The Mineral argus., 1883-11-08
STRANGE STORY.
Olive Harper's Experience in a New
York Hotel.

went to the Metropolitan hotel in New
York, which Is situated at the corner OF
Broadway and Prince streets, and was
assigned TO room "242." This room
fronted on Prince street and was about
10 feet wide by IS long, with an alcove
Tor the bed adjoining the main hall,
while a narrow hall led from the main
hall 20 the room by the side Of the al
] am thus particular in describing
the Don because it has a direct bearing
upon the story | shall relate.
The room has but one window and
bedside that is the fireplace, and both
together take up the entire wall space.
An o~ld-mshioned bureau stood by the
window on the left hand on entering the
room. A stationary wash-stand, with a
movable gas burner above, was placed
between the bureau and the door lead.
ing iuto the little hall. A rather faded
Brussels carpet covered the floor, and a
small oval handicapped table stood in
the center Of the room. A couple of
e~asy-chairs and two plain chairs also
stood about. On the Tight-hand side Of
the room was a wardrobe near the foot
OF the bed, just outside the %alcove, and
between hat and the fireplace was a
lounge. This completed the furnishing
of the room.
/ had arrived from a railroad Journey
and was very tired, but in superb health.
l never was one likely to indulge in
vision; and wish it distinctly understood
that ! am not a spiritualist, and do not
believe in spiritual manifestations in any
way. l relate what / have to say Just az
it happened, leaving the explana-
ton to any n who car explain
it.
1 arrived, as / say. and was gwen this
room | had my dinner served IN the
room, and sat there until midnight writ
ing letters, and hen calling the bell boy
and giving him the letters. | closed and
locked the outer hall door, and then the
inner one, and after looking at several
photographs of friends, l left them and
my writing material on the table. and
went to bed. assuring myself that there
was no possibility of any one entering
h loom by the window. There were
no transOms, only a sort of win lowblind
slatwork over the head of the bed for
air. / left the gas turned up slightly.
and the little table by the side of the
stationary wash-stand, where | had
drawn it for the sake of the light.
there being no other burner in the
room.
Being very healthy, tired, and not
troubled by a bad conscience or diges.
ton, | went to sleep almost as o as |
was comfortably settled in bed, and i
do not know how long | slept. Sudden.
ly l awoke and sat bolt upright in bed,
and saw two men i'm the room. The
nunf Vyua hrfUhf nn1 Hhnw - a..a.N
at the right-hand side Of the room at the
foot Of my bed. One wa on the sofa
and the other on a chair, and the little
marbie-topped table was between them,
and on this table they were PLAYING
euchre. | heard no words, but knew il
was euchre, because / understood that
fairly well myself
He who was sitting, or rather reclin-
ing on the sofa was " delicate boxing
man, like one in poe nth, and he
was dressed in a lightsu. + clothes. He
had thln, redish hair and struggling
beard. His forehead was unusually
broad and high. and the rest of his face ,
was so thin that the pointed beard gave
him a peculiar look. His hands we're &
long and thin, and his left wrist was {
.mlsshapen, as If il had once been broken [
and badly set. I
The other man was Stout. dark, with /
piercing black eyes. and eyebrows which 2
to stand out straight. His hair !
straight ard thick and very black
and shining. His moustache was thick /
and dropping. At one corner of the q
amt remember ~which-was a
lEtle scar like the letter V in shape, and
his face and chin had that peculiar blue r
tinge that some dark men have when s
newly shaved. He was handsome, with. 4
He was dressed in dark clothing. y
Ihey played out one hand and had n
4 trick on the next, when 1 q
noticed they seemed angry and quarrel "A
ing, though l heard no sound, and in an 4
INST ant the dark man quickly drew a a
knife and stabbed the other in the left II
Tie knife penetrated to the very h
hit. lie shiyered a little, his ewes closed
he was dead. Then the other one II
rose and lifted up the inert right ar M i
drew II forward, and claspad tn a b.
n around the handle Of the knife
M pushed the table closer until il held b
ne elbow Of the dead man in such a DO \
l1oh as would keep the arm from fall y
ng again. Then be gathered up the y
4Ius' put them into his pocket. took up a,
ns hat, and in an instant The whole =,
icene bad disappeared, and l fell back -
morning, wv UNI" p
l might give a long description of my 4,
errors and work up a thrilling tale. bnt =
l am simply narrating facts I mnst =,
say thai l was not frightened. | was ~
more surprised than anything else. and y
ne whole took place so Suddenly that / 81
iad not time TO get frightened until il b.
vas al over, and when / awoke Ia the -
It had almost passed from NV y
Aind, as | thought it but a dream. But =
men rose and wen into The room I a.
~ that the table stood by the side Of y
lounge and al my photographs and T.