The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-01-19
A TALE WItH A MORAL.

Ten years ago, while travelling for one
of the largest country houses in Sheffield
had occasion to visit one of the largest
towns in Lancashire, and put up at the
hotel called the Kings Arms.
The hotel stood in one of the principal
streets of the town, and for this reason,
as well as the exceptional advantages il
beld out, it was great resort for COM
mercial men.
But this was the first time / had put
up at the Kings Arms, and only went on
this occasion out of curiosity to see the
commodious and well appointed house,
partake of the sumptuous and inexpen-
sive dinners, and to be introduced to one
of the most generous of landlords. that
some of my fellow-travelers had for years
never ceased telling me about.
And let it be said that I was not dis
appointed; on the contrary, the half of
the neatness of the house had not been
told me.
But the night slept there I had an
adventure which shall never forget -
nor, what is more, some Of my friends
who were called in to my aid-until the
latest day of my life.
was then just thirty, active, vigor-
GUS and healthy and had for years ceased
to dream of the great future which
awaited me, or to build any of those
magnificent "castles in the air." only to
be pulled down as soon as constructed.
In a word. the trials and vicissltudes
which I had undergone in journeying
from place to place, and being brought
in contact with all manner of people, in
pursuit of my peculiar calling, had trans
formed a temperament naturally sensi-
tive into one of those passive and sense
entities, that no matter what happened, Il
always felt like saying with the inspired
divine, ''None of these things move me"
But with all my experience and boast
ed knowledge of my innermost self, l
question whether anyone OF my readers
would have turned out such coward or
given way to fear to the extent did on
that eventful evening
Business at the time 1 speak of was
fourishing, money was plenty, and
everybody whom l came in contact with
seemed to be getting along finely in the
world.
] had been absent from Sheffield about
two weeks, and had met with moderate
success.
1t was in the month of November, and
the day referred was cold and unpleas-
ant.
So on my return to the hotel after a
light supper, l retired to my room,
where cheerful fire was burning on the
hearth.
/ looked over my accounts and pre-
pared to retire.
The bed in which slept was large and
roomy, of old-fashioned kind, setting low
on the floor.
Why l mention this you will soon see.
This bed contained the sequel to my
night adventure.
I blew out the light and crept under
the covers.
No sooner was / in bed than the con-
seriousness of other presence in the room
impressed me-
So forcible was the impression that
a feeling of abject fear, something to
which l am very seldom liable, came
over me.
heard no sound at the time, saw moth
ing; and yet the certainty of the pres
ence of some one in that room other than
myself was borne in on me indisputably.
So nervous had l now become that l
at once determined to rise and investi-
gate, and thus put an end to my fear and
uncertainty.
1 had barely made up my mind to do
this when a grating sound from under
the bed aroused my fears to the highest
pitch.
1 cautiously sat up in the bed; the
sound seemed to come directly from un-
der me.
The perspiration started out in cold
drops on my forehead.
There could be no mistake; some mid
night assassin was concealed under my
bed.
Summoning up all my courage, I
managed to get out of bed and relight
the lamp. L.,
Then I spoke in q husky voice, with
my back to the bed
''If anyone is concealed under this
bed, contemplating robbing or numbering
me, let him at once come ont and face
me like q man."
No answer.
I crept nearer my dangerous couch,
and ventured to look down, but not un-
der.
A low, unearthly, inhuman growl in
duced me to start back.
This was horrible; this was, indeed.
unbearable.
dared not look under that bed. I
could not do so.
l determined to dress as quickly az
possible, lock the door on the outside,
.rd inform nv landlord that either his