The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-01-27

CndflcC6r. inab MaIldulo hiattetu was
innocent, I fully believed; but that some
one beneath her roof WAS guilty, L made
no doubt. 1t might be the librarian,
Mr.. Brassford, whose key fitted the deal
mans door. It was possible-but no,
would not harbor mad superstition.
There could be no supernatural power
beneath which human beings dropped
and died. Death as it came to MS. IS
mystery enough. What had been said
to me by a woman, who would have
been Spiritualist had she lived to-day,
was nero absurdity
II believe that there is some horrible
unseen thing in the room," she said, -
''some awful, shapeless spirit, and when
it is locked in with its victim, it murders
him. Let others believe what they will,
I believe that.
The words haunted me, but laughed
| at them, of course. Whatever it was, I
would try to know. I had plan. r
At dusk that day I went into my bed
| room myself. I came out strange man.
l wore white wig, a pair of green glas-
ses, and an overcoat, the tails of which
reached to my heels. I had muff1er
about my throat, and little bunch on
one of my shoulders. I carried thick
cane, and stopped good deal as walk
ed. Inmy hand I carried a carpet-bag,
and in my bosom a pair of pistols well
| loaded.
AS I passed out into the street, the
earl y moon was just rising she lit me
1t was opened for NE, when I 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 I desired to stay under
her roof all night. She shook her head
81 don't think you can," she. said,
''the lady is away from home. Besides
we are in trouble here. ] don't think
Miss Gabrielle would
But here Miss Gabrielle herself ap-
peared. l5.- T.. +.
''I am an old man, miss, - said, ssand
as you see, quite infirm. dread anoth-
er step. L should take it as kindness
if you would accommodate me, and I
will pay you any price you ask
Miss Gabrielle looked at Hannah.
s'We have only one room," she said,
''and that
[ ended the question of my stay by
begging to be taken to it.
''You will have supper, sir o. asked
the girl.
But I declared had eaten, and want
ed rest
Her reply was ''Hannah, show the
gentleman to the blue room the
scene of the three sudden deaths or muir
ders. 1t was a small apartment, paint
ed blue. 1t also had blue window-cur-
tains, blue silk coverlet on the bed, a
neat striped carpet, set of old maho-
gany furniture, and very har dsome
ever and basin of costly china. 1t was
at the time almost universal custom to
burn wood. In this room, however, was
small ,coal-fre.. I alluded to this as
Hannah came in with the scuttle.
eyes, SIR" she said, ':Misses does
burn Goals. Her son is clerk, OF the
like, at the new mines at Mauch Chunk,
and he sends il cheap to her, but it's
nasty, dirty smelling thing, and hate
it. Now it, built and lit twill warm
up in fifteen minutes. Tt takes longer
than wood"
She went ont of the door and came
back in a minute with little tray, on
which stood pot and cup and a sauc-
Ell, also bowl and tiny pitcher, and
something in a napkin.
Miss sent bit and sip,'' said She
''Tea rests old folks nightly. Good
night" "
''Good night" said. s'I expect I
shall sleep soon L 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 the
bag"
She looked at me in queer sort of
way, and fingered beside me- At last
she spoke:
'I.ook 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 in to see you2"
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 sprigs. The tea was fragrant
Hyson but the suspicion that had crept
into my mind had tainted it. I fancied
a strange color, curious smell. 1 put
it from me and would not have tasted it
for a Kingdom.
1 had not intended to sleep, and did
not undress myself. l merely removed
my disguise, and sat down beside the
table, with my pistols beside me. That
some attempt might be shortly made to
murder me, I felt to be possible. I
thought of all the old tales I had heard
of trap-doors and sliding panels, and Sc
cret entrances to travellers rooms. I was
not coward, but I felt strangely nerv-
Gus, and, singularly enough for man
in my perfect health, my hands were
growing cold and my feet were Jumps of