The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-09

posed Of.
.Tho crazy old stairs crenked a good deal
as We vent up them, but the room looked
exceedingly cosy, for the great logs were
BmoulderinQ in the chimney, and cast out
agreeable heat. In all the corners, and
hanging from the beams, were many dingy
cobwebs. the work of generations of
houses evil reputation. Save these
cobwebs. my mattress, a couple Of chairs,
and a small round table upon which stood
supper and the good bottle of HeltinRer.
the room was u~nfurnished.
"As n further aid to courage J. had pro-
and, of course, had my pipe.
my friends. having cast an approving
glance around the room, sat Town smoking
for a few minutes, then babe me guten
abend and quite nacht, and left me to my
meditations.
II listened to their heavy boots rs they
went stump. stump, stump down the
stairs, and to the street door as it shut to
with a bang.
II was alone in the house of evil repute.
"'Stay n Bit said to myself; this is
perhaps a joEe. a trick, and 1T will be with
deal. Well, the pistol will give an account
of them; but / will make myself an safe as
/ cam
$50 1 took from my pocket a screw
driver and a paper of big screws, and with
q quiet smile at my " cunning-for OF
these screws had sald nothing to any one,
proceeded forthwith to screw up the door.
"Ihe door made fast, l walked oun the
room and carefully took stock of it. There
was a small corner cupboard. L opened
this; nothing there but spiders, their webs,
and the carcasses OF their victims.
Q the other side OF the fireplace was a
very low door, about the height OF my
shoulder. Another cupboard, l thought.
and endeavored, for a long time without
success, to pry it open. When at last it
yielded. | discovered with some surprise, a
step and another low door,, evidently
strongly nailed up, and which. from Its APP
pearance, had been for ages in the same
condition.
This discovery gave me for a
what the ladies describe as u turn What
a strange. thing l SAID to myself a pas
sage leading to s0mewhere; just like these
haunted chambers usually have. However,
l VIII take good care that no one makes use
and SO closing the low door, L proceeded
to make it fast with soEle more of my great
screws. AS did SO, and was driving the
screws home, felt a queer sensation from
my right had to my elbow, something like
a faint electric shock; pressed on the nerve
somehow SAID, ana continued my work.
This done, had my supper, III my, pipe,
and drank the half OF my vine. The chimes
OF st: C~h'1stopher's tower startled me,
sounding the hour OF eleven. was, bow
ever, in a peaceful frame OF mlnd without
the least fear OF anything human or super,
natural, and i gazed. placldly at the red
smoulderlng logs. II pulled my pipe IN
peace.
suddenly. however, Inc TACT that the
hour OF mlanlRht would soon approach gave
me Just a little shlyer. quickly quenched
the feellng with a crop OF my eau'de-vle.
nevertheless. L thought, there Is no use
In sitting up a may just as we'll go to
BED, then l shall, without doubt, fall asleep,
know of nothing till tomorrow morning,
and be able to go home with flying coiors.
Accordingly L prepared for rest, and, as
can never sleep well WI n my clothes on,
pe'i "n OH ahi ~ NY tas,h a'.it f,o T'.h .he exSepu.on
OF my snlrt' tooR d maj urlnK OF tne eau
de-vle, lalo READY my pistol ana lay down
upon my mattress, drawing q single blanket
over me.
lay with my rect turned toward the
glowing, embers. which dltfused grateful
neat ana gave suincient llgnt TO enable me
10 discern the oo]ects; such as they were, IN
the chnmbe after l mad e~xtlngulshed my
candl The feeling OF security, born OF
the 1act tnat l had securely screwed up the
only two doors which opened INTO the room,
dld It's work, ana n short time fell asleep:
i cannot tel now long l slept. All
know Is that 1 seemed to wake up from a
feeling OF cold, as II some one were blowing
upon me with a PAIR or bellows; rubbed
my eyes, remembered where was, and ex-
perienced q slight feellng OF unhapplness to
ma tnat the night had not passed over,
ana mat was SILL IN the haunted cham
Der:
Inc hre was All put dead, the moon, as
could see through the uncuftalned window,
seemed 10 be plunglng her way among
ereat banks ana masses OF cloud, the room
was htfully lighted here and there with q
strange twilight OF moon and ire.
somehow my eyes liked themselves on
the low door on the side OF the hearth.
Could It be possibie! was That door open
lng! NO; impossible! had screwed 1T up
too tightly for that.
Yet something strange was taking place.
Whether the door was opening or some
thing was coming through 1T 1 could not
tell; but felt that a change was taking
place, and sat up IN my bed In Silent terror,
with that peculiar sensation Ill my body
which persons OF an imaginative DISPOSE
ton are plensed to coll "goosef1esh.'
FIXING my gaze firmly upon that mys-
ferrous door sat ana watched It,. Little
by little the aspect or the door changed
IL became white. bleached, as 1t we e.. nno
then. to my intense horroF, a something
seemed 70 pass through 1t ana to stand II
font OF 1t. Yes; that something gradually
assumed shape ana proportion. l could see
the head, the body. the arms; the form was
that OF a man. Ihen, while my halr stood
upright upon my head with terror, L notice.