The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-18


wife to accuse her OF perfidy 1t was in
vain that Lady Joan tried TO defend herself
oy stating that the visitor was her brother,
VINO was engaged in plots for the restora-
ton of James III, and on that account
wished to Keep secret the fact of his pres
ence IN England. Hugh did not believe her,
ana told her plainly that he had killed her
lover. whereupon Lady Joan burst out into
Volley or reproaches and cursed her hus-
pand Furious at what he deemed was her
poidness, hugh at first attempted to kill
ner, but not thinking the punishment s0f-
hc :!eI1t ne cut off her right hand"
Why?" asked every one quite unpre-
pared for this information.
because, In the first place, Lady Joan
was very proud of her beautiful white
hahds, ana in the second, Hugh had seen the
stranger kiss her hand-her right hand-be-
fore he descended from the window. For
ribly."
And did she die?'
Yes, week after her hand was cut off,
ana she swore that she would come back
10 touch all those In the Blue Room-that is.
VINO slept In h-who were foredoomed to
death She kept her promise for many
people who have slept in that fatal room
have been touched by the dead hand of
Lady Joan, and have subsequently, died.
, Did IL Hugh find out that his wife was in
"He did," replied Ringan. land within n
month after her death. The stranger was
really ner brother. plotting for James Ii,
as she had stated. Hugh was not punished
by man. for. his crime. but within a year he
slept in the blue chamber and was found
dead next morning with the mark of three
myers on MS right wrist It was thought
mat in his remorse he had courted death
by sleeping in the room cursed by his wife
J .aano there was mark on him."
a. IN il, ms right wrist red marks like burn;
the impression of three fingers. Since that
Tune the room has been haunted"
Does everyone who sleeps in it die?" I
asked.
hearty IN the morning. Only those who are
G2omed to an early death are thus touched"
g When did the last case occur?'
pected reply. "A friend of mine called
Herbert Spence would sleep in that room.
he saw the ghost and was touched. He
red finger Marks
Did the omen hold good?"
Yes Spence died three months after
| wards. He was thrown from his horse
1 was about to put further questions in a
skepucal vein, when we heard shouts out
door was thrown open to admit Miss Laura
| in state of excitement.
Fire. fire." she cried, almost distracted.
''Oh! Mr.. Ringan," addressing herself to
| Percy, your room is on fire! +"
We waited to hear no more, but in body
smoke were rolling out of the door, and
| flames were flashing within. Frank Ringan,
however, was prompt and cool-headed. He
had the alarm bell rung, summoned the
servants, grooms and stable hands, and in
| twenty minutes the fire was extinguished
| On asking how the fire had started Miss
| Laura, with much hysterical sobbing, stated
| that she had gone into Percy's room to see
that all was ready and comfortab BILE for the
| night. Unfortunately the wind waited one of
the bed curtains towards the candle she was
| carrying, and in moment the room was in
blaze. After pacifying Miss Laura, who
| could not help the accident, Frank turned
| to his cousin. BY this time we were back
| again in the library.
MY dear fellow he said, ''your room is
swimming in water, and is charred with
| fire. I'm afraid you can't stay there to-
night; but l don't know where to put you
unless you take the Blue Room
THE Blue Room we all cried. What!
| the haunted chamber"
Yes; all the, other roms are full. Still, if
Afraid cried Percy, Indignantly. I'm
not afraid at ALL I'll sleep in the Blue Room
with the greatest of pleasure"
But the ghost
| Il don't care for the ghost" interrupted
! the Australian, with nervous laugh. We
| have ghosts in our part of the world,
and as l have not seen one, do not believe
| there is such thing"
We all tried to dissuade him from sleep
| ing in the haunted room, and several of us
] offered to give up our apartments Tor the
night-Frank among the number But
| Percys dignity was touched and ne was res
| olute to keep his word. He had plenty OF
pluck, as said before, and the fancy th ia
we might think him ma + coward spurred MN
The end of it was that shortly before mid
night he went off to the Blue Room, and de-
clared his intention of sleeping in it, There
was nothing more to be said in the race OF
such obstinacy, so one by one we retired,
quite unaware of the events to happen be-
fore the morning. So on that Christmas eve
| the Blue Room had an unexpected tenant.
On going to my bedroom | could not sleep.
The tale told by Frank Ringan haunted
| my fancy, and the idea of Percy sleeping
in that ill-omened room made me nervous.
l did not believe in ghosts myself, nor so
| far as | knew did Percy, but the little man
suffered from heart disease-he was strung
| up to a high nervous pitch by our ghost
stories-and if anything out of the common
even from natural happened In that
/ room the shock might be fatal to its occu-
pant. g
| pride, would refuse to give up the room, yet
| | was determined that he should not Steep
| in it; So failing persuasion, employed
stratagem. l had my medical chest WIN
me- and taking it from my portm9ntean =,
| prepared a powerful narcotic. L lett TINS
on the table and went along TO the Blue
Room nerv when faI fr as m haee Si0 eiOe
A knock brought Percy to the door clothed
| in pyjamas and at a glance could see that
already telling on his nerves. He loked pale
| and disturbed, but his mouth was nrmIy
set with an obstinate expression nkely ~ 70
resist my proposals. However, Out OF ul3
plomacy l made none, but blandly slated
my errand, with more roughness, ndeed'
| than was necessary. t,,
he appeared, land let me. give you some
thing to calm your nerves 4,..
I'm not afraid!'' he said, de1antlY.
who said YOU were?" ! rejoined, t2rtly
ssYou believe in ghosts no more than i CO.
SO why should you be afraid? But after the
alarm of fire your nerves are upset no
want to give you something to put lhem
right Otherwise. you'll get 10 sieep
Il shouldn't mind composing draue nj,
certainly" said the lttle man. r1aNo ""
it here?' Ia. off
Come along - ,,,,or
Percy followed me into my bedroom, ara
obediently enough swallowed the n'edlclne.
Then made him sit down in comto:taple
arm chair. on the plea that ne must no, not
walk Immediately after the draught. 1 ne ne
result of my experiment was 1ust1ned LOT IN
less than ten minutes the poor little men
was fast asleep under the influence 81 me
narcotic When thus helpless. l placed Fun
on my bed, quite satisfied that ne "ouIu
not awaken until late the next cay NY
IA SIX accomplished, / eXtinguished tle IiGilt'
and went off myself to the Blue Room IN
tending to remain there for the night;
It may be asked why / did so, as couiu
easily have taken my rest on the sofa IN
nav own room; but the fact is, was any IN
ious to sleep in a haunted chamber. ula
NOT believe in ghosts, as ! had never seen
one but as there was chance OF meelins
here with an authentic phantom ala not
wish to lose the opportunity.
Therefore when l saw that Percy was
safe for the night, l took up my quarters
i'm the ghostly territory. with much curl-
ositv but--as I can safely aver-no rear
All the same. in case of practical Jokes on