The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-08-08
THE STRANGE HOUSE.

Branch Italian, made his dwelling store
house ofplunder.
every house holds its mystery" he be-
gan tritely.
Then he told the story Of the house ON
West Tenth street, not far from Fifth ave-
nue. He could not specify moro particu-
tarly, he declared.
"I was detailed to watch it." he went
on, "because there was something odd
about its tenant. A most respectable house
tn a most respectable neighborhood, 1t had
been sublet to one William Smith, small
dark man with foreign accent.
"He had paid six months rent in ad-
vance in lieu of reference, and as the dull
summer season was coming on the agent
bad not quibbled over this slight viola
tion of his rule requiring references.
Whence he came, what his trade, no one
could say. The rent had been paid in Eng
lish gold.
"After Mr. Smith had moved in--he
rented furnished--the strange proceedings
began which attracted the neighbors' at
tention. just after sundown muflled men
began to appear at the door, which would
open, revealing the dimly 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-
cons evidently found him in. Three or
four persons passed that threshold daily,
never to reappcar over it. OF course the
neighboring servants whispered marvellous
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 IL fearing observation. One
of the double hall doors stood closed.
While he waited he invariably stepped be-
hind this screen until the other door was
opened. Then 1t shut on him. You might
wait all night and the next day, as have
done, but the visitor never reappeared.
The house, heavily shuttered, presented
an impassive front to the street that told
nothing of its mystery.
Naturally 1 indulged 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 raid. Finally
decided to take the matter into my own
hands. 1 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 followed close on
the heels Of one of the visitors, who proba-
bly, was destined never TO appear again.
rang, and after a few minutes the door
was opened. The 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
Constantinople, 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
Iackey"
"'Mr. Smith,
"'Sees no one, he began in slightly
foreign accent. A heavily shaded lamp
threw a subdued 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 in my face.
This time l took the precaution to put
my foot over the sill in such way that
the door could not close. The man at
tempted it. 1 stepped inside. The door
swung into its place with little metallic
click.
az fancied the black eyes snapped an
grily, but the man motioned me civilly
into an adjoining room. This was an ordi-
nary apartment furnished in the way Of
rooms in houses that are sublet, where the
bric-a-brac and essentials giving express
sion have been removed. A lamp with a
red shade lit the place.
"'Wait. will see said the black.
Presently he returned, this time bear
ing silver tray on which were curious
ly carved silver decanter and some glasses,
with plate of biscuits. The man made a
sort of obeisance that had in 1t something
oriental as If he had stepped out of one of
the stories dealing with the Caliph Haroun
al Raschid
"'While you wait, won't you have some
refreshment?'
"His accents were so suave that, forget
ting any suspicion, / did not stay his hand
when he poured some liquid like claret
into one Of the long decanters. Lifting it
90 my lips found 1t was curious tasting
beverage. For a moment thought 1t was
molten fire Then the black retainer ap
peared to be dancing before my eyes, and
lost consciousness
Mnen L aWOke, was on Gne couch In
the same room. The lamp was still burn
ing raised myself up. My head aohed
terribly. On a chair near me sat little
monkey grinning and chattering. 1t star
tied me at first, but In my trade one ceases
TO be afraid, because back of everything,
however mysterious, we are accustomed to
find human cunning.
81 rose, threw back the shutters and
daylight poured into the room. had been
there all night. No one stirred except the
poor little beast of gibbering ape.
made my way to the outside door, seeing
no one, and ran down the steps into the
street. the monkey following
II returned with the policeman on the
beat. We searched the house high and low.
There was no evidence of occupancy be-
yond that of the little ape. No trunk or
clothing or food or even the silver decanter
from which had drunk About the apes
neck was a curiously carved little silver
chain with some odd cabalistic device. At
the zoo in the park they told me that he
was Of an Indian species.
During my all night stupor, what had
become of the mysterious Mr.. Smith and
his visitorsp They were never seen nor
s...I 81 H.