Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-04
GHOST EXPOSER'S ADVENTURE.


And II was all his own fault All.
Gear! IL makes me almost cry 10 think
OF II. He was as nice a gentleman as
ever set eyes on. and so strong. hearty.
and pleasant Well. sir, everything went
we'll until one day he said to me, I am
about TO leave you. Mrs johnson. / am
going 10 little place called the Castle
Ina further up tho iMcrran.'
The Castle Inn"l | cried. No, Mr..
wentworth. that you won't, not II you
value your life
And why not? he said. looking at
me with as merry blue eyes as you ever
saw In anybody's head why should
] not visit the Castle Inn? ] have a
commission TO make some drawings Of
that special bend OF the river
We'll, then SIR answered. II that
Is the case, youll just have horse and
trap from here and drive over as often as
you want TO. For the Castle Inn" aint
ut place for a Christian to put up at
What TO you meanr he asked OF me.
1t is said to be haunted, sir and
what does happen In that house the Lord
only knows. but there's not been a vis-
tor at the inn for some years. not since
Bailin Holt came by his DEATH"
Came by his death?' he asked. And
how was that?
God knows but I don't answered.
= the coroner's inquest 1t was said that
he died from syncope. whatever that
means, but the folks round here said II
was fright Mr.. Wentworth just laughed
at me. He didn't mind a word / said.
and the next day. sir he was off, carry
Ing his belongings with him"
well. and what happened?" ! asked.
seeing that she paused.
What happened, sir? Just what / ex-
pected Two days afterwards came the
news of his death. Poor young gentle
men, he died in the very room where
Holt had breathed his last and oh. II
there wasn't fuss and TODD, for 1t turn
cd out that although he seemed quite
poor TO us. with little or no money, he
was no end Of swell. and had rich re-
lations, aud big estates coming to him.
and. Of course, there was a coroner's
inquest and all the rest. and great doc
tors came down from London, and our
Dr. Stanmore. who lives down the street.
was sent for. and though they did all
they could, and examined him. as IT were
with a microscope, they could find no
cause for death. and so they give 1t out
that II was syncope, just as they did
In the case OF poor Holt. But, sir, It
wasn't: it was fright. sheer fright,
The place is haunted. It's q mysterious,
dreadful house, and j only hope you
won't have nothing to Go with IT,"
She added few more words and pre-
sently left us.
That's a strange story" i said, turn
ing to Johnson; your wife has excited
my curiosity. / should much like to
get further particulars"
There don't seem to be anything more
10 tell, sir" replied johnson. It's true
what the wife says. that the Castle
Inn has bad name It's not the first
no. nor the second. death that has oc-
CURED there"
"Yol mentioned your village doctor .
DO you think he could enlighten me op
the subject?"
81 am sure he would do his best, sir.
He lives only six doors away i'm a red
house. Maybe you wouldn't mind step
ping down the street and speaking to
him."
you are sure he would not think it
a liberty%
mot he. sir; he'll be only too pleased
TO exchange a word with some one out
side this sleepy little place.
"Then I'll call on him." answered, and
taking up my hat. / strolled down the
street. ] was lucky at finding DR.. Stan
more at home. and the moment l saw
his face / determined TO take him into
my confidence.
THE fact is this" / said. when he had
shaken hands with me. 81 should not
dream Of taking this liberty did / not
feel certain that you could help me-"
And in what way?" he asked, not
stifIly. but with a keen, inquiring, inte-
rested glance.
II have been sent down from London
to inquire into the Wentworth mystery"
! said
us that so?" he said, with a start.
Then he continued gravely, II fear you
have come on a wild-goose chase. There
was nothing discovered at the autopsy
TO account for the death. There were no
marks on the body, and all the organs
were healthy. l met Wentworth often
while he was staying here and he was
as hearty and strong looking a young
man as / have ever come across"
But the Castle Inn has bad repu-
ton" 1 said.
THAT is true; the people here are
afraid Of it. 1t Is said TO be haunted.
But really. sir. you and l need not trou-
bic ourselves about stupid reports like
that. Old Bindloss. the landlord, has
lived there for years. and there has
never been anything proved against
him."
rs he alone?"
mo; his wife and a grandchild live
there also"
"a grandchild?" l said; "did not this
girl give some startling evidence at the
inquest?'
Nothing Of any consequence" replied
DR.. Stanmore; "she only repeated what
Bindloss had already said himself-that
the house was haunted. and that she had
asked Wentworth not to sleep in the
room"
HAS anything ever been done to ex-
plain the reason why this room is said
10 be haunted?" i continued.
Not that i know OF. Rats are proba-
bly, at the bottom of it,"
But have not there been other deaths
in the house?'
THAT IS true"
How many?'
"WelI, l have myself attended no less
than three similar inquests."
And what was the verdict OF the
jury?"
I'm each case the verdict was death
from syncope."
(Which means, cause unknown"
said. jumping impatiently to my feet. 81
wonder. DIR. Stanmore, that you are sat
isfled to leave the matter in such q
state"
And, pray, what can 1 do?" he in
Quired. IL am asked to examine body
find all the organs in perfect health; 1
cannot trace the least appearance OF vio-
lence; nor. can l detect poison. What
other evidence can honestly give"
II can only say that l would not be
satisfied" l replied. II now wish to add
that / have como down from London de-
al 10 hoI
myself put up at the Castle Inn -
'Well?' said DR. Stanmore.
"And sleep in the haunted ROOM
Ia LII L..