Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-10
CHAPTER ILL

CHAPTER Ill.
One morning in early October, nearly
two years after left Liverpool that memo
rable night, / found myself in the little
city of Ogdensburg, n. y, past which the
majestic st. Lawrence flows with a sleepy
movement quite in harmony with the spirit
of the old town on It's southern shore. All
this time / had been vainly beating about
the western hemisphere IN quest OF my
uncle. lie had left Detroit many years be-
fore. but | CHANGED TO meet number of
men there who had known hum we'll.
Although he had enjoyed q very large prac-
tice and wide reputation tor skiu be had
made no friends that l could hnd. lie was
a man of few words, they told me, and was
never seen about the city except III the dis
charge of his professional duties. Various
and conflicting opinions were expressed
as to whittier he had gone, IN testing
which | had visited no less than
twenty cities, making careful inquiries, es-
pecially among medical men. Occasionally
/ struck what seemed to be promising
clue, which only increased my confusion
and left me more hopelessly IN the dark.
had reported my movements TO MIR. Earl
as often as once a week. and l received
letters from him frequently, encouraging
me to continue the search and enclosing
money with which to do so. But although
| had written often TO Hester Chaffin no
word from her ever reached me. L was
tired Of this fruitless quest among
strangers 80 far from the little that | held
dear. and was on the point OF giving up
VIII en- this paragraph fell under my eye IN
a Montreal newspaper:
MYSTERIOUS CHARACTER.
Zone who has ever passed the city of
Ogdensburg by steamer will no doubt re-
call large gambrel-roofed house standing
near the waters edge, Just out of town,
surrounded by towering trees and enclosed
on all sides by wall nearly as high as the
caves of the building. The wall suggests
an asylum, q house of detention, or some
like place set apart for the unfortunate
members of society. In reality, however,
It is the residence of mysterious re-
cluse of the name of Lane, who shut
himself up there nearly eighteen years ago
and has since been rarely seen. IL was
built after his own plans, they say, when
he came TO Ogdensburg with his wife,
who died soon afterward. Nobody knows
whence he came or anything OF his past
history. He is apparently total stranger
here below, holding no intercourse with
the world beyond that enclosure. His wife
is said TO have been o woman of great
beauty, and her death doubtless threw
him into a morbid state of mind, from
which he has never rallied. Many years
ago he Is known 10 have bought a full
crown African lion from q travelling me-
nagerie. and soon after he erected the wall,
presumably out of regard for the public
safety. Passers along the street have
caught an occasional glimpse of him
through the high gate walking IN the
grounds surrounding his house, with the
lion at his heels, apparently in complete
subsection TO its master. A dense thicket
runs along the wall on all sides within the
enclosure, which according TO local tradi-
ton is alive with rattlesnakes, bred for
some strange purpose known only TO him.
self-perhaps to make his ISOLATION more
secure.
"He is supposed to have resigned the
companionship of men for study aud
scientific research. He has no children,
and his only servant being q dear mute,
who IS almost an idiot, there is little
chance at present Of learning anything OF
his life. For more than two years nothing
has been seen of the mysterious master OF
the house. His disappearance would, we
think, be a legitimate subject of lnvestlga-
| ton by the authorities of the town. May
he not have been eaten by the hon OF
| killed by the rattlesnakesl Who knows"
My heart was beating fast, and my hands
shook az If stricken with palsy before had
| finished the paragraph. The strange old
night was probably the mute servant to
which the article referred. IN an hour
was on the way to Ogdensburg. quite con-
| fdent that the issue of my wandeTings was
| at hand. | Preached that town next morn
| ING nearly two years, as have said, after
| the beginning OF my journey 70 the New
World; Not stopping TO breakfast even,
| busy imagination had already pictured fol
itself The first townsman saw directed
me TO the place.
Follow the turnpike" said he. asa
mild or more-straight ahead. You'll know
| it when " git there. - queer place an
STAINS of by itself"
The man was going my way, evidently to
| begin his days work, for IL was then early
in the morning, and l walked along with
| him.
Folks say" he continued, "them
| grounds Is full of hoiious reptyles, an rve
| heard fellows tell queer things they've seen
| when passln' there at night-red lights
a-hyiug about an spooks at the winders.
| AM one night when Uncle Bill JemsOn was
| comm down the turnpike they was storm
come up, and ldst as he got opposite the
| big iron gate they was flash lightnln'--
an Bill saws he see the old man. his long
white hair a-hying in tn wind, an hon
standin' there in front q tP house. III
flash was out'n mint an Bill whipped up
his bosses an sent 'em clear 10 Mills's
tavern ON the dead run" said he, laughing
as il il were a good Joke.
they don't nobody like tn place mel
tn man, though dou' know why, fer no
ones ever passed word with him in these
parts. There It's. over yender with the
pines around IL an tn high wall, !" said he,
pointing with his finger. But my eye had
already discovered the low-built, rambling
house on the high banks OF the river well
In the distance, and had recognized it al
once.
Leaving my companion at the next turn
ia tho road I walked luEriedly. on aud
when / had reached the big iron gate
stopped and peered through il. a gravel