The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-12-24


Though l should like to know what she
means by that expression. "
The great outer door closed with a
bang as he spoke, and he sprang to the
window just in time to see slender
figure cross tho path of light thrown by
his lamp across the road. Into the
dark apparently means out in the rain, "
the captain said. "Now, what On earth
is she doing, and Why am | left alone
III this most uncanny of inns? | will
take some supper and a good draft
OF beer to strengthen my nerves aud
then | viii explore the place. | am be-
ginning to thipk that my friend of the
crossroads was not so mad as he APP
peared to be. "
supper over, he took a candle and
started on his exploring tour. He found
nothing unusual. The Weir inn was
well furnished and bore signs Of thirty
ing business. There was nothing ghost
ly about it-nothing but its unaccount-
able emptiness and desertion. Much
perplexed, Captain Preston came back
to his sitting room and put some more
Goals on the fire. His riding boots were
drying upon his feet, and tho process
was not comfortable.
Il wonder if | could find q pair of
slippersl' be soliloquized. perhaps
my fair hostess has husband or "A
brother. appear to be left in charge of
the house, and / may as we'll make my
self at home. will have look into
the cupboards Of my bedroom. "
This time his search was rewarded
Various articles of IA mans apparel
were slowed away in an old wardrobe,
and these included a roouy pair of slip
pers. The captain brought bottle of
whisky from the bar, set a kettle of wa
ter on the fire and prepared to make
himself comfortable Then his eye fell
on the floor to the right.
~ haven't been in there, " he said
''My hostess warned me significantly
not to enter That must be Bluebeard's
chamber Locked Ali This is promis-
ing. Let me see if l cannot open it.
The lock was Il poor one, and the bolt
was speedily forced back with the blade
of u penknife. The captain entered the
room and looked around 1t was a bed
room, furnished with considerable taste
in dark oak A toilet table stood near
the window, covered with white dam
ask cloth trimmed with lace and bear
ing upon it various little feminine
kniekknaoks in silver and tortoise she'll
MY lady's chamber, not Blue
beard :" SAID the captain. 4 have no
business here. But my lady seems to
have cut her finger lie moved step
or two forward, and his eyes travelled
downward from the rcd STAN on the
damask to tho floor Iio turned little
pale.
Ginger! Fauehl Some one must
have cut his throat at lcastl What a
deyilish place this inn isl No wonder
she WAS glad to get into the dark, if
this Is what IS i'll the light. -
He heard footstep in the room with
out, and fer Il moment his heart stood
still. Then, for he was a brave man, he
blew out the candle ne carried and
peeped cautiously through the half open
door. He was greeted 10y burst of
laughter.
Como on, cried the hnnchback,
who sat at the table ravcuously dcvour-
ing the remains of tn supper. "Come
ON and mike our punch The water is
boiling. How doyou like the Weir inn?'
'How did you get hero:" asked Cap
tain Preston stcrnly, advancing into the
room, Il locked the house door. "
oh you did! You re careful guard
ian, but You see | have pass key. I'm
the owner, man. The Weir inn Is mine
from this time forth forevermore, as
the parson says. Come on and have a
drink and don't stand there looking as
If | were the devil"
Il am not so sure yen are not said
the captain, coming forward To the ta-
bic. What does all that blood in there
mean?"
The hunchhack cacl,led with laughter
"That's where my brother Jabcz cut
his throat, like the feel he WIS, because
he WASH t the only man i'll tine world l.
admire his wife's beauty. They sat on
hmm today-in the hall there-and they
found it felo de Sc. Whore your mare
SHE'D they buried him, not six hours
ago, and they say it's i'll standing in II
dead mans shoes. as you are doing
now" He Rrinned horribly and pointed
to Captain Preston's feet.
Ten minutes later II tired mare was
galloping down the road and wondering
at the uIreasonablenea3 of man. And
the swollen river that roared over the
Weir was carrying ON its stormy bosom
TO the sea heavier burden than au-
tumn leaves. Black ana White