Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-01-08

Il suppose your servants viii eOOH DC
back" he asked.
They will never come back again, y
she said slowly. This time she did not
raise her eyes at all.
your supper is ready, eshe continued.
"Your room opens out of this-that door
to the left Not the right, remember.
IT, you want beer '-- -ou will find
them in the bar rand can help yourself.
Candles you have here. wish you
quiet night. She moved toward the
door.
"But look here. Good heavens!
Where are you goingi" cried the cap.
tain
Unto the dark" she said, and the door
closed behind her.
They must all be mad in this part of
the country" said the captain to him
self well, I am in good inn, with
plenty to eat and drink, and if my host
ess chooses to go into the dark, as she
calls it, it is no business of mine. Though
I should like TO know what she means
by that expression"
The great outer door closed with a
bang a. ne spoke, and he sprang to the
window just in time to see a slender
figure cross the path of light thrown by
mis- lamp across the road Unto the
dark apparently means out in the rain"
the captain said. "Now, what on earth
is she doing, and why am ,rit alone in
this most uncanny of innss will take
some supper and a good draft of beer to
explore the place. am beginning to
think that my friend of the crossroads
was not SO mad as ne appeared to be-"
Supper over, ne took a candle and
started on his exploring tour He found
nothing unusual. The Weir inn was
well furnished and bore signs of thriv-
ing business. There was nothing ghostly
about it-nothing but its unaccountable
emptiness and desertion. Much per-
picked, Captain Preston came back to
his sitting room and put more Goals on
the fire. His riding boots were drying
upon his feet, and the process was not
comfortable.
al wonder if I could find a pair of
slippersr' he soliloquized. perhaps nv
fair hostess has husband or a brother.
appear to be left in charge of the
house, and I may as well make myself
at home. I will have look into the
cuPboards of my bedroom"
This time his search was rewarded.
Various articles of a mans apparel were
slowed away in an old wardrobe, and
these included roomy pair of slippers.
The captain brought bottle of whisky
from the bar, set a kettle of water on
the fire and prepared to make himself
comfortable. Then his eye fell q the
floor to the right.
II haven't been in there" said.
MY hostess warned ne significantly
not to enter. That must be Bluebeard's
chamber. Locked! Ali This is promis- |
ng. Let me see if I cannot open it" I
The lock was poor one, and the bolt
vas sdeedily forced back with the blade
# penknife. The captain entered the
DOM and looked around. It was a bed .
Dom, furnished with considerable taste
n dark oak. A toilet table stood near
he window, covered with a white dam {
SIX cloth trimmed with lace and bear.
ng upon itvarious little feminine knick- e
nacks in silver and tortoise shell.
"My lady's chamber, not Bluebeard's," a
aid the captain. ~ have no business
ere. But my lady seems to have cut >,
er finger" He moved step or two
'rward, and his eyes travelled down D
ard from the red stain on the damask
} the floor. He turned little pale. 3
Finger! Faughi Some one must d.
ave cut his throat at leasti What dew "a
sh place this inn is! No wonder she az
as glad to get into the dark. if this is =.
hat is in the light"
He heard a footstep in the room with
It, and for a moment his heart stood 81
III. Then, for he was brave man, he
ew out the candle he carried and
eped cautiously through the half open y.
or He was greeted By a burst Of -
lighter. M
'Corhe on" cried the huuchback, who on
at the table ravenously devoGring 81
E remains of the supper. GONE on BIZ
d make our punch. The water Is boil tn
:. How do YOU like the Weir inn?" pc
How did you get here" asked Cap -.
n Preston sternly, advancing into the jne
I'M. 81 locked the house door" soT
Oh, you did You're a careful tin
3rdian, out YOU see have mass kav we