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

: TO see something not of this world The
rider took off his hat.
"Can I have supper and bed" he
asked, land feed for my horsel | have
lost my way out hunting, and we are
both dead beat ! am Captain Preston
of the Royal artillery"
"You can have bed and supper"
said the woman Ia a monotonous voice,
"but you must see to your horse your
self am alone In the house"
The captain whistled softly to himself
and dismounting led the mare to the
TO light him as he rubbed the poor beast
down and gave her feed of corn.
Neither the man nor the woman said
word. When he had finished his work
she glided back to the house, and he
followed her through wide hall, where
carved oak benches we're ranged round
table black with age, into room In
which fire was burning and table was
| spread with cold viands of various kinds |
A large party had evidently made
|
began to clear away the plates and
dishes with great rapidity, and the man
watched her with a keen appreciation
of the grace of her movements. Out
side the roar of the water over the weir
sounded like serf on a rocky shore.
III am not the first guest you have
h.d todayr' he said at last interroga-
lively.
"No, you are not" she replied, rails
ing her eyes for a moment. Again he |
noticed the "haunted" look In her face. I
III suppose your servants will soon be a
back ?" he asked I
"They will never come back again." k
she said slowly. This time she did not
raise her eyes at all s
"Your supper is ready" she continued h
"Your room opens out of this--that door h
to the left. Not the right, remember. +,
If you want beer or wine, you will find "
them In the bar tand can help yourself. te
Candles you have here. / wish you a
quiet night. She moved toward the h,
door n;
"But look here. Good heavens "
Where are you goimgi" cried the cap W
ain.
"Into the dark" she said, and the door o,
.losed behind her Ell
"They must all be mad In this part of bl
he country" said the captain to him pc
elf "Well, am in q good inn. with do
lenty to eat and drink. and If my host lal
SIS chooses to go into the dark as she
als It, 1t Is no business of mine. Though sal
should like TO know what she means tn
y that expression" an
The great outer door closed with a in,
ang as he spoke, and he sprang to the
Iindow Just In time to see a slender tai
cure cross the path of / light thrown by ro,
Is lamp across the road "Into the
ark apparently means out In the rain" GU
he captain said. "Now, what on earth In
she doing, and why an, ei, alone in mi
lis most uncanny of inns9 l will take as
'me supper and a good draft OF beer to a
rengthen my nerves and then | will II
Splore the place. | am beginning to
link that my friend of the crossroads car
as not so mad as he appeared to be" ''W
Supper over, he took candle and me
aited on his exploring tour He found
o,hing unusual. The Weir inn was
ell furnished and bore signs of thriv his
x business. There was nothing ghostly he
,out it-no;hing but its unaccor ntabe adj
nptiness and desertion. Much per- hin
exed, Captain Preston came back to fou
Is sitting room and put more Goals on shi
Ie fire. His riding boots were drying ant
,on his feet, and the process was not ma
He
al wonder If could find a pair of Cal
lppers" he s,liloquized. Perhaps my
ir hostess has a husband or brother. gal
appear to be left In Charge of the at
,use. and may as well make myself the
home will have look into the wei
pboards of my bedroom" to t
This time his search was rewarded lea
arious articles of a mans apparel were -
owed away In an old wardrobe. and n
csc included a roomy pair of slippers. ~
ne captain brought DO tie of whisky Q,
pm the bar. set kettle of water on ~
c fire and prepared to make himself
Then his eye fell on the
or to the right.
II haven't been in there" he said ~. ,
~ hostess warned me significantly ~
I to enter That must be Bluebeard's
: Let me see II cannot open It,"
Srt
pnWdpr- YOU