Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-05-17
THE STRANGE HOUSE.

Tho detective had dropped the papcr
telling how Salvatore Cavalicrc, the Long
Branch Italian, made his dwelling stare
house of plumber.
"Every house holds its mystery, he be-
gan tritcly.
Then he told the story Of the house on
West Tenth street. not far from Fifth ave-
nue.. He could not specify more particu
larly, he declared
II was detailed to watch it, he went
on, "bccause there was something odd
about its tenant. I most respectable house
in most respectable neighborhood, it bad
been sublcu to ono william Smith, u small
dark man with f(R rign accent.
"Hc had paid tial months rent in ad-
vance in lieu of reference, and as the dull
summer season was coming on the agent
had not quibbled over this slight viola
ton of his rule requiring references
Whence he came, what his trade no one
could say. The rent had been paid in Eng
fish gold.
"After Mr.. Smith had moved in-he
rented furnishcG-tho strange proceedings
began which attracted the ncighbors' at
tcntion. Just after shutdown mufllcd men
began toAppcar at the door, which would,
open, revealing the diml7 lit hall. The
visitor entered Now the peculiar feature
of the case was that no one ever came out
while Mr.. Smith existed apparently indie
pendent of the butcher and baker. If you
rang, the manservant simply told you
that his master was not in. But other per
sons evidently found him in. Three or
four persons passed that threshold daily,
never to reappear over it. OF course the
ifrl,h MT
tales of ghosts. If yOu went and scanned
the faces of those who entered, you found
them to be apparently gentlemen, with
thin, intellectual faces.
"Going up the steps the visitor would
peer about as if fearing observation. One
of the double hall doors stood closed
While he waited he invariably stepped be-
hind this scSecn until the other door was
opened. Then it shut on him. You might
wait all night and the next day, as have
done, but the visitor never reappcarcd.
The house, heavily suffered presented
an impassive front to the street that told
nothing of its mystery.
Naturally 1 INDUCED in theories of
murder or other crime being committed
there. But there were no reports of miss
ing men and newspaper personals gave no
clew. Nor did we have any complaints or
other evidence justifying a raid. Finally
decided to take the matter into my own
hands did this by boldly going up the
steps third time-I had been told twice
by the strange servant that Mr.. Smith was
out. On this occasion l followed close on
the heels of one of the visitors, who proba-
bly, was destined never to appear again. /
rang, and after few minutes the door
was opened. Tho same servant stood there.
He was black with the regular features
belonging to East Indians or North Afri-
cans. If you ever venture as far east as
COnstantnople, you may see men of his
type in the cosmopolitan street throng.
The popularity of this man was his shin
ing black eyes, that looked me through
and through. He was in the regulation
black coat and white cravat of the house
lackcy."
Mr.. Smith,
Sees no one, he began in slightly
throw n subducd light on the stairway
"'But some one entered half minute
before me- began. On the other occa-
sions 1 had asked who this mysterious
| Smith who concealed an interesting per
sonality very cunningly under that most
commonplace name might be, what his oc-
cupation, whence he came. On both occa
sions the door had slammed IL my face.
"This time I took the pre- ltion to put
my foot over the sill in ST kh a way that
the door could not close. The man at
tempted it. L stepped inside. The door
swung into its place with a little meta lliC
click.