Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1897-09-09

Fauslng not to close the COO I
door, l made n wild rush for ny
intent on the one only purp
escaping from the unknown teI
that horrible voice. / closed Y u
room door after l had enteiV \
bolted it. Then 1 threw. 1nys-
the nearest chair and covered \ Y
with my hands.
For some time remained &
powerless and completely unner
The night had fallen when
looked up, and my room was sll
in gloom. Darkness was horrib
staggering to my feet, I fumblcJ
for some matches, and in fevcriS
lit the two lamps and the
which were in the room. The w
was open. / closed the shuttt =
bolted them. The door leadirgi&
parlor where my grandfather$
had reposcd in the coffin waiti%
burial, so many years ago, way
open, and in my wrought-up inf
ton spccters of the dead seemed D
before it. There was no bolt n
door and, not feeling satisfied in IN
it simply latchcd, by great GA
showed a tall chest Of drawers DgaiS
Even thus barricadcd thc}e w
feeling Of safety. There was no i;
ing what fearful mystery ight
up through the floor from tie vi
up cellar beneath.
The experience just passed thT
was enough to frightcn anyore{
it was not that alone which caused
q complete decentralization OF my III
and so absolute a terrorism Of al
faculties, There was something y
than the demonstration Just end
tered, something from within mysd
Looking back to the time now N
lie how true it is that often con
events cast their shadows before. (
After awhile | began to realize \
and more that the intensity Of theI
which had swept over me was
wholly caused by the sound of
voice or The attendant circumstu\
secuted all idea Of a supernatural
gin; but, then, what wgsit2
The season of the year had arN
when the farmers had about ccw
the garnering OF an abundant haN
and therefore a feeling OF con,
aboundcd. The countryside was d
run by tramps, the members Of the
ty fraternity well knowing that
was never denied a hungry man by
well-proyisoned farmers. pcrlapa
cook-house cellar was Il rendezvous
Il number of tramps. was SO cagd
arrive at some explanation Of the e(
which would have a wholly material
bearing that the absurdity of al
seeking a resting-place in a damp{
cellar, when a much more comfowS
bed might be secured out at TIL 3
amid the hay and straw, did not's
me.
Then, too, the place would undo
cdly lose degree of horror If n
was introduced. So. seeing that
pistol was in my pocket, and taking
candle and some matches, again ID
for the cook house. Having resolve
descend again into the mysterI
gloom, l did not allow myself to p|
and think; that would mean perha'
return of my fright. Unjust plunge
the mystery suddenly, or not ati
1t was like taking cold-water b
the longer one waits the harder to ny
the plunge.
Inside the cook house I lit the cal
and, taking the pistol from my POI
approached the stairway.
About again to descend, the reef
ton of my first experience came
in all the force of its unearthly \
tiles, and 1 was seized with tremt
fit. My knees smote together, and
hand shook so that the flame Of
candle was nearly extinguished.
The return of my fear, however, 4
me all the more resolved to go OF
gritted my teeth, and, advancing
pistol in readiness, slowly beganl
descent. Not a sound greeted my
save that made by my own foots
After reaching the bottom step n
the candle aloof and gazed expect
around.
The room was about 20 feet sod
the fiat stones with which it was D,
and the surrounding walls were 81
with moisture, and here and therl
Elected back the light Of the cal
That was all. No human being wa
sight, not sign Of one having y
here.
At my feet a part Of the. stone y
ment had been removed and a plant
serted. Lying near the edge of
plank was paper with some prini
on the outside, like that on bond
deed. I stepped down upon the pld
and again noticed that one {
sank under my weight. Sit
ing down to pick up the pa
my ears were again assailed by the I
emn admonition seeming to come +
the opposite side of the cellar:
other step means death. Pause be
you take it,"
Grabbing the paper, I quicklyt
sumed an upright position, and, h
ing the candle above me, gazed int
ly in the direction of the voice. III
was nothing but the walls around
With cautious tread 1 took the fol
den step,