Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-02-19

perstltlon. There could be no super
natural power beneath which human
oelhSs dropped and died. Death, as
1t comes to us, is mystery enough.
What had been said to me bv a wom-
an, who would have been "a spiritual
ist had she lived to-day, was a mere
absurdity.
Il believe there is some horrible.
unseen thing in the room," she said
"some awful, shapeless spirit; aud,
when it is locked in with it's victim,
1T murders him. Let others believe
Ill what they will, believe that"
Ihe words haunted M, hut laugh
ell at tEem, Of course. Whatever it
was, would try to know L had
plan. .
AT dusk that day, L went into nv
bedroom myself. l came out strange
man. Wore white wig, a pair Of
green glasses, and an overcoat, the
tails of which reached to my heels.
| had muffier about my throat, and
little hunch on one of my shoul-
ders. l carried thick cane, and
stopped good deal as l walked In
my hand l carried carpet bag, and
in my bosom pair of pistols, well
loaded.
AS l passed out into the street, the
early moon was just rising; she lit
me OH the way TO Madame Matteau's
house.
ltwas opened for me when l knock
ed, by old Hannah. Her eyes were
red amt swollen. Then l told her
that l was stranger, and had receiv-
ed Madame Matteau's address from q
gentleman in New York. and L de-
sired to stay under her roof all night.
She shook her head.
~ don't think you can," she said
"the lady is away from home. Be-
| sides, we are in trouble here. don't
think Miss Gabrielle would-"'
But here Miss Gabrielle herself ap-
| peared. g.,H a...
| Il am an old man, MISS" l said !;
| rand, as you see. quite infirm. L
dread another step. should take it
as kindness if you would accom-
MEDIATE, me, and l will pay you any
price you ask" "a 1ci
Miss Gabrielle looked at Hannah.
we have only one room," she said;
1 ended the question of my stay by
begging to be taken to It,.
"You will have supper, sir?" asked
the girl.
But l declared had eaten. and
wanted rest.
Her reply was: "Aannah, show the
gentleman to the blue room the
scene of the three sudden deaths or
murders. 1t was a small apartment,
painted blue. 1t had also blue Win
dow curtains, blue silk coverlet Oh
the bed, a neat, striped carpet, q set
of old inahogony furniture, and a
very handsome ever and basin of
costly china. It was at the time al
most a universal custom to burn
wood. In this room, however, was
a small coal fire. l alluded to this as
Hannah came in with the scuLtle.
i 'Yes, sir," she said Madame does
burn Goals. Her son is clerk, or the
like, at the new mines at Manch
Chunk, and he sends it cheap to her,
but it's q nasty, dirty-smelling thing,
and hate it. Now, it's built and lit /;
twill warm up in fifteen minutes.
1t takes longer than wood"
She went out of the door and came
back i'll a minute with little tray,
on which stood pot and o cup and a
saucer,als bowl and a tiny pitcher,
! and something in a napkin.
"Miss sent bit aud q sip," said
she. "Tea rests old folks nightly.
Good night"
"Good night" l said. IL expect l
shall sleep soon 1 must be up very
early, though, for have bills to pay.
l have some hundreds of dollars with
me to pay out tomorrow, aud it's in
the bag" .s.d5 rea5 l-t.
She looked at me in queer sort OF
way, and fingered beside me. AT last
she spoke:
"Look ye, sir think old folks OF
your age do wrong to lock doors OH
themselves. You might be ill all
night. and who'd get at you?"
Was IL this wOmau's practice to beg
travellers who stopped with her mis-.
tress not to lock the door? Was
there some baneful potion in the cup
the had given me ?'
1t was an innocent looking cur
enough-an 0ld-fashioned affair, COW
cred with little gilt sprigs. The Tea
was fragrant Hyson but the suspic.
ion that had crept into my mind had
taintedit. fancied strange color,
curious smell. l put it from me,
and would not have tasted it for q
kingdom. .l
! had not intended to sleep. and 1
did not undress myself. merely re.
moved my disguise, aud sat down be-
side the table, with my pistols beside
ME. That some attempt might short
lY he made TO murder me, felt to be
possible; l thought of all the old tales
that had heard of trap doors and
sliding panels, and secret entrances
to travelerS' rooms. l was not a
coward, but felt strangely nervous,
and, singularly enough for man in
my perfect health my hands were
growing cold aud my feet were Jumps
of ice, W hile my head was burning hot.
Fifteen minutes had passed and the
fire was kindled, but the room was
not warm. The blue flames, strug-
gled among the black Goals, and flung
forked tongues, tipped with yell
low tints, into the room. There
was nothing cheerful about the stove,
though il was of the open style now
called Franklin. Yet drew chair
toward it from habit, and sat upon
the hearth. do not know how long
l sat there. Suddenly became aware
that was not myself. was losing
my senses. Ii unseen hands had been
ciaspcd about my neck, and an unseen
knee had been pressed against my
chest, my sensations could not have
been different. "-
A thought of the spirit which my
friend suggested family struggled in-
to my mind. AS / struggled to my
feet, sound like the roaring of the
sea was in my ear. The flame of my
candle turned a great yellow-blue.
barely retained strength enough TO
stagger to the window aud fling ir
open. The fresh, cold winter air
rushed in. 1t gave Ele intense pain,
but it relieved me. In q moment
more was able to Chamber out upon
the shed below.
There l remained until day.dawn.
With my returning senses the truth
came to me: That which murdered
the three men was nothing more or
less than the coal stove.
1t was provided with damper, and
this, being caught in a manner which
closed it, sent the poisonous gas into
the room. Had l thrown myself on
tho bed, should have been found
dead at daylight, in all human proba-
bility.
AS for the fact that neither doctor
nor coroner discovered the truth, /
hrN