Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-03-05
CHAPTER XVIII.

Before the end of the week the manager found himself in relations with "the family" once more. A telegram from Milan an- nounced that MT. Francis Westwick would arrive in Venice on the next day, and would be obliged if Number Fourteen on the first floor could be reserved for him in the event of its being vacant at the time
 The manager paused to consider before he issued hls directions
 The renumbered room had been last let to a French gentleman. It would be occupied on the day of MT. Francis Westwicks arrival, but it would be empty again on the day after. Would it be we'll to reserve the roo,u for the special occupation of MT. Franci and when he had passed the night unsuspic . ously and comfortably ill ''No 13A," to ask him in the presence of witnesses how he liked his bed chamber7 In this case, if the reputa- tion of the room happened to be called in question again, the answer would vindicate it on the evidence of member of the very family which had first given Number Four teen a bad name. After little reflection the manager decided on trying the experi- ment, and directed that 's13An should be re- served accordingly.
 On the next day Francis Westwick arrived in excellent spirits.
 He had signed agreements with the most popular dancer ill Italy; he had transferred the charge of Mrs. Norbury to his brother Henry, who had joined him in Milan, and he was now at full liberty to amuse himself by testing in every possible way the extraordin- ary influence exercised over his relatives by the new hotel. When his brother and sister first told him what their experience had been, he instantly declared that he would go to Venice ill the interest of his theatre. The circumstances related to him contained valu- able hints for ghost drama. The title oc- cured to him in the railway: "The Haunted Hotel" Post that ill red letters six feet high, on black ground, all over London, and trust the excitable public to crowd into the theatrel
 Received with the politest attention by the manager, Francis met with disappointment on entering the hotel. "Some mistake, sir. No such room on the first floor as Number Fourteen. The room bearing that number is on the second floor, and has been occupied by me from the day when the hotel opened. Perhaps you meant No. 13A, on the first floorl It will be at your service to-morrow-a charming room In the meantime, we will | do tue best we can for you tonight"
 | man who is the successful manager of a | theatre is probably the last man in the civil ized universe who is capable of being im- pressed with favorable opinions of his fellow creatures. Francis privately set the mana- l ger down as humbug, and the story about the numbering of the room as lie.
 On the day of his arrival he dined by him. self in the restaurant, before the hour of the table d'hote, for the express purpose of questioning the waiter without being over heard by anybody. The answer led him to the conclusion that "13A" occupied the situa- tion ill the hotel which had been described by his brother as the situation of "14" He asked next for the visitors list, and found that the French gentleman who then occupied "13A" was the proprietor of theatre in Paris, per- sonally well known to him. Was the gentle man then ID the hotelt He had gone out, but
 TO BE CONTINUED.