The Wahpeton times., 1890-07-24
THE MYSTERY OF THE INN.

THE MYSTERY OF THE INN.
1t was in July, and the night was
dark and stormy, with livid flashes
cflightning and peals of thunder that
made the earth tremble.
1had ridden all day long, and it
was with thankful feeling at last
that l alighted from my jaded horse
land entered the welcome inn at H.
Not a soul was in sight; q lamp
was burning on a little table in the
hall, but all the rooms were dark and
silent, save when the thunder made
the windows rattle, and the wind
sang wild song around the gables
or the lightning made fiery track
as it flashed through space.
You could scarcely call H town;
it did not boast two hundred inhab.
itants, and these retired at nightfall
and left the streets to the darkness.
But had never found the inn de-
serted at this hour, and 1 was at O
loss to account forit.
"Hello!" l shouted, with all my
might, stamping vigorously on the
oaken floor and knocking on the
table with the butt of my whip. els
this graveyard"
But there was no answer.
Iwent from room to room, knock
ing on all the doors.
They were locked and there was no
response.
Then, greatly wondering, I walked
to the front again, where my horse
stood, still painting from his long
journey.
l saw a man and woman walking
hurriedly toward the inn. The man
carried a lantern in one hand and q
musket in the other.
SIS this the fellow?" he asked,
bringing the light to bear on me,
and lowering his rifle from his shoul-
der.
"God bless us!" exclaimed the wom-
an, whom l recognized as Mistress
Plym, the keeper of the inn. "lfit
amt Captain. No." she said, ad-
dressing the man; "this is not him
he's inside"
AS they entered said: "There is
no one here, ! assure you. have
been knocking on the doors and call
ing for nearly half an hour. There
was not soul in the house when I
arrived"
'Oh. but there u.s." said the land.
lady. "He went in the room and
locked himself in. He's q strange
man to me, and he acts stranger
than he looks. He said he was going
to die at twelve o'clock. want no
dead men in my house."
Twas interested; but saw theman
with the lantern, who was the town
watchman, looked frightened. "What
room is he in?" I asked.
''The one at the end of the pas
sage" said the woman, in low
voice. "Do see if you can make him
open the door,"
Followed by the watchman, 1 pro-
ceeded to the room and knocked
loudly on the door.
There was no response.
'"The house is on firel" shouted.
"Open the door, if you would save
yourself"
No answer.
"Get an axe" said to the watch
man, "and we will break the door
down."
"Yes," said Mistress Plym, break
it if you will. I'll have no dead man
in my housed"
"Will you open the door?" shout
ed again. But there was no sound
within.
Crash! and the lock was shivered-
the door few back with a bang.
At little table in the middle of the
room, his head bowed in his hands,
sat man. He raised his head wear
lily as we entered; his face was as pale
as death, his eyes had q wild and
hunted look.
"Why should you break in on me
in this fashion?" he said. "Have !
not paid my reckoning? What do
you want with me?'
II want you to leave the house."
said the landlady, flinging some sill
yer on the table. "There's the mon
ey you paid me; I'll have no dead
men in hero!'
leave the room," I whispered
Mistress Plym; "I'll remain here with
him and see what the trouble is."
She withdrew with the watchman.
closed the door after them and sat
down on the bad. as theroom did not
afford another chair.
''Is there anything can do for
your" I asked the man, whose pale.
sad face excited my sympathy.
Nothing" he replied, "unless you
will leave me alone. 1 came here to
die.'
"But you don't look like a diving
man." ! said. "If you will conflde IN
me, perhaps ! can help you.'
Icould zee that he was suffering
from some great mental trouble.
III you'll make the door iast,'' he