New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-01
Ill.
THE COMING OF ROYAL PURPLE.

III.
THE COMING ROYAL PURPLE.
At this moment the only door in the room which was
not already open burst wide lmpeed by superior
strengthen veritlbe tornado, and disclosed to his
aonished gaze very steep stairway of rude architect
urc which he fanced must lead to the remote regions
OF the servants quarters. Quite forgetting for the
moment his manned condition, and excessively aston
shed the circumstance, he walked to this door ana
looked up. II was very dark above and he could SEQ
nothing e called aloud: say, there-you up above,
whoever you but the eche OF the wards only re-
turned to his in hollow reverDerafions. lie was
about to 20 for the lamp TO eiG his inquiry when imme-
diatey immense black cat OF Wild and fierce aspect
bounded past him, followed by destructive faIl OF
mortar aud pieces of brick as from a chimney or wall
oine to rack and scuddng out into the completed
three rapid circuits OF the table, and then sprang out OF
the door with wild yellow eyes into the night
Entirely conventional" said Beverin, gazing after
this object with stunned sensation. The black cat
always plays leading role in the spook DRAMA Then
taking an explanatory view OF it, added Fits, most
likely thoroughly natural; brt how account for the
mortar business However, II is concern G. mine!"
And having again fastened this door against which he
also placed supplementary chair turned to re enter
Carrols library Again the stairway door, despite the
hindrances, thrown open with extreme agitation
Deuce take the place." said BeverlD, turning about
hotly whats the matter now Some Of Carrors old
witch ancestresses be bowling around for my dis
comGture Come down." he shouted :" aW not afraid
of you'll At this hollow hooking sound unlike any
human laugh he had ever heard but which seemed to
express dersion resounded from the darKsome aperture
Beyern shot piece OF mortar up toward tho owner OF
the mournful exclamation, but was so quickly re
warded with such cloud OF rubbish In return that lie
deemed it safe TO retreat He left the dnng-room there
fore somewhat preciptaely and tried to calm bis too
active nerves by his former cigar In vain; certain
debility seemed to have seized upon him and to render
him apprehensIve of renewed disturbances. 1t was
In inve iOata environments.
entered the entrance hall To the right OF the front door
he discovered ample Ledchanber OF which the door
stood aiar, and which with its clcanly look seemed to
invite repose Here &C least" thought Bcvern, Is
an evidence that / expected A little further
along the hall another similarly arranged became appar
emit stairway ascended from the library door into the
upstairs regions. There was however, no lamplight
visible above and in his decrept state Beyerin was not
ouite equal to mounting IL he had felt that such
step were impertinent He was now quito assured
that Carroll had left his affairs and his dome in the
hands of domestics, who had In his absence taken
French leave, and probably slipping beer or
trimming airy cotlons in the distant hall. of pleasure
At any rate they not here, nor the managing
Amelia "By the way" he said, reacctiyely, ct do
wonder where the managing Amelia IL. anyhow on on
visit perhaps" Beverlin stood in the front door and
looked ont the shading landscape. 1t was now
considerably brighter since the had struggled into
light and the superabundant clouds had drifci away
Tho four tall pine trees stood ont in the yard like grim
un.aluting sentnes The wind noaneI desoatey
through the boughs; flowers or shrnbbery or even
dogs were elsewhere visible even the black cat had
vanished; 1t was UNNECESSARILY lonely. He felt cold
SILVER creep his pack at the very eerenes OF his
situation and the prospect OF night in this house with
its falling walls and epicptic cats Not even neigh
boris house within calling dstance single light which
might indicate house, glimmering about half mile
down the road The very road itself seemed peculiarly
ultraviolet Beverin stood observing this scene. in
indfs fnptn vi diract
attention was drawn away by the manifest sound of
horse troting seemed TO issue from the opposite
direction in fact from the town. Ha said he. glee
fully. "at last! He Is really coming now. and I'm
mighty glad OF It, I'll just step inside and surprise
hlm." Having hastily hidden his baggage, therefore,
he chose an obscure position In the window by the hook
case so that his presence would not be Immediately
marked by any one entering the room He listened
Again that hollow unnatural laughter seemed TO ling
everywhere.
what an idiot am. to allow 1t to bother me-!
he said In irrtaon lot Of pigeons under the
or a croaking its dismal tune never before
ceeded In upsetng 1T is all due to the suggestion OF
CAROLS letter-piague 1T" He listened again. Yes,
there came Carroll and nearer. He would turn
down the lamp little: now he was ready. AT this
moment such n violent Mapping OF the dining-i5om
took place. followed by such crash OF brick
and mortar the shady stairway that 1t seemed to
demand his presence He sailed out there and thinking
with all his might and endeavored TO fasen down tie
bolts Alas, they would not fasteD, they had no staying
powers they seemed TO spring out! lie turned in
dsnay discover the wild black cat csreerng around
the table again. and grasping at each evolution for his
own gyratory coat-tail.
"Truy" said he, this Is the most remarkable place
ever struck! do wish Carroll would spur up little
bit" Then he took step out upon the portico
handing a view the road whence had proceeded the
sound Of the troting In the faint moonlight there
no moving object anywhere perceptibe.
~Isuppose, however," said Beyerin, he has by this
time already arrived. will just leave this domestic
animal 70 repair the brick ard mortar damage,
whilst I repair to meet my hos" He was yet
with entirely humorous view OF his predic
ament and quite removed from any isolated idea Of
albeit In sufficiently helpless and crippled
state 10 know his lack OF means for possible self
defence Imagine his surprise when lie realized that the
uoling which appeared TO be always approaching.
never recedng. but considerably overdue In arriving.
etii continued its inoBotonous klickity klack!
"wei now. this 10 very strange must confess he
sammered In bewildermcnt Returning into the library
mingled OF anger and perturbation he banged
the door after him anu rubbed his cyes 10 inance
calmness He turned the Key fortunately here was
door at least which understood the meaning Of that
mystical little Instrument lie was solacei with
momsntary assurance of confidence bat not for io'g
Scarcely had he resumed his seat before tho Wild eyes "