The Wilmington daily Republican., 1900-04-04

some consequence m rne days Of the re-
public. The tall mooripg posts had a.
most rotted in two. and the stone steps,
dank and moss grown. looked % II they
were seldom II ever used.
A heavy postern door tths front Of this
building probably opening on 4 larger
canal, with massive twisted iron hinges.
hung as IL 1t had been wrenched open by
force. and indeed Busac informed me the
house had harbored q band Of thieves.
which the police had broken up lately.
1t was said to be haunted and had been
vacant for some time.
The stone gryphons under the balcony
up there were pas NAL, and Busac had
made studies Of them and pumped the
gondolier at the same time. That indi.
vidual had said. moreover, that IL you
were out late there was time of night,
when the moon was highest. that face
appeared at that small window up there,
but people who were out late could see
anything as rule.
High up over the fifth story rose
large skyliCht. which the moonlight glim-
mered upon now. Just below 1t whs q
| NluuuN uS
yet. That was the studio.
who is afraid? Just for lark let's
squeeze In that door and see II we can 60
up to the studio. Everything may be
open. Perhaps that may be also. 1t
would be dcviish interesting to stand up
on the stage where such a drama was
enacted. as there probably was."
Selling the boats lantern. we cautious
iy tiptoed up the stairway, which wound
round and presently let us out upon an
inner arcade which ran around four sides
of ruined courtyard. The other side Of
the building seemed also uninhabted.
We explored the next floor and the next
and found nothing Of Importance except
old lumber stored and abandoned.
Much breathed, we finally arrived at
the top floor and turned to the right, ex-
pecting to find door corresponding to
that on the other floors, but there was no
door. Perhaps we miscalculated. That
must be 1t there. We went in the next
door. There was small window above
and much rubbish and no end Of rats,
but, strange to say. no skylight. Much |
perplexed. we roamed about the arcade,
entering foul smelling rooms, whence
bats flew In our faces, causing us to fall |
backward upon each others toes.
Finally at one corner small archway
attracted our attention. and, brushing
aside the cobwebs, we saw narrow
stairway, which we climbed up and, al.
most stihed. stepped out upon the fiat
asphalt roof.
"There's the skylight," said Busac, and
we hurried over there.
snow. look here" said I; 'go to the
other side and FIX point just opposite
across the courtyard so we can locate this
thing"
Busac did so.
''It's opposite the sixth column of the
arcade below" he said, at the same time
lying down and stretching his neck far
out, trying to peer into the skylisht,
which was an upright one.
Suddenly he started to his feet with an
sxclamation:
''The face! Oh, my God, the face"
The moon had risen high in the heav-
ems and was streaming half way down
the sides of the building. The little win
dow was in full light.
l threw myself down and looked over
and dimly through the cobwebby panes
saw a palid and wondrously beautiful
face. As in dream arose. and, grasp /
ing Busac's shoulder, we stumbled down
the little staircase into the arcade and
made our way to point
just opposite the sixth column on the
,ther side of the court.
A blank wall!
"Stay." | said, and, passing the Ian
ern up and down the dirty wall, exam
ned it carefully. My pains were re-
varded. Scarcely discernible was line.
ats one of those sliding panels and"
going on down to the floor) here is
minute secret spring" tscraping away the
lirt).
Busac had a cane and pried 1t open by
nches. 1t was clogsed with dust and
usted badly.
Finally it went back with rush, and
We found ourselves in the old studio Of
he Italian sculptor. The floor was a
haotic mass OF broken plaster castings
nd Jumps of hardened clay.
Our staring eyes eagerly sought for the
tile window beneath the skylisht. There
vas none.
We looked at each other bewildcred:
Te gazed about the room, expecting ev-
ry moment to behold the CHASTITY face.
gure and all.
Then we examined the walls. Acct
entally stumbling over a clay box, fell
18th my shoulder against the wall under
he skylight. 1t gave forth hollow
ound. Immediately kicked It hard,
nd, 10! patch Of plastering fell off,
bare boards.
"Thcre is false wall here" shouted.
fancied l heard groan echo through
le room. and. turning suddenly, l was
Ire saw a faunt of garments and
card retreating footsteps.
Away we sped down the arcade, down
le stairway to the landing. No one was
} be found but our gondolier, whose
res seemed to be glued to the little win
NV up there, where dimly could be per-
lived still the white face.
"To the cafe at once" said !.
Away he rowed with trembling stroke.
Fortified with mezzagran and cognac.
e pulled ourselves together and discuss.
nInn for coIyinp thia pvcfarv Tho