Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-28

"wnat Ae yen thinking ofa'' asked
Mrs Vcntnor. "You look inscrutablc. "
Il am only wondering if there was .
romance attached to that old murder,
aoi if will evcr find it out"
"A murder Good heavens-where? ''
Here.
Down went the cigarette and wide
open Mrs. Ventnor's mouth.
oh, and you never told me!'
whats the matter? You're surely
not afraid Of ghosts? Yes, this little
house first won me by its bloody rec
ord. :" And she leaned her elbows ON the
table, letting her finger tips meet and
glancing into the shadowy corners.
'Within its walls a revolving, cold
blooded murder was committed years
ago. There. don't look Mortified; the
place is warranted not haunted. Will
you hear the story? It's very short"
go en-. 1t only needed this to con-
vince me-
THAT l am crazy? Very good. Bless
you, don't mind. heard Of this house
quite by chance. took pains to learn
all the details. A little more than ten
years ago an elderly bachelor who lived
here alone was found dead ON the floor
of his chamber, knife sticking in his
heart. The reason for the murder, how
and by whom it was committed, will
forever remain q mystery. Nobody in
the nelghborhood knew him but the peo-
pie who lived next door, and they had
not seen or heard anything suspicious.
Doors and windows were all secured
from the inside, nothing was disturbed,
nothing, Us far as could be ascertained,
was stolen.
Clearly the crime had been commit
ted by some person in the house. Yet
the gardener, faithful, stammering
old man who slept in room on the
ground floor, and the stupid German
maid who stumbled upon her masters
body when she carried his hot water in
the morning, were beyond suspicion, and
it was impossible from the position Of
the body and the force Of the blow that
the man could have killed himself. It
was relegated to the limbo of unfath-
omed mysteries. The people next door
left scene that had become unpleasant,
and this house was closed. For ten years
it remained practically vacant. heard
Of it, saw it. fell in love with that
crooked old elm in the middle of the
garden, and here am.''
what room was the body found in 20
And Mrs. Ventnor rose suddenly, a lit
tie catch in her voice.
"In mine, Of course"
II thought SO. It's uncanny, it's hor-
rible. This cultivation of diseased
craving for abnormal sensations will be
your ruin. You run away from men
who persecute you with love to whet
your perverted imagination by living in
haunted house"
"Some people like red pepper" Mar
ian said coolly as she led the way ont
"But you must listen to me-"
Marian swung around suddenly and
laid her hand ON her protesting lips.
mo more of ghosts tonight. Or.
come, will exercise them"
She swept into the little library, Mrs.
Ventnor following, her chubby shout
ders shivering little, her mouth pursed
up in pout.
''It's weeks since have touched it. I"
There was q note of tenderness in Mar
ian's voice, like q mothers in speak
ing of a favorite child. "Come, nv
one love. All, what delightful hours
we will spend together herer'
She lifted violin from its case and
rested her chin lovingly ON it, the bow
dropping in her hand. After this mo-
ment's pause she raised her arm with a
sweep of potent grace. poised her body
restfully and sent the first notes of Ru-
binstein's "Melodie In F" trembling
through the silence.
fro BE CONTINUED