The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-09-11

hiding-place, secret chamber This
wall is unduly thick. There seems q
space between your room and mine
difficult to account for. / walked
round the house before it was dusk.
The course of the stonework is broken
into, a fissure appears to have been
filled up. / have been tapping along
that side"
"You were searching for panel that
sounds hollowi"
III have searched"
"And you can find one sounding diff.
ferentlyi"
NO" he answered grimly "I think
you had better be getting to bed or
you will be having colds. I was Just
turning in myself. thought l would
examine the room by daylight"
Happily we were overpowered. We
had decided that it would be impossible
to sleep, but drowsiness overlook us
both.
When we got down Alfred was
awaiting us. His face did not invite
questioning, SO l thought l would let
him speak.
"Tve had a look round, inside and
out. should like 10 go into your
room. If I find nothing more, l shall
give it up. But / am not going to be-
lieye in ghosts for all that" he added
quickly.
at is very incomprehensible
thing" l returned.
~ fee! that it only wants clue, and
then all would be clear as daylight
"But theu," | persisted, .'there is
finding the clue"
'Of course, you believe in the ghost" I"
said he, acidly.
u didn't say So" responded as
tartly.
Now, come interrupted Cora,
"dont you two quarrel over it. l
shall be thankful when we get away"
Alfred examined the walls in our
bedroom, tapping it as he had done in
his own room; but, although he was
convinced that the wall was unduly
thick, he had TO admit himself beaten.
"You can go to Mr.. Fortescue and
explain to him that we have decided
not to stay If there is anything 10
pay
"Payl shall not pay anything. He
ought to have put in the advertisement
that there was the unusual accessory Of
splritrapping."
Alfred was not yet restored to good
humor. He returned from town though
in better temper.
81 have seen Mr.. Fortescue. He is
not half a bad fellow. He says he
should never think of levying black
mail. The house, he says, is uncanny.
He wishes it was blown up"
We were seated at breakfast at
Shrewsbury, Cora at the head of the
table-and very nicely she posed as
mistress, l proudly assert--Alfred hid
den behind morning paper, when sud
denly Alfred dashed down his news
paper, so startling Cora she upset hel
cup. He raised the paper
"Listen!" calculated he impressive
ly:
"'CURIoUs DISCOVERY IN AN OH
HousE.-The workmen employed in thu
demolition of an old stone residence
near Barton-upon-Humber Qong a con
spicuous object on the Humber) bank
have exposed to view genuine secre
chamber. The house has long enjoyed
the reputation of being haunted, sue
cessive tenants complaining of noctur
nal noises. A couple of skeleton
brought to light and other relics giv'
. color to a tradition that terrible trag
edy was, at far back time, enacted il
the old house. A competent authority
3 declares the bones to be those of NAL,
/, and female, and an indentation on th,
larger skull points to violent death.
"Now then, Alfred said l, will
: some self-complaisance, show are yo,
!, going to get over that T.
7 "Bah !" returned he impatiently AM
4 obstinately, l am not going to believ
7 in ghosts yet
d "How do you account for thos
e noises !" persisted. "You will admi
that you heard the whip on the door 7
a at is a mystery, and, as all suct
! must remain one," said Cora firmly.