The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-04


after pause. Something happens in this
house, and no living soul knows what it is.
for they who have seen it have never yet
survived to tell the tale. It's not more
than a week back that a young gentleman
came here. He was like you. bold as brass,
and he too, wanted a bed and would take
no denial. told him plain, and so did my
man, that the place was haunted. He
didn't mind no more than you mind. Well.
he slept in the only room we have got for
guests, and he-he died there"
What did he die Off" 1 asked.
Fright" was the answer, brief and
laconic. Now do you want to come or
not?"
Yes; 1 don't believe in ghosts: I want
the bed, and 1 am determined to have it."
The woman flung the door wide open.
Don't say as l amt warned you, she
cried. Come in. if you must" She led me
into the kitchen, where a fire burned sullenly
sit you down, and I'll send for Bind
loss" she said. Il can only promise to give
you a bed if Bindloss agrees. Liz, come
along here this minute"
A quick young step was heard in the pas
sage, and the pretty girl whom L had seen
at the top of the lane entered. Her eyes
sought my face, her lips moved, as if TO say
something, but no sound issued from them.
Go and find your granddad," said the
old woman. Tell him there is gentleman
here that wants a bed. Ask him what's to
be done"
The girl favored me with a long and
peculiar glance, then turning on her heel
she left the room. AS soon as she did so
the old woman peered forward and looked
curiously at me.
I'm sorry you are staying" she said;
! don't forget as | warned you. Remember
this amt a proper inn at all. Once II was
mill, but that was afore Bindloss day
and mine. Gents would come in the sum-
mer and put up for the fishing, but then
the story of the ghost got abroad, and
lately we have no visitors to speak of, only
an odd one now and then who ain wanted
no, he amt wanted You see there was
three deaths here. Yes"-she held up one
of her skinny hands and began TO count on
her fingers-'.yes, three up to the present;
hrnn hot h h11~
shutting step heard in the passage.
and an old man, bent with age and wearing
long white beard, entered the room
I'VE has no beds for strangers" he said,
speaking in an aggressive and loud tone.
Hasn't the wife said so? We don't let out
beds here"
LAS that is the case, you have no right to
have that signpost at the end of the lane
l retorted. Il am not in mood to walk
nothing about. Cannot you put me up
somehow"
Sam" said the wife. He is just for all
the world like young Mr.. Wentworth, and
not a bit frightened"
The old landlord came up and faced me.
Look you here" he said; you stay on
at your peril. L don't want you, nor do the
wife. Now is it yes or mop -
1T is yes " 1 said.
There's only one room you can sleep in"
| One room is sufficient"
It's the one Mr.. Wentworth died in.
| Hadn't you best take up your traps and be
OFF,"
mo, I shall stay"
Then there's no more to be said"
Run, Liz, said the woman and light
| the fire in the parIor."
The girl left the room, and the woman
| taking up a candle. said she would take me
! to the chamber where L was to sleep. She
! led me down long narrow passage, and
| then, opening door, down two steps into
| the most extraordinary looking room / had
ever seen. The walls We're completely cir
cular, covered with a paper of a staring
grotesque pattern. A small iron bedstead
1 taH TO Ga Of he x1b ioh
| was uncarpeted except tor a slip of mating
| beside it. cheap deal handwashstand a
| couple of chairs and a small table with a
| blurred looking glass stood against the wall
| beneath deep embrasure, in which there
was a window. This was evidently a room
| in one of the circular towers. L had never
! seen less inviting quarters.
| Your supper will be ready directly, sir, -
said the woman, and placing the candle on
| the little ia BILE she left me.
The place felt damp and draughty, and
| the flame of the candle hickered about,
| causing the tallow to gutter to one side.
| There was no fireplace in the room, and
| above the walls cOnVerged TO point, Civ
| ing the whole place the appearance of an
| enormous extinguisher l made a hurried
| and necessarily limited toilet, and went
! into the parlor. l was standing by the fire,
which was burning badly when the door
tray in her hand She laid the tray on the
table and came up softly to me.
Fools come to this house she said,
Pray let me have my supper, and don't
talk" I replied. 7 am tired and hungry,
Liz stood perfectly still for a moment
rain't worth it." she said; then, in
| meditatve voice, nc ~' worth it. But
IN say no more. Fo4As viii never be
Her grandmother's voice calling her
| caused her to bound from the room.
My supper proved better than | had Elk
| pected, and. having finished it, I stroled
| into the kitchen. anxious to have further
| talk with the old man. He was seated alone
| by the fire, great mastiff lying at his feet.
can you tell me why the house IS sup
posed to be haunted?" l asked suddenly,
STOPPING down to speak to him.
How should 1 know?" he cried hoarsely.
THE wife and me have been here twenty
| years, and never seen nor heard anything.
but for certain folks do die in the house.
It's mortal unpleasant for me- for the doc
tors come along, and the coroner, and
there's an inquest and no end of fuss. The
folks die, although no one has ever laid a
finger on EN- the doctors can't prove why
they are dead but dead they be. Well,
there amt no use saying more. You are
here, and maybe you'll pass the one night
all right"
II Shall go to bed at once" I said "but
/ should like some candles. Can you supply
me?''
The man turned and looked at his wife,
who at that moment entered the kitchen.
She went to the dresser, opened a wooden
box and, taking out three or four tallow
candles, put them into my hand.
rose, Stimulating a yawn.
Goodnight. sir said the old man;
goodnight; wish you we'll"
".
A moment later I had entered my bed
room, and, having shut the door, proceeded
to give it a careful examination AS far as
l could make out, there was no entrance to
the room except by the door, which was
shaped to fit the circular walls. l noticed,
however, that there was an unaccountable
draught, and this l al last discovered came
from below the oak wainscoating of the
wall. could not in any way account for
the draught, but it existed to an unpleasant
extent. The bed, further saw, was some
what peculiar it had no castors on the four
legs, which were let down about half an
inch into sockets provided for them in the
wooden floor. This discovery excited my
suspicious still further 1t evident that
the bed was intended to remain in d par
ticular position. 1 saw that it directly faced
the little window sunk deep into the thick
wall, so that any one in bed would look di-
rectly al the window. / examined my
watch, found that it was past II, and, plac-
ing both the candles on a tiny table near the
bed, 1 lay down without undressing. l was
on the alert to catch the slightest noise
but the hours dragged on and nothing oc-
CURED. In the house all was silence. and
outside the SplaShing and Churning of the
water falling over the wheel came distinct
ly to my ears.
1 lay awake all night but as morning
daWned fell into an uneasy sleep. l aWoke
TO see the broad daylight streaming in at