II was following him, without though!
or hesitation, as was my friend, when all
Of sudden | heard from what seemed
the bowels of the earth, just in front OF
me. the barking Of dog; it was bingo s
bark among a thousand. Back. back =
= l. cried, recoiling with such force that
dragged the old gentleman several PAGES
backward: he lost his hold; l heard q
cry, splash. "Back, back" thrustine
my friend into room we had quilted
The door behind US had not swung to. foi
jackson had not passed quite through into
the passage, and there was such terror
and warning in my voice that he sprang
back instinctively, and regained the room
we had left. The door went too with u
bang; it closed with spring lock, and
there was no means of opening it. We
stood together in the darkness, our arms
clasped together, not daring to move one
side or the other, lest some pitfall nigh,
open beneath u.s. We saw at once that
we had been entrapped into this
house to be made away with. We had
been lured into an oublitte. from which we
should hardly escape with life, We bad
been hunted down by the body-snatcher-
whose safety demanded our destruction.
.'At this moment light appeared be
meath the door by which we had first en-
tered, and presently the door itself opened
and face appeared, pale, ghastly, and
drawn up with strong emotion. A dog
ran forward. barking loudly. Next mo-
!. ment the dog began to jump and iawn
q upon US.
"Ha, Bingow l cried, in voice that
tried to make calm and assured; "Whcre's
the purvcyorP'
xTne man stepped into the room sudden
Wand flashed his light upon us 1t was
Blackstock. "What Mr.. Wilson, he cried
Mr.. jackson! All never dreamt it was
you. pray, what arc you doing here
I'VE have come here by invitation
said unconcernedly. ito drink bottle OF
wine with d little old gentleman.
.Ah!" said Blackstock, with forced
kind Of laugh; II knew him. Have you
the passage.
mo, Sdiu HO. llc icft u5 .Iu91
now, and hasn't come back
Blackstock looked first. at mes than at
the dog. which was wriggling and fawn-
ing Atsmy feet. -
XAh." he said. 'you were always Kind
ia Bingo,- sir. Step this way"
We followed him, cautiously enough,
down fight of stairs, at the bottom OF
which he flung open door. which led in
to the street. How delicious was the
breath of the air upon our cheeks
Goodnight. gents" said Blackstock.
you'll keep your tongues between your
teeth, know. for your own sakes and an
other time Don't you mention names,
sir. You've been precious near kingdom
come. gents, this night Goodbye"
We never saw anything more OF Black
stock in our dissecting-room but few
days after the occurrence of that night we
had new subject, which turned out to be
1.-THE little old gentleman" OF course it
was no use returning his snuff box, and
have kept it ever since, as memento of
an occurrence | should otherwise some
time fancy it was but dream
Eyes, he was kind hearted individual.
l. -