The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-12-18

and ! cannot help being a little ex
cited
Although there were no words of
appeal in this, the manner and sense
were of appeal, and of course there
was no denying him. The next word
uttered by him aroused my atten ton
fully.
"The second has reiere nee 10 the
shorter poem. Do you know it q.
Poe's Raven"
"Raven " / cried. "No, ! don't
know the poem, but there's stuffed
raven in the room. What does the
poem say p
'Yes, know. That is what the al
lusion is to. Shall read p
"Please."
Then he began to read on to the end
OF poem had heard before, but new
err thought of in connection with that
room, "The Raven When he had
finished he paused a moment before he
said
"You see, the allusion is to the two
lines
And tie raven, never fitting, still is sit
ting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Palas, just above my
chamber door,"
81 know said quickly-"I know.
Now what is the other poem to which
the writing on the leaden strip refers ?"
"Oh,' said he, ''it's a long poem, and
not exactly one after my heart 1t is
called Miss Kilmansegg and her Pre-.
cious Leg She had leg made of
gold. 1t is a humorous poem, and
don't care much for poems of that
kind. It's all about gold
"All right" said |. "We can get
on without the poem, | think. Aud
now, Mr.. Stainforth, will you be good
enough to accompany me to that
room?'
After protest he agreed. ] do be-
lieve he was better pleased that NOM
ent to have found out that the old man
could spout poetry than he would have
been if the missing money had been
put into his hand.
We set off for the room spoken of.
1t was most peculiar. 1t was no more
than twelve feet square. The ceiling.
walls and floor were of diugy drab
color. There was no carpet or furni-
ture of any kind, except one wooden
armchair and small table. Into the
woodwork of the DIOR had been rudely
let long narrow slip of lead,o on which
were written the words given above.
Besides the chair and table, The only
other thing in the room was a white
plaster bust on small bracket over
the door, and on the bust stuffed
raven with wings spread out wide, and
head thrust forward as if it were going
to fly down.
felt quite sure | should get some
clue to the hidden money from this
bird. 1t was as plain as possible that
these references to the poems-one
about the raven and the other about
gold-could have no other object than
to point the way by the one to the 9TH
err No man but person interested
in the house would think of going into
such room, except, indeed, it was a
person like the present owner, who had
a twist in his brain like the owner. No
one but man who knew something
about poetry could find out what was
referred to by the two inscriptions on
lead. thought l saw at glance
what the old man meant. He had
found out in some way or other that
this heir, of whom he knew little, had
taste for poetry, and made up his
mind to try if he had any gumption as
well. Bless you he had as much
gumptlon as screech-owl at midday,
| had the gumption. It's my business
to be sharp. A man with thousands a
year may be as dull as he likes. He
can pay for his dullness, and he always
does.
l first looked round carefully, and
saw that if the bird did fly be would
get somewhere near the floor, right OPP
posite where he was perched. | sound,
ed this part of the room. Nothing
there-all as solid as an anvil. | mex
tried the parts of the wall toward
which the wings pointed. No better
luck. Then l stopped and had a little
think. OF course | kept on saving
this and that to Mr. Stainforh, but
was too much interested in my exami
nation to be aole to recollect wha
now.
| made up my mind TO have a gooC
look at the bird. This, as it turne(
out nealry cost me my life.
drew the table over to the door
put the chair on the table, and ther
got up. Although had put the chai
on the table before starting upward,
had hoped to be able to make my ex
animation without mounting on tn,
latter, for I didn't think the arrange
ment secure one. But the door wa
high, and the table alone of no use. S,
up | got on the chair.
first looked carefully at everything
without using my hands, This surel,
did not help me much-did not hell
me at all, in fact. then put out m,
hand and felt everything for secre
spring or keyhole, or peg or indication
of any kind that the bust or the bir,
opened. Nothing of the kind was t
be found.
"May ] take the bird off p | asked
Mr.. Stainforth.
Certainly he answered.
He was growing impatient.
tried to lift the bird with one o
my haLds. 1t seemed firmly fixed t
the head, l took my hand away. T,
my utter astonishment, the raven stoor
ed little forward and sailed down OF
the cast.
looked in amazement. The wing
did not move, but the bird sailed for
ward for II few feet then turnin!
sharply to the right, across me, dashe,
against the wall Ny chair and tabl
toppled over, and fell heavily and wa
almost stunned for little while. Nj
Stainforth was nearly frightened ou
of his life when he saw the bird nc
only sail down from his perch, bu
change his course and make for Gel
tain part of the wall close to the foo