The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-29

proceed. Excuse me, gentlemen, but (
saw one or two of you look as if you
thought 1 was little searish about
nothing, but our umpire has settled that
tquestien. Now let's see how near the
mark he's hit" The agent cast a light
ming glance upon the stranger, which I
think no one noticed but myself, and
then went on with his story. ,....
81 heard heavy steps below, and some
mumbling from the inn keeper and
squeaking from the crone, and then all
was silent. threw myself on the bed,
without disrohing, and was lost in the
weird enjoyment of, the tempest. My
candle I left burning, though the con-
stant flashes of lightning rendered it un-
necessary. As ] lay on the bed one
hour, and then two hours, listening to
the thunder as it died away, and then
burst upon ME again, l grew weary of
the deafening sounds and dazzling lights,
and found myself sinking into those
states of semi-slumber, as / term them,
or walking dreams, which one often ex
iperiences while watching with the sick
and dying. / heard voices in the thun-
der, and there seemed to be a warning
all around me. There was horrid feel
ing coming over me, which found it
impossible to- throw off" u~i f
/ l saw by the expression working over
the agents face that some awful denoue-
ment was approaching, and l observed
that the original five of our number
were braeing themselves for some fear
full revelation. The stranger in the blue
glasses worked his coat pockets, and
seemed to draw back from the lightning
that blazed incessantly. The rain poured
harder than ever, and the thunder was
now one continuous roll. don't know
why it was, but that stranger, with his
blue glasses, and mass of dark beard,
brought to my mind stories of storm
demons; and it really seemed to me that
the storm of that night suddenly in
creased on his entrance into the inn, and
was kept up in fury by his presence.
Some mystery about him made my blood
creep, and found certain comfort in
forgetting him for time, in the story Of
the night. ~" 81. ...
"Well," continued the agent, '1 grew
more and more drowsy, waking by fits
and starts, as some vivid fash would
illuminate the room with its blue light,
or burst of thunder shake the inn. But
as if voice whispered into my ear dur
ing momentary lull and state of partial
wakefulness, Iheard the words, Beware!
the chamber is drugged! Gods, gentle
menl 1 know not this day whether those
came from an unearthly source, or were
the warnings originating from the abnor-
NAL state Of my brain, l seized my pis-
tol and knife, and leaping from the bed
for the window. With blow of my fisJ
I smashed pane of glass, and the rain
beat in upon the Aoor. The candle was
just flickering, preparatory to going out,
but the lightning Lit the chamber as
bright as day. ..... bel. I'D .
"The breaking of the glass gave me
Inew life, and l was prepared for any
emergency that my awakened imagi-
nation could conjure. Am making a fool
Eof myself, or am not 2. I said, half mu-
Isingly. As if in answer to my brief soli-
loquy, q puff of wind blew out the dying
Hight of the candle, and the lightning
ceased for a season, leaving me in utter
darkness . .. ...f .,i...... a..
| 81 was now in high state Of excite
ment, for this sudden darkness seemed
an omen ofevil. can tell you that l
clutched my revolver and knife with
dread and determination combined. /
peered inlo the hLickness, but couldn't
see ward ahead of me. / bent my ear
to listen, but aside from creaking some
where in the chamber, which / attributed
to powerful gust Of wind that Just
then passed over the inn, could hear
nothing to cause alarm. Thiscreaki ng
alarmed me for an instant, but silence
following Immediately, rgave it no fur
ther heed.
"For two or three minutes stood BY
the window, vainly peering into the
room, and listening, to- convince
myself that had reason for
placing myself on guard. At last
sheet Of electric flame threw
a light into that chamber, 50 that I saw
everything in it. Yes, gentlemen, every
object seemed preternaural, 80 wildly
was it revealed to me. There was the
stand, the bed, the old mantel, and the
two old chairs,--but gentlemen great
god, gentlemen! there stood beyond the
bed, confronting me like a horrible spec
ter, the dark, towering form of the inn
keeperl I have seen many sights that
have chilled my blood, and have passed
through many perils, but the sight of
that shadowy form, the great hand un
raised with glittering knife, and the
|murderous gray eyes fastened like two
|Idevilish fire balls. upon me-that sight
|froze my blood in nay veins, and made my
hair to stand on end. For q moment was
Ihelpless, but as the lightning went out,
leaving us both in blacker darkness than
before, / felt the blood surging back into
1my veins; and at the same insant the
voice of the inn keeper. which vird with
the thunder in its power, demanded my
surrender."
/ Just at this point of the narrative, a
gust of wind and rain shook the inn as if
| it would take it from its foundations, and
this was followed by terrific bolt tbc i