Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1899-01-26
THURM0NT Frederick County, Maryland Thursday January 26 1893.

Inv6Stlgate 1tT What 1s there TO IN
yestigate? This II all ancient history"
"Wen, perhaps. Still, have an idea.
You know the building don't your
Eyes, 1 have seen it. have never
been in 1t. answered.
every good" said he. "Now know
an old fellow who lives there; has
rooms in one Of the towers; the tower
on the southeast corner. I'll give you
q card to him. Go and see him. He Is
full of stories of the building; has had
a roost there for fifteen years or more,
and, If you can get him to talk, you
may hear something"
Collins gave his gnome-like inscruta-
BILE, childish laugh, and his eyes danced
in el1sh glse. He might have known
everything or nothing at that very
minute.
What sort Is he?" asked.
"Well, he is old, queer, character,
q gentleman. You must be punctili-
GUS. You must be ceremonious. Hand
him your caro- along win mine when
you knock at his door. And by the
way, you will have no trouble finding
the room. Enter from either side,
walk to the middle Of the long hall,
then turn to the east out into the court,
and after that in at another door to
the south; then climb stairs until you
can climb no more, and knock any
where In the dark ahead Of you. You
can't miss the door. If you feel care
fully, you will touch brass knocker;
that will please him better
"And what time should call?'
"This Is as good time as any. You
would be sure to find him In about
this hour"
Every good" 1 said, Il will 90 up
. there now. Give me your card
Collins scribbled a line on his card
introducing me to Nicholas Denny,
ESQ, and left him-not, however, be-
fore had time to catch another mock
ing smile a. it vanished from his eager
face.
In less than half an hour I was cross
ing Washington square in the gaslit
gloom, with the gray bulk OF the uni
versity rising before me. 1 went by
to the Waverly place entrance, pushed
in the heavy, changing door. and walk
ed along the low hall, as Collins dt.
rected me; then turned to the left
into the area, and next to the right In
to another hall Of the building. Then l
began to climb the stairs, three or four
flights, lit by a single, dickering gas
Jet ON each one. At the top Of these
/ was in the last hall, as I thought,
with several doors going in to 1t; and
I fancied must have made some mis-.
take when noticed In the farther dark
end of the hall q space blacker than
the blackness, opening high Up from
door to ceiling, like a gorge In the
mountains, and right up this gorge the
narrow treads of yet another stair
leading into pitchy darkness, with
sheer wall on either hand. There was
nothing for it but to venture. up !
climbed, step by step, until suddenly
a crack Of light at my feet, little to
the left, told me must be on his land
ing.
stepped quietly to the door, felt
for the knocker-a huge old affair,
very stiff in the joints-and knocked.
A chair moved inside, and l heard
the rustic of curtains or draperies.
Then steps came slowly, stopping al
together once or twice, and opened the
door to me.
"Mr Denny?" said /.
Yes, sir"
"Mr Denny, may have the honor
Of presenting an introduction from my
friend Mr.. Collins"
Certainly, sir-certainly; and very
pleased to see you, too. Walk in, Sir,
and pray be seated Sit you down by
the fire; you must be chilly. A dis
agreeable evening Is 1t not?'
Eyes, 1t is cold; put you are very
cozy up here, all by yourself"
"Oh, yes, snug enough. You see, !
have the whole tower to myself, small
as 1t Is. 4Aere Is no one else on the
same floor. That is something"
We drew our chairs up to the fire.
The fireplace, like the room, was mar
row and tall, with a small CRATE Of
Goals high up from the floor In the old
fashioned way. The room might have
been sixteen by twelve and was very
lofty.
All the upper walls and the ceiling
were painted heavy dark blue, which
swallowed up all the light the fire
and one candle in silver candle-stick
could give. The door by which had
entered was in one corner and the
fireplace in the middle Of the other
side. Directly opposite the fireplace
was wide double doorway hung with
heavy porlleres which were closed.
The old gentleman talked easily,
with a smile. spreading out his hands
to the fire. He seemed just the one TO
be full of stories and traditions OF the
place, and only waited the opportuni-
ty to interest him in that direction.
"Yes. I said in reply to his last re-
mark. "the atmosphere Of ones sur
roundings is 4 ore important than the
surroundings themselves; don't you
think so?"
"Ah yes, indeed; that is very true"
"And your atmosphere here is so ro-
mantle. There is really no other place
like this in the city. l should think
there would be innumerable tales
about 1t; are there not:'
But he froZe at this; gathered his
fingers in from the blaze and opened
them wide two or three times before
he spoke; and caught sudden hunt
ed glance quite out of keeping with
his courtly demeanor.
He seemed to consider before he
said
Eyes, yes, indeed, believe there are
many legends about the old building.
/ hear them repeated from time to
time; and usually they have been
good deal embellished-a good deal en-
belished Veracity is difficult accom-
plishment, sir"
And he turned to me with the most
winning and wise smile. said moth
ing, and he relapsed into his attitude
Of consideration, watching the fire. 1t
was Just here that a curious thing hap
pened. I leaned my head back on the
easy chair q moment, waiting for him
to take up the conversation where he
had left It with hesitation. AS did
80 I noticed for the first time small
mirror hung over the fireplace, and N