The Arkansaw traveler., 1882-06-25

 shutters fastened tight. the rusty hinges of the door. and all the appearance of a deserted house. rang the bell No answer Impa,ien, d, this failure. rang again 90 violently that d neighbor opened hls window.
 What do you wani::
 The lady who lives in this house. l replied.
 she died ;wo wears ago said the neighbor. .- and since then the house has been empty.
 lnpossibleE
 you have come ,o buy |. continued the neighbor. appl. 7at No I,. There is gentleman there who will gisc you the information you want
 thankedthe obliging neighbor. who shu; his window again. and went imme- diately to No I, with the hope that this person to hom was directed could help me e unravel the affair. which seemed to become more puzfling since had deter mined on solving f. My friend and l presented ourselves ai No. Ie. and NJ. Bourbon aas wonderfully polite to Us as s7on as told him ] wanted to bus-ihe property he had for sale.
 = l;s good barsa.n he said. and when you have looked al the house
 Il know t" l replied.
 You know | :. sad he turning toward me the mos; asionlshed look n the world. impossible l. is more than sIN months since myself have put my foot m II. and as have the keys pf the house in my desk Ah. beg your pardon. he quickly added. you were there before he aaae-' 's death =
 = was there ycs,crday evening. re- plicd. !" and stayed there abou, two hours n the company of charming young lady.
 ll. Bourden suddenly looked a, my trend as ]: ;o ask whether was insane. understood ll> meaning. and without oelng offended ! continued. hoping ,o make him change h.> mind about me. and wishing ;o furnish him with the most am- plc details oi lnl >isit.
 .. knoa. ,aid l. IT conclusion. that Nau place litte iali cannot glse an exact account ot the truth. but there is an unaa>werabe way et yerl- fyn. ms assertions. Or leaving the hns,se in question l could not ind my handker- chef and l ihinkel remembered having icfl Il on the ,etI In the salon. Mi YOU TaTne wi,f' ,,s. and pfaee |: II We nnd na handkerchief. ~ha; will yeu say:
 Niy dclr ca,,.aas,.->.lii M Bourdon. shall sas nothing. but l shall sell you the hoaSe at your own price.
 --I would not haze ], |; any price. sad in loW ionc io pulaurier
 M Itnulion did n, hesitate n accept my proposition. and on reaching the door triamphan,lH pointed na, ,o me oebwcbs T :hc lock.
 De you sitc m :,
 :. Not Yei.
 But ttis door h., nai been opened iar >lN mon,hs'
 Il tell you crossed ,hi, threshold yes ;crddy evening.
 We entered. Everything abnu, ,he meuruful aspect ot that house expressed descttion. ncgle-; and solitude. The walls were moaldy. a tnick dust covered lhe 'Innf. the ecihng> were tracked. and sobaebs oVerraa ihe staircase. tn en- ieans ;hc salon the first object that struck alY cNe w,.s nl handkcre hlef iyIns on the sofa
 He paused. After a tune he spoke % There my s,ery. my dear friend whai io YOU think of t,
 Are you somnambulis;. cap,ain:''
 Il don't know. l was never aware of II;
 Were you how shall say it:-a h. ile-uhcn you left the barracks with your friend pulauricr:~
 Hum' remem sr ven. little abou, H.
 II k necessary ,o enlish;en me on these ,wo pntAt- before a>kins my op!nion -ai Neur Id, cnturc. otherwise can cNplAin s;=in this w.sy--yeu @cnt ;o sleep 1tns on lour back and had bad dream.
 Captain Duchamps was killed sN months afierward in the campaign IT Italy. without having answered the i've questions