The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-12-25
way in an inaudibls whisper. he vas

even more agitated than ].
Meanwhile the vibrations Of the bell
its fantastic echolng, its mad demonia
dancing above our heads, had eniIel!
ceased, It hung motionless as II held b
an invisible clasp, 1t dRWned upon mi
gradually that we were yeTglng on an up
thought, reused 70 the highest possible
pitch, Yet Notwithstanding this-in spit
OF the fact that was in q measure pre-
pared for what the cavity might contain
when It was finally revealed to me, illu
mined by the lamplights spectral bril-
lance, started back, trembling, shrink
ing, utterly unnamed by the sight tina
greeted me.
To describe It accurately would make
picture too revolving TO pass within the
regulations demanded by fiction. And 4
being my purpose 10 present these fact
in the guise OF romance, ! will conant
myself to Q few details only. Standing
upright in the cavity was naked, crpm'
bling skeleton, so iRconceiyably loathsome
in appearance that 10 my dying day
shall hold the recollection Of it undimmed
in memory. Its grimning jaws confront
ed us derlsively, and one tieshleBH hand
clutched something-What could not i'm
mediately tell. The doctor peerlng into
the frighttul hole, thurat the lamp as far
up as he was able, and simultaneously
with the action the golden bell began TO
sway back and forth in its dusky corner,
slowly at first and then more rapidly,
until we were almost deaiened by the
clamor, It must have been precisely
midnight at that instant, for mingling with
the hoarse dissonance came sweet, silyery,
joyful chimes from the village church, an
nounCing the dswning OF the feast Of the
Nativity, Incapable OF speech, ! stood
rooted to the floor, my hands cold and
clammy, my brain on fire.
| was reused by the doctors voice,
''Lsavitt," he said, in an sWe.Htruck
tone, I'VE have brought 8 crime to light,
Can this, indeed" he added mourniully,
"bs all that remains Of Mayhew-this in
desCrlbable horror walled up by his ssSas-
SIM"
"rhe bell The bell Do you hear IT,"
/ almost shrlsked. "In Gods name what
makes 1t ring SOL"
"Lnok p rejoined the doctor. Again he
cast tho rays Of the lamp high up within
the opening, and TO my unspeakRb!e con-
sternstion l Jaw that the skeletons up.
raised hand was tightly twisted about a
wire. The wire oil the golden bell. Even
now as looked, fascinated, enthralled, a
alight motion, caused, perhaps, by the air
in the room, seemed to run through the
ghAstly frame Of bones that touch would
probably resolve into dust, while the bell
rang louder and more wildly. RangP
Nay, screamed, moaned, shrieked, bias
phemed like the despairlng cry Of q de-
mon.
"Come, Lesylttl" said tho doctor brus.
lunly, as he wiped his brow, "don't stand
here US II you were ready to faint"
Just then sudden noise behind us
caused US both to wheel sharply around
sud meet tho terrified glance oil my vile,
y no was standing motionles and pale on
The Threshold OF her room, pointing with
,ne outstretChed iorsAn2er 70 the open
panel,
"Minnie! You hsreI" l cried. go
pack to your bed, my darling" I darted
Onward to her side TO lead her into her
chamber, but az reached the door, she
.ried to speak, staggered and fell forward
IN q swoon.
snow you have done I'll Ihope you
are satisfied" growled the doctor, who
was once more the quiet, collected, pro.
Iessional man. "Waking up a poor sick
woman with your cursed racket and that
Satanic bell" He shook bis fist OF the
bell and said, "Leavitt, you're BRUTE"
did not remind him that l was in no
way responsible for the BELLS actions.
Still too much excited to collect my scat
tered senseg, l left Andrews to attend to
Mimic while pursued my search. AS !
searched the cavity again something white
that lay in the bottom Of 1t attracted my
It was a fine linen handker.
chief, blook.stained and with name writ
ten upon II In one corner. / expert.
enced an odd sensation as / recognized
the name as that Of old Mr.. May hew's
nephew,
The whole thing became clear at once.
The young man must have effected an
entrance 10 the house, without the knowl-
edge Of the inmates, on the day or even.
ing oil the murder. lie had surprised the
old man, quarreled with him, perhaps,
and killed him; or the crime may have
been committed in cold blood for the pur.
pose Of securing the property. The villain,
aware Of the existence Of the cavity be-
hind the sliding panel, which he alter.
wardu learned had been used by the old
man as a secret receptacle for his papers
and legal documents, had nailed up his
victim and nailed the moulding securely
TO the wood work. But in his haste and
probable fear Of discovery while engaged
upod his horrible task, he had dropped
his handkerchief into the hole, and had
allowed one hand Of the corpse 10 become
entangled In the boll.wire. This last idea
was the doctors, although hesitate to &C.
cept 1t. Granting that the hand did attach
itself 10 the wire Of the golden bell, in
what manner was the extraordinary ring.
ing To be accounted forp l put this
question 10 Andrews, who replied that
he believed that Currents OF air traversed
the interior Of the hole In some way and
shook tie Rkeleton hand, making the
wire yibrate.
must not forget to state that Mayhew's
nephew, who had gone abroad little
dreaming Of the damaging evidence he
had left behind, was eventually through
the unremitting endeavors Of Andrews and
mysell, brought to Justice and convicted
OF the crime OF murder In the frst degree
Regarding the actual reason Of the
strange phenomena we witnessed on that
memorable Christmas eve, |, who have
made such subjects the study Of my life,
do not hesitate to express my conviction
that the ringing Of the bell proceeded from
Mayhem himself, who, from the realm Of
shadows, cried out Tor vengeance on his
murderer.
ProotH Alas, that OF course 10 lacking.
But for US, who arc not materialists in the
scientific acceptance Of the word, many
things incapable Of being demonstrated
are, nevertheless, known and felt intul-
lively 10 be true. For my part | shall al
ways be OF the opinion that Msyhew's I'm.
happy spirit, seeking 10 make itself heard
and understood, succeeded finally In 90
doing through the fundamentally Of the
golden bell.
A Valuable Medical Treatise.
Tho edition for 1857 Of the sterling Medical An
nuAl, known as IIOste,ttFa Almanac, IL now Ieady
and may 10 obtained free Of cost, Of dtuggi u aud
H.. 4 ~ faIS "A