Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-02-16

anu, as you see quite lnllrm.
dread another step. should talk
it as kindness If you would &C
commodate me, and l will pay yo1
any price you ask"
"We have only one room," sh
said, sand that"
ended the question of my sta,
by begging to be taken to it.
"You will have supper, sir?" ask
ed the girl.
But l declared l had eaten, and
wanted rest.
Her reply was:
"Hannah, show the gentleman to
the blue room and make O fire."
was In the room, the scene OF
the three sudden deaths or mur-
ders. 1t was small apartment,
painted blue. 1t had also blue
window curtains, and q blue silk
coverlet on the bed neat striped
carpet, a set of old mahogany fur
niture, and very handsome ever
and a basin of costly china. In
this room, however, was small
coal fire. i alluded to this as Han
nah came in with the scuttle.
"Ies, sir" 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 a nasty, dirty-smell-
ing thing, and l hate it. Now it's
built and lit; it will warm up in
fifteen minutes. 1t takes longer
than wood"
She went out of the door and
came back in a minute with little
tray, on which stood a pot and
a cup and saucer, also a bowl and
tiny pitcher, and something in a
napkin.
"Miss sent bit and sip" said
she. "Tea rests us old folks might
ly. Goodnight"
"Good-night." / said. 81 ex-
'ect l shall sleep soon; | must be
,p very early, though, for i have
bills to-day. i have some hundreds
If dollars with me, to pay ont, to-
morrow, and it's in this bag"
She looked at me in a queer sort
f way, and fingered beside me.
It last she spoke:
'Look ye, sir; think that old
ollSs of your age do wrong to lock
oors on themselves. You might
'e i'll at night, and who'll get in to
on 2"
Was it this woman's practice to
'eg travellers who stopped with her
distress not to lock the door
Vas there some baneful potion in
ne cup she had given me! Itwas
n innocent looking cup enough
n old fashioned affair, covered
18th little gilt sprigs. The tea was
Hyson; but the suspicion
hat had crept into my mind had
ainted it. / fancied a strange
olor, a curious smell. i put it
rom me, and ] would not have
asted it for kingdom.
| had not intended to sleep, and
did not undress myself. l mere
Y removed my disguise, and sat
own beside the table with my pis-
DIS by me. That some attempt
hight be shortly made to murder
he / felt to be possible. / thought
{ all the old tales that l had heard
trap-doors and sliding-panels,
nd secret entrances to travellers
ooms. ] was not a coward, but
lit strangely nervous, and singu-
irly enough, for a man in perfect
ealth, my hands were growing
old, and my feet were Jumps Of
,e, while my head was burning
OF.
Fifteen minutes had passed, and
ne fire was kindled T; was not warm.
he blue flames struggled among
ie black Goals, and flung forkcd ,
,ngues tipped with yellow tints
Ito the room. There was nothing !
heerful about the stove, though il
as Of that open style now called
Yet / drew chair to-
ard it from habit, and sat my feet
pom the hearth. l do not know !
ow long ! sat there. Suddenly / {
ecame aware that / was not my
If. was fast losing my senses.
unseen hands had been clasp
4 about my neck, and unseen
nees had been pressed against my
hest, my sensations could not have !
ooo 1;Ho,o,t