The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-17


that she sDas not an ordinary child.
------
or two turned In. and in the fitful fire.
! light lay watching the grotesque shadows
and thinking Of the curious incidents OF
the past twenty-four hours.
fancy must have dozed, when sud-
denly heard a curious indistinct whisper
ing and lay to listen. The fire had died
down to a few glowing embers which
threw scarcely any light, and SO uneasy I
J became that descended from the bed
and CROPPED about for matches. Unfortun-
ately could find none. and moreover when
/ tried the gas with my hand upon the
burner. found It had been turned of at
the meter.
Calmly reasoned with myself. MY
hostess was an eminently respectable
lady and even though we had only been
acquainted such q short time yet there
was every reason why she showed me this
hospitality. Nevertheless there had crept
upon me a strange. indefinite feeling Of
insecurity; and 1 stood in the darkness
hesitattng how to act There were two
windows, evidently overlooking the quiet
suburban road. I went to them and felt
behind the blue curtains that they were
strongly suffered and fastened. Then I
stirred the embers and succeeded by blow
ing upon them in creating q feeble flame,
which gave me greater freedom of action.
/ cast myself upon an armchair and re-
fiected. The darkness had somehow I'M
nerved me, and the more / thought the
stranger the whole affair seemed. That
my cab had been sent away without con-
sulting me was curious; and stranger still
were the looks exchanged between PAUL
and his sister as We had sat at dinner.
Now that was alone every detail of that
evening returned to me, and many Of the
v,nd nrxy or 100 md I'm ~
countable.
I laughed at my misgivings. Neverthe-
less was bound to admit that the whole
affair was mysterious-extremely mysteri-
Gus. BY the tickle light of the fame my
watch showed that 1t was o'clock: there
fore, having locked the door communicate
ing with the dressing room-after search
ing In vain there for matches or candle--I
half dressed, resolved to spend the re-
mainder of the night in the comfortable
armchair Of the grandfather" type. with
its high back, and sides to keep of the
draughts.5
I am not naturally a nervous man, for
have spent many night alone In an Afri-
can forest, yet by some understandable In
tuition / felt confident 6f impending dam
ger: of some curious and entirely unac-
countable premonition Of evil.
Sitting there noted every detail of the
furniture. All was artistic; all was hand
some. The carpet was however, of black
felt; very unusual, like a funeral pail.
Lying upon it I suddenly noticed revealed
by a quick burst of fame, something
which attracted my attention. 1t was close
by the dressing table before the window,
and, rising, stopped and picked 1t up.
1t was cold and curious to the touch, and
as bent to the fire to examine II let 1t
fall from my grasp with q cry of horror.
1t was a dead finger, the third finger of a
woman's hand.
This discovery appalled, me. There was
evidently more mystery In that house than
I had imagined.
Again picked up the finger and care
fully examined it. 1t was slim, well form
ed, with carefully kept nail, white and
delicate but had been amputated at the
base by an Impractical hand. gazed up
on the CHASTITY object in horror and amaze
ment.
The fire had almost died out and as
sat in the darkness I contemplated the adj
visibility of dressing and escaping from
the house. However on reflection. / re-
solved first to thoroughly search the room,
and then remain until! morning and In
vestigate the house Of mystery.
I found at last a piece Of wood, the
handle of a small broom used to sweep up
the crate, and after some difficulty lit 1t.
obtaining light thereby. Then searched
beneath the bed and everywhere else, un-
til came to the dressing table, prettily
draped with muslin over pale blue satin.
lifted these drapings, and what saw
held me horror stricken.
Beneath that table, hidden behind a small
chest, was the body of young, fair hair
ed woman. One stiff hand was raised
above her head. and saw that the third
finger was missing. 1t had been severed
In order to obtain her rings!
The girl was not more than %. pale and
beautiful in death, attired handsomely In
a decollete dinner dress of rose silk and
chiffon. But on examining her saw that
she had been hastily despoiled Of her jew
elry, her earrings having been torn
through the lobes of the ears, and both
hands had been mutilated to obtain her
rings. This CHASTITY discovery appalled, me.
In an instant I saw that I had been en-
trapped. I had a valuable watch and
chain, a diamond scarfpin. which was
worth at least fifty pounds, and about
G. los In my pocket. These people were,
no doubt, connoisseurs Of jewels and my
pin had attracted them.
In the remaining flicker shed by the
brush handle I dressed completely and
made my way to the door. only. however.
to find it secure on the outside.
was a prisoner
Who, wondered was the beautiful girl
who had been the previous victim in that
room? Had she, like myself, been a guest
at dinner, and been induced to spend the
night In that fatal chamber Ny knowl-