The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1899-01-12
THE GRAVES ODOR.

We were lolling in couple Of easy
chairs on the veranda one evening aftel
dinner, Stantfeld and l. when my friend
sent the glowing stump of his ckeroot
promoting down the steps, and, turn
ing in his chair said abruptly:
"Do you know, Dick, a mau was shot
once just where you're sitting?'
Naturally was startled, and, instead
of replying to Stanfield's remark,
glanced uIeasily down the long, ghost
ly veranda, Of " hich the outer edge lay
in bright moonlight, while the inner
portion was wrapped in the dense
shadow Of the partly drawn bamboo
jalousios
II know the feeling, " said Stanneld,
noting my uneasiness. 81 never sit here
Of an evening without getting creepy
sensation all over NE. The servants say
the cid bungalow is haunted, and
shouldn't wonder if they are right.
Anyhow, if 1t isn't it ought to be, for
the story connected with it is an uncan-
ny one altogether See that hole in the
| jalousies there on yoar ri3ht!'
"Do you mean that oblong slit just
above the balustrado? 'Pon my word,
against the moonlight, it looks for all
the world like a malignant eye!"
$50 it is" said StaEfeId, with q
slight shiver. ''It was through that
hole Judge Robertson. my predecessor.
was shot.
"Ah, I've heard there was a strange
story connected with his death, but I
know none of the particulars. Suppose
you light another weed and talk me out
of this creepy fit."
"TaIk you into q worse one, moro
like" retorted Stanfeld. striking a
fusee. "I'll wager you never heard a
Lpweirder story. But you shall have the
facts and then jadge for yoGrseIf.', : =
With that he settled himself in his
chair, and after pufIiug refectiveIy at
his cheroot for some seconds went ON to
tell me the story of the shot through
the jalousies:
Robertson, you must know, was an
Elton 10y, like myself. We were chums,
in fact, in the old days, and that is how
came to know of peculiar tradition,
if may SO name it, that is said to have
been in his family for centuries.
II don't know whether you believe
in death warnings, Dick, but it seems
that for hundreds of years no Robertson
has ever died without first having dis
tinct premonition Of his approaching
end, and, what is more remarkable still,
the warning always comes in the form
of an odor, an earthly smell-the smell
Of new dug grave.
''Well, about week before his death,
when he was on his way to take up his
appointment here, in fact Robertson
passed through Malariabad, where l
was at that time stationed as collector,
and of course put him up for the night
After dinner we were sitting smoking
just as you and 1 are new, when pres
emily he says:
'StanfeId, says he, there's dew
ilish queer smell about. Been having
any digging done On the premises?'
"'No, said l. i haven't, and for the
life of me can't smell anything ex-
oept these Dindiguls we're smoking
" Perhaps that's what it is, then,
said he doubtfully, and for half an |
hour or SO the subject was dropped.
Just as we were making a move for |
bed, however, he suddenly grips my
hand, and, 'Stanfeld, says he hoarse-
Iy, for Gods sake tell me that your
people have been digging somewhere
near or that there's been a shower. |
can't get that earthly smell out Of my
nostrils. It's like standing over a new
made grave
"Just week later, to a day, | was
at work in my Office one morning when
a peon brought in a telegram. Dick,
that telegram brought the news that
Robertson had been shot dead by his
own butler at s o'clock the evening be-
fore -
'By his own butlerl" exclaimed
horrifed; for while Stanfield was relat
ing this tragic tale / had heard the
voice OF his butler giving orders to the
table boys in the dining room at our
back.
"Yes, by his own butler, - resumed
stanheld. land on the very spot where
Tou sit. Indeed, consulting his watch,
it happened just At this time, for it's
low 8 O'Clock to the minute"
But, cried, glancing apprehen-
lively at the eyelike aperture in the
alousies, why by bis butler? For
sake, explaini"
Il viii, : continued Stanfeld, "but
lrst must bark back bit and tell you
hat the telegram ordered me to proceed
t once to this station as Robertson's
uccessor. Well, | did SO. aud almost
~ first duty as judge was to try the ,,
oor fellows murderer
- hsxtLar9''