The evening times., 1895-08-21
The Strange House.

Icing how Salvatore Cavaliere, the Long
Branch Italian, made his dwelling a store
house Of plumber.
Every house holds its mystery" he
began tritely.
Then he told the story of the house on
West Tentb street, not far from Fifth
avenue. He could not specify more par
ticularly. he declared.
Il was detailed to watch 1.-THE went
on, because there was something odd
about its tenant. A most respectable
house in a most respectable neIghborhood,
it had been sublet to one William Smith,
a small dark man with a foreign accent.
He had paid six months" rent in ad
vance i'll lieu OF reference, and as the
dun summer season was coming on, the
agent had not quibbled over this slight
violation OF his Iule requiring references.
Whence he came, what his trade, no one
could say. The rent had been paid in
English gold.
After Mr.. Smith had moved iD-he
rented unfurnished-the strange proceed
ings began which attracted the neighbors'
attention. just after sundown niuff,ed
men began 10 appear at the door, which
would open, revealing the dimly lit hall.
The visitors entered. Now the special feat
ure of the case was that no one ever ca me out,
while Mr.. Smith existed apparently in
dependent of the butcher and baker. II
you rang. the manservant simply told
you that his master was not in. But other
persons evidently found him in. Three
or four persons passed that threshold
daily, never to reappear over it, or
course the Deighboring iervants whis-
pered 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 if 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 it shut up 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 l 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 a laid. Finally
decided To take the natter irio my own
hands did this by boldly going up the
steps the third tir,c-I had been told twice
by the strange servant that Mr., Smith was
out On this occasion followed close on
the heels of ono of the visitors, who proba-
bly, was destined never To appear again. 1
rang, and after a few minutes the Goor was
opened The same servant stood there.
He was black. with the regular features be-
longing to the East Indies North Afri-
cans II you ever venture as far ca ST as
Const antinople you nEy sec men OF his
type in the cosmopolitan street throng.
The pecuiiarity of this man was his shin
ing black eyes that looked nIe through
and through He was in the regulation
black suit and white cravat of the house
lackey."
Mr.. sniith?'
Sees no one,' he began in a slightly
foreign accent. A heavily shaded lamp
OH the stairway threw a subdued light
But some one entered a half minute
before me- 1 bega. On the other occa-
sions l had sked who this mysterious
Smith who concealed an interesting per-
sonality very cunningly under that most
commonplace name might be, what his oc-
cupatjup whence he came. On both occa-
sjons the door had slammed in my face.
This time took the precaution to put my
foot over the sill in such way that the
door could not close. The man attempted
if. ! stepped inside. The door swung into
its place with a little metallic click.
Il fancied the black eyes snapped angrily.
but the man motioned me civilly into an
adjoining room. This was an ordinary
apartment furnished in the way OF rooms in
houses that are sublet, where the bric-a-
brac and essentials giving expression have
been removed. A lamp with a red shade
lit the place.
Wait. / will see, said the black.
Presently he returned, this time bearing
a silver tray, on which were curiously
carved silver decanter and some glasses,
with a plate of biscuits. The man made a
sort of obeisance that had in it 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
refreshments?'
His accents were so sauve 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
to my lips found it was curious tasting
beverage. For a moment thought it was
molten fire. Then the black retainer ap-
pcared to the dancing before my eyes, and
lost consciousness.
when / awoke 1 was on the couch in
the same room. The lamp was still burn
ing. 1 raised myself up. My head ached
terribly. On a chair near me sat a 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.
'.I rose, threw back the shutters and
da aylight poured into the room. l had been
there all night. No one stirred except the
poor little beast of gibbcring ape. I
made my way to the outside door, seeing
no one, and rau 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 1 had drunk. About the apes
neck was a curiously carved little silver
chain with some odd cabalistic device. At
the zoo at the park they told me that he
was Of the Indian species.
During my all night stupor, what had
become of the mysterious Mr.. Smith and
his visitors? They were never seen nor
heard of again. The house was just an
ordinary dwelling on an ordinary street.
But for me it still has an enigmatical ex-
preston of inexplicable mystery.-New