Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-24

travellers, which these kniehts-errAnt % trade
are very snious 20 avoid paying. Hence 10 10
that they Try 20 arrange IL 20 show their goods
70 the local merchants in private and secret
way, ihis long room, with its long table. lo-
Gated In remote part Of the building towhich.
beng a public house, there is general and
ready access. Is exactly the thing suited for
their purpose. The proprietor Of the hotel
more than winks st il. as il bring, a great deal
OF custom 70 his establishment and hence the
incentive 70 invent reasons for the existence in
this spot Of the table. Good niehti It's late.
and time TOR us both 20 be In bod"
IL ecds late. The sound Of footsteps and The
ouzE OF conversation. which USUALLY attend a
puoic mouse, had died away. Quiet had stolen
over even the noise OF hotel life. But was
destined 10 have yet another visitor. Apoloets-
ing Tor the lateness of the call hy saving he
had not learned was in town until he was on
his way home, he proceeded 10 Law before me
the business that had induced him 30 press in
so near midnight he then rose 20 depart aud
casting a significant glance around the room.
ne SAID; Il wish you sound sleep and pleasant
long table,
answered. had heard much Of the rariou.
services assigned 10 the table, but nothing that
would be likely 20 disturb nv sleep or cloud
NV dreams -
'Well!" he rejoined. no doubt Won are
man OF strong nerve; but. as little supesstitious
~ an am would not Ike to pass the night in
How SOP" asked. what Il the meaning ,f
all thisg Tell me: 1 insist"
well. said he. after something ~ N nausa
''if you must know il. for YOU DO not sesu vi
TO have been told the truth. il is this: During
the winter just passed a mysterious disaa.. has
prevailed in this town. MANY 81 onr mo-,
prominent citizens were attacked by IL ana
not few OF them were carried of il SWIM
toms entirely puzzled our physicians. and an
.heir efforts to arrest it's progress, or 10 save
their patients, were in vain. Consultations
were held and advice sought from a distance.
but without avail. Some of the transient cuests
at this house succumbed TO the fatal .course
and at first this long table became the repori.
tory on which their remains were laid. until
communication could be had with their friends
as to their interment. But at length, il was
suggested. that dissection OF the bodies az IA.
victims might reveal the nature Of the malady
The hostility of the people in general 70 such
proceeding, especially in the country Ia well
known. II done at all. it had TO be done in
secret, and nowhere in n neighborhood where
it Is difficult 30 conceal anything could this be
so well secured as in this ROOM way back iu
the upmost story Of the hotel Now Won know
the true use of the long table," Saving this
he hurried of, after the clock had struck the
hour of IL
BY this time my imagination. IL not NV fears
began TO be highly excited Ny first idea was
TO hunt up the landlord and make him give
me another room, AZ II would be impossible for
me TO spend the night in that one. But every
body IN the house seemed to have retired. the
nights were out; deathlike silence prevailed;
and did not know where 20 look for him in
the dark or whom 10 ask 10 direct me. Besides
was tired and greatly in need of rest so
threw myself on the bed and tried TO get 20
sleep, and Notwithstanding the fearful story +
had just listened 20. nature overcame NV ex-
cited feelings. and before long L sank into a
doze. Though troubled and ftful NV repose.
and disturbed by awful dreams. siumbered
ON IN fashion, until was at length half
awakened by a sound like the rustlins of a
loose robe or woman's dress. opened my
inquire, fitting around the room. clad i'm
the conventional white ghostly draperv.
AT length, thought /. with all
my contempt for spiritual apparitions,
1 am come 20 experience the reality Of what 4
have always been so incredulous A yeritable
phantom fifty revisits the haunts where SO
many human bodies have been subjected %
the ruthless stab of the dissecting knife. I
made desperate attempt TO keep quiet. but at
length, despite all my efforts at repression, O
cry OF horror burst from my lips. II was
echoed by a scream from the spectral form,
which now stood up,
Mot like thin ghost, or disemoodled creatures.
but with It's bones, and flesh, and limbs. and fear
''oh. SIR" il finally exclaimed. II beg your
pardon, sir but did not know ANYBODY was in
the room. They did not tell me. got up
early, as always do on ironing DAYS, 10 get
ahead with my work before breakfast and as
that rs the table we keep for doing our ironing
on. came in here with my basket of Clothes
and did not know anybody was here / beg
your pardon, sirl Please excuse me-"
-. And SO, at last, was revealed the mystery Of
"the long table"